Your diet does play a role in causing acne. And this was proved in a 2010 study. Foods that cause inflammation increase sugar levels and cause hormonal imbalance and infections. We understand that it’s difficult to keep a tab on such acne-causing foods, so we took it upon ourselves by making a list of the top foods that cause acne for you. Check below.
Top Foods That Cause Acne
1. Refined Grains and Sugars: Bread, White Flour Pasta, And Sodas
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Refined grains and sugars are dangers lurking right in your kitchen. Consuming them, even in limited quantities, is problematic. They readily break down in your body and spike the sugar levels – and this contributes to acne.

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Seemingly simple everyday items like white bread, white rice, processed breakfast cereals, and cookies can cause eruptions on your skin.

Sugars, on the other hand, are highly inflammatory and quickly lead to breakouts. White sugar, in specific, is highly glycemic and increases insulin levels in the body. Soda and aerated drinks are liquefied sugars that are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and wreak havoc on your skin.

2. Dairy Products: Ice Cream, Cheese, And Milk Chocolate
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Consuming cow’s milk (directly or as cheese, cream, milk chocolates, or ice cream) elevates blood sugar levels. This is due to the hormones present in the milk, which trigger excess sebum production.

These milk products also contain growth hormones that encourage the overproduction of skin cells, which block the skin pores and cause acne breakouts. The milk products also raise insulin levels in the body, which increases the production of skin oils. Even the presence of amino acids in cow’s milk affects the skin, thereby leading to acne.

3. Fast Food: French Fries, Burgers, Potato Chips, And Pizza
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While fast foods are quick to arrive on your plate and greatly satisfy your taste buds, they also encourage rapid and successive acne breakouts.

Be it burgers, pizzas, chips, or hot dogs, they contain trans fat, refined carbs, and saturated fats that disrupt hormone levels and cause inflammation, which eventually leads to breakouts.

Fast food looks great, smells pleasant, and tastes delicious, but it also increases the insulin levels in the body and causes acne. Stay away from it.

4. Foods Rich In Omega-6 Fats: Corn And Soy Oils
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A change in the cooking and eating patterns have led to increased consumption of omega-6 fats, which spell trouble for your skin. They cause inflammation and acne.

Many highly processed vegetable oils that we often use for cooking (such as canola oil, corn oil, margarine, sunflower oil) are threats to the skin. These must either be avoided or consumed in moderation.

Even some nuts and seeds, such as walnuts, sesame seeds, Brazil nuts, and pumpkin seeds, which are rich in omega-6 fats, can cause skin issues if taken in large quantities.

5. Whey Protein Powder
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If you think you are doing yourself a favor by consuming market-bought whey protein powder either before or after a workout, think again.

Whey protein powder contains amino acids, which trigger acne. The acids lead to the overproduction of new skin cells that block the skin pores and cause breakouts.

Whey is primarily a by-product of skim milk, which is another reason it causes breakouts. It also contains amino acids that encourage peptide production, which eventually leads to an increase in insulin levels. All of this elevates sebum production and causes acne.

6. Non-Organic Meat: Beef, Poultry, And Pork
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The next time you buy meat, you need to find out where it is coming from and how it has been treated. Make sure that the meat you buy has been fed with organic grass – because otherwise, it is going to be an issue for your skin.

Animals that have been fed antibiotics (or treated with growth hormones) are not good sources of healthy meat. They cause imbalances in hormones and generate bacteria in the body – and this leads to acne breakouts.

7. Caffeine And Alcohol: Coffee, Wine, Beer, And Cigarette
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Coffee is an excellent way to kickstart your day, but it can take a toll on your skin and lead to acne breakouts.

Consuming coffee increases the cortisol levels in your system, which can induce stress and elevate insulin levels. Stress is one of the leading causes of acne. And a rise in the insulin levels leads to the overproduction of sebum.

Alcohol, on the other hand, causes an imbalance in either the testosterone or estrogen levels in your body, leading to acne breakouts.

8. Canned Food: Cup Noodles, Cake Mixes, And Spreads
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Canned food is an easy and tasty deal. It’s tough to let go of canned food, but you have to for the sake of your skin.

Starting from the ever dependable cup noodles to cake mixes and spreads, avoid them all because they contain many chemicals that harm your skin. They also contain artificial additives and flavors that cause skin allergies.

Apart from that, they contain saturated fat as well – which is a big no-no for the skin as it triggers excess oil production.

9. Fried Food: Waffles, Pancakes, And Churros
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Time and again, we have been told to avoid fried foods when suffering from acne.

Anything too oily or greasy – be it a curry, candy, or fried chicken – can be problematic because of the oil that is used to cook it. If it is a processed plant oil, that’s the primary cause for trouble as it can cause imbalances in the skin and lead to acne breakouts.

10. Energy Drinks: Red Bull And Gatorade
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Energy drinks can be a total farce. Most of them are just a can of loaded sugars and contain no nutrients. And they also cause acne, which is why it is best you avoid them altogether.

Some energy drinks also contain certain B vitamins that could irritate the skin and trigger infections and acne.

Your diet plays a crucial role in deciding the health of your skin. It’s not for nothing that they say, ‘you are what you eat.’ Keep that in mind, and the next time you eat, make sure that it is not something that would harm your skin. Recheck the above list – it’ll come in handy.

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