I’m such a big believer that what we eat has a powerful effect on our skin, and there are some foods that help prevent acne I eat regularly to keep my skin clear. I’d like to share these with you because not only are they delicious, but they’ve changed the way my skin looks, feels and how youthful it is. My acne is a thing of my past with these 7 foods in my diet. Sure, there are many more foods that help prevent acne out there, but these just happen to be my personal favorites. You can find any of these at your local store or online, and most are very affordable per serving size.
There are many green foods that help prevent acne, but one of the best and most basic is spinach! Spinach was the first real green I ever added to my diet. As someone with acne, I wanted to add more green foods, but also wanted them to taste decent. Green foods like spinach are rich in chlorophyll, which cleanses bacteria and toxins from the digestive tract and blood stream. Toxins and bacteria that aren’t released get stored as wastes and this eventually leads to acne. Spinach also has loads of Vitamin A, which naturally acts as an anti-acne agent. Spinach tastes good too! It’s very mild, slightly sweet and can be added to salads, smoothies (you’ll never taste it in there!), entrees, appetizers, dips and more.
Cocoa is actually a wonderful anti-acne agent you have not have heard of yet. I’m not talking about chocolate bars- but instead, dark cocoa, or alkalized cocoa powder. You’ll see this sold as Dutch cocoa powder and I like the inexpensive Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa powder, which contains 100% cacao content. It is very rich in taste, contains no sugar and is great for your skin. Though it is lower in antioxidants than regular cocoa, it is higher in alkalinity. Natural cocoa powder is more acidic, and is what most basic cocoa powders are that are sold in stores. Dutch, or alkalized, cocoa has been specially processed to remove the acids, which results in a richer taste and more skin-friendly appeal. Dutch cocoa fights acne because it fights against acid in the body that leads to breakouts and it also enhances the blood flow in your skin. This makes your face more radiant and youthful, while the alkalinity helps to fight inflammation. I love it in smoothies, as I’m sure you might guess!
I try to eat vegetarian most of the time, but once a week, I eat fish and make salmon my choice. It has wonderful skin, heart and mood benefits, and I notice a big difference by keeping it in my diet. Wild Alaskan salmon is low in mercury, but high in omega 3 fats, protein that boosts collagen in the skin and it helps fight inflammation. All these attributes of this fish are key for beating acne.
If you’re craving sugar, grab some mini carrots and see if they don’t do the trick! Carrots are my go-to snack for more reasons than sugar cravings though. I mainly eat them for my skin. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, which is a powerful weapon against acne. Eating carrots with a healthy diet will reduce acne significantly, in as little as a week. Carrots are also naturally sweet, so they help keep you from reaching for those problematic foods that lead to acne like sugar, junk food and fast food.
You’ll hear me talk alot about spirulina if you read any of my articles, and there’s a good reason. I’m not just talking hype when I tell you this stuff has major benefits for your whole body. Spirulina is really great for any type of ailment, but especially your skin. It is one of the top sources of chlorophyll on the planet, which helps reduce acne, inflammation and many blood, digestive and heart issues. Spirulina is also a great brain food, by the way. It boosts your mood and contains special nutrients that aid in mental function. Best of all, as I said, it fights acne. Get past the green color and funky smell and use some in a smoothie. Just one teaspoon is all you need, and I bet in just a week you’ll see why I love it so much! I buy Nutrex brand Spirulina, which you can find online or in stores. One 5 ounce container lasts 147 servings.
Turmeric is actually a root that is sold as a spice, and is great for your skin. It really doesn’t have that much taste when added to foods or drinks, but does have a bright orange color and odd smell. I like to add it to hot tea, salads, cooked entrees and more. Turmeric fights inflammation and brightens the appearance of the skin. It also acts as a natural remedy against internal bacteria and toxins that lead to acne. Use about ¼ tsp. a day wherever you can for best results.
Okay, technically this isn’t a food, but it is one of the best things you can consume to fight acne, so I’ve listed it here anyway. Rooibos tea, or red tea, comes from the Red Bush plant in South Africa. It is rich in antioxidants, natural probiotics because it is fermented and contains many minerals. Rooibos tea has been linked to fighting acne, wrinkles, inflammation and other skin issues like rashes. I notice my skin is clear and seems to have a beautiful glow to it whenever I drink rooibos. I drink about two cups a day and love the naturally sweet taste it has, with absolutely no sugar or caffeine. I sweeten mine with stevia and lemon as well. I like to buy loose leaf so I can brew it in the coffee pot, but you can buy it in tea bag form as well.
Do you eat or drink any of these foods? Or, do you have a favorite food you use to fight acne or other skin problems?