Acne Treatment and Low Carb Diets Meet
Can a low carb diet also serve as an acne treatment?
If you want a natural acne treatment, you may be in luck. Doctors believe that a low carb diet could provide an excellent way to deal with skin blemishes.
Now, before you start rummaging through the cupboards and throwing bread in the garbage, note that we're talking about a LOW carb diet, not a NO carb diet. Most doctors and nutritionists agree that your body needs carbs -- it's just that we eat too many, and we eat the wrong kind.
So starting a low carb diet could be better than all of the acne treatments you've tried. Why is that, and how do you go about it?
Hyperinsulinemia
That big word up there? Hyperinsulinemia? Some people who suffer from extreme acne test positive for what is essentially a mild form of diabetes -- basically, extra insulin in your blood. One of the symptoms of hyperinsulinemia is poor skin condition, including acne.
Incidentally, this may be where the whole 'chocolate causes pimples' thing comes from. The chocolate itself is fine, as we all know by now. However, chocolate is also loaded with sugar, which is a refined and processed carbohydrate. Add that to a healthy dose of fat, and you see the problem.
Healthy ways to start a low carb diet
If you want to try a low carb diet in place of acne treatments, or in addition to them, there are some very simple rules to follow.
1. Do not eliminate all carbs from your diet. There are carbs in just about everything, including fruit (natural sugars). Instead, do your best to eliminate PROCESSED and REFINED carbs from your diet.
Basically, the closer the food is to its natural form, the lower its glycemic index (that's a good thing). In simplest terms, darker colors are better. White bread and white sugar are the absolute most refined carbohydrates, and they send your insulin levels through the roof.
2. Begin to replace carbs with vegetables. If you're used to serving meat and potatoes at night with a tiny side of veggies, try two vegetable side dishes. Eliminating carbs from just one meal a day is a great start to a low carb diet.
3. Focus on lean protein and fresh fruit and vegetables. Low fat dairy products are fine, but try not to overdo them, as milk can also contribute to acne. Plan your meals around protein. Next, consider a great recipe for dressing up vegetables (as opposed to limp salad or boiled frozen veggies). Consider carbs an afterthought.
4. Look for products that are low in carbohydrates. These days, with so many people on low carb diets, many products specifically advertise if they are low carb or carb free. However, beware of products that eliminate some sugar and replace it with fat.
If you follow these four basic tips, you'll be on your way to a natural acne treatment through a low carb diet!