Medical literature, for the most part, suggests to suggest that acne is caused by four major factors. These factors are contamination of the skin by bacteria, blockage of the pores by external substances, inflammation of the skin tissue and the repercussions of overactive oil glands. There is, however, a fifth factor that pops up when one surveys the literature dealing with acne and the factors that cause it. This factor tends to feature more in literature that is dedicated to the 'alternative' and 'complementary' medicine perspective. This fifth factor is diet. The point is that those holistic health professionals, who advocate that diet is a major factor which effects one's state of health, argue that acne is caused by eating foods that are high in fat, high in carbohydrates and low in fiber. Such holistic health thinkers argue that to combat the acne problem, one must adopt what can be termed, an acne diet.
This fifth factor has earned more credence in recent years due to the research findings in the area of diet and acne which show that persons who stick to a vegetarian type diet typically have less acne problems. In the regions of the Pacific Islands and parts of Africa, it has been found that the problem of acne is almost nonexistent. Even among the youth in these societies, research has found that the incidences of acne break outs are no where near the levels one would record in western cultures. The reality is that in these regions, the vegetarian diet is the type of diet that is mainly observed. This is in stark contrast to what obtains in most western cultures, if not all. The point is that a meat based diet is still predominant in the western regions of the world. The majority of persons in the western regions of the world eat meat and meat products. Of course there is, a small percentage of people in the western regions of the world that would claim to be vegetarian or vegan. You can bet your last dollar that this percentage is indeed very small even though the number of persons deciding to become vegetarian or vegan has grown.
The acne diet calls upon the dieter to eat fruits, especially those that are red and orange in color. Fruits that are red or orange in color are reputed to have skin rejuvenating properties, helping to fight the condition of acne by keeping the skin healthy. Apples feature high on the list of fruits that help to fight acne and keep the skin healthy. The fact is that apples contain plenty minerals and vitamins that help to keep the skin vibrant.
So the acne diet promotes the eating of fruits, especially those that are red and orange in color. Vegetables are also seen as an important part of the acne diet. Most vegetables, notably green leafy vegetables, are high in vitamin E. Vitamin E is very effective in the acne fight due to its powers as an antioxidant. Vitamin E helps to protect the skin cells from the degenerative effects of free radicals which play a major part in the formation of diseases in the body.
Vegetables are also high in fiber which is needed to aid bowel movement. It should be noted that good bowel movement is important, not only to keep the colon clean but to help the body eliminate those harmful toxins. The acne diet also calls for the inclusion of more peas into the diet. Peas such as green peas and lentil peas are a good source of protein. Peas, along with broccoli, also aided the digestive system and this obviously vital since proper digestion of one's food is always important.
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