The Low GI Diet - Does This Diet Treatment For Acne Work?

The low GI diet proves what the experts have disagreed on for years. Some say that chocolate or soda irritates your acne while others believe the food you eat has absolutely no effect on the quality of the skin. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states the secret to clear skin is a low glycemic diet.

The study performed by Professor Neil Mann of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology focused on fifty males with ages ranging from 15-25. One group was instructed to continue with their normal western diet. The control group was given a low GI diet to follow for twelve weeks.

The test group on the low GI diet had an improvement in their acne of more than 50 percent. The professor believes that processed food increases the levels of insulin and glucose in your body. When these levels increase, the hormone testosterone escalates and so does the amount of oil (sebum) on your skin.

Other experts argue against the idea of the low GI diet being a major contributing factor for acne. Many believe that heredity, hormones, and stress are far more influential on the flare up of acne breakouts. Many acne sufferers do feel, however, that their acne improves when they avoid certain foods. Ironically, the low GI diet is still recommended by dermatologists to improve your overall health and admit that the diet provides the foundation for other successful acne treatments.

The research indicates that processed foods with a high concentration of sugar and carbohydrates are a definite no-no. Many breakfast cereals available on the market today are thought to be one of the biggest sources of acne irritation. Other high sugar foods on the “evil” list include pop, candy, and snack foods. The research also recommends staying away from food items high in fat such as fast food items, fried items, and milk products.

The low GI diet uses a diet plan consisting of foods that are natural and do not contain any added colors, flavors, preservatives, and additives. Whole grain products such as bread, pastas, rice, and cereals are a main staple in the diet. Fruits and vegetables also make up a large part of the low GI diet. To maximize the diet’s acne treatment properties, vegetables and fruit green, yellow, and orange in color are important.

These vegetables provide your body with large amounts of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin C that have been proven to improve acne. Meat in the diet acne treatment should be lean and low in fat. This includes items such as fish, chicken, and turkey, but it does allow for some red meat as long as it is lean. Dairy products you consume on this diet should be fat free.

So there you have it.

Just because the experts cannot seem to agree on the idea, it does not mean that the idea of diet as a successful acne treatment should not be ignored. It will leave you feeling healthier and more energetic even if it does not have a significant impact on your acne. Although it may take some time to adapt, the diet is simple and easy to follow with no risks to your health.