Eat Your Way to Clear Skin!

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As you know, I have had huge problems with acne in the past. To clear this up, I had to combine medication with cream treatments with, would you believe it, better eating. It makes sense when you think about it, what you put inside your body is bound to reflect on the outside. This doesn't mean you have to deprive yourself, but just try adding some of the foods below to your everyday diet and see if it makes a difference!

1. Drink Water - I know this doesn't technically count as a food, but I can't stress the importance of drinking water enough. It hydrates your body and skin and flushes out toxins. It is usually recommended you drink around 2l of water a day. I used to struggle with fitting it in, but try to get into a routine of drinking water whenever you can; with a meal, while you're working and whenever you need a drink, and you will find it comes pretty naturally. Try to cut out any sort of fizzy drink and switch to water, as they are loaded with sugar and other nasties. Don't just think you'll be okay because you drink diet drinks; sometimes they can be even worse for your health and they can still inflame your skin!
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2. Cut down on junk, processed and sugary food - I'm not saying you should cut this food out all-together, but try to limit the amount you consume. Sugar quickly gets into your bloodstream and spikes your insulin levels, which can cause breakouts. Instead, get your energy by eating low-GI or "slow release" carbohydrates such as beans, pulses, porridge and wholegrains.
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3. Avoid dairy - There have been quite a few scientific studies which show associations with dairy and acne, so if possible you might like to try avoiding it and seeing the results. The hormone levels in milk may increase sebum production, which leads to acne. Personally, I drink almond milk and dislike cheese, so the only dairy I consume is yoghurt. Sine I made this change I have seen a reduction in my blemishes, but it could also be down to the other things I was doing to clear my skin.
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4. Get your 5-a-day - Vegetables and fruit contain powerful antioxidants and vitamins which are essential for clear, radiant skin. I would recommend eating a range of fruit & veg, try to eat a "rainbow" of different colours as they all have different properties. Sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, berries and oranges are all full of essential vitamins and also taste yummy too!
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5. Don't cut out fat - Many people assume that fat causes acne, as acne is often caused by excess sebum and oil clogging your pores. However, foods such as avocados, nuts and olive oil provide essential "healthy" fats which keep your skin smooth and soft. Your skin needs some moisture otherwise your body will think it is dry and will start producing even more sebum!
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6. Include Zinc - Zinc is involved in the normal functioning of sebaceous glands in the skin (which produce oil) and helps to repair existing skin damage. Foods high in Zinc include fish, lean red meat, wholegrains, poultry, nuts, beans (especially kidney beans), seeds and shellfish.

I hope these tips help you, please let me know in the comments if you plan to make any changes or are already seeing good results in your skin from eating well! Obviously for the best results you'll need to combine this with an appropriate regular skincare routine. I really enjoy writing about skincare as it is a topic very close to my own heart; when I had really bad skin I didn't have anywhere to go for reliable and experienced advice, and nobody understood how frustrating and upsetting it was. Let me know if you like my skincare posts and what you'd like to see in the future!