If you suffer from acne-prone or oily skin, chances are, you’ve been told about the foods that you should be avoiding but what about what you should be eating? We take a look at what nutrient-rich foods you should be eating to control oily skin and prevent an acne outbreak!
Our skin is a complex organ that requires plenty of nutrients to function at an optimal level. Unfortunately, many of us often neglect our nutritional needs and instead opt for convenience over quality, choosing processed and sugary treats to sustain our energy levels throughout the day.
While it is totally normal to have oily skin, it can be inconvenient and lead to other skin problems such as clogged pores and acne breakouts. If you suffer from oily and acne-prone skin, it is worth looking at your diet as certain foods can trigger oil production and lead to more sebum being produced, causing breakouts and enlarged pores when combined with dead skin cells. Here are 7 types of food that you might want to avoid if you are prone to acne outbreaks.
But there are also lots of skin-healthy foods, rich in nutrients that can help regulate sebum production and help you manage an oily complexion. One way to make sure we get our daily vitamins and nutrients is through regularly consuming superfoods, and a fun and quick way are through smoothies! Check out our superfood smoothie recipes for different skin types, including the anti-inflammatory chocolate smoothie for acne-prone skin - yummy!
Besides superfood smoothies, we should also try to incorporate these food into our daily meals to avoid oily skin and the next nasty breakout.
01 Brightly Coloured Vegetables
Think red, yellow and orange! Vegetables like carrots and tomatoes are rich in beta-carotene that have potent skin benefits. When consumed, our bodies convert beta-carotene into Vitamin A that helps rejuvenate skin cells, protect the skin against damage from the sun and prevent wrinkling. Bright coloured vegetables are also one of the best sources of Vitamin C, which are necessary for creating collagen that keeps our skin firm and supple.
02 Leafy Greens
Green leafy vegetables, such as kale and spinach, are natural detoxifiers that are rich in fiber which supports digestion. Abundant in B vitamins, antioxidants and healthy fats, consuming green leafy vegetables can help to restore balance to your skin helping to regulate sebum production to keep your skin clear and supple.
Not only are green vegetables great for promoting healthy cell growth, reducing inflammation and protecting against free radical damage, they increase our intake of vitamin A, which is very important, especially if you have oily skin, as low levels of vitamin A can also cause an increase in production of sebum.
03 Lemon
Lemons can do wonders to our skin! They are the ultimate food for oily skin as it has astringent and antiseptic properties that help to counter the negative effects of a diet high in processed meats and saturated fat, which dulls skin. Its purifying properties make it ideal for eliminating toxins from the body and combating oily skin.
For a refreshing and skin-healthy drink, try infusing lemon into your water. To help manage oily skin, go for this double citrus concoction with a Kiwi twist! For the full recipe and other refreshing fruit-infused water recipes that target various skin concerns, read more here.
04 Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe Vera is an all-rounder that’s loved by everyone! Known for its soothing qualities, it also supports skin hydration and clarity. Aloe Vera is extremely rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C and E, and contains seven of the eight essential amino acids that are necessary for our body to function optimally. These nutrients aid in improving digestion, boost immunity and promote skin repair.
05 Brown Rice
Short grain brown rice and pulse, such as lentils are excellent sources of fiber, skin-nourishing healthy fats, Vitamin B and skin-repairing minerals such as zinc. Whenever possible, we should always opt for brown rice as white rice removes the outer layer of the grain where these skin-loving nutrients are found. Consuming high fiber brown rice regularly can help control the production of oil, eliminate toxins from your body and facilitate clearer skin.
06 Sprouted Seeds
Sprouted seeds are 10-30 times more concentrated in nutrients than vegetables and have easily absorbable nutrients, enzymes, and amino acids. Seeds such as Alfalfa or beansprouts like Tau Geh are loaded with calcium, potassium, phosphorous, iron and Vitamin A, C, E and K which aid in detoxification, to help cleanse the skin.
About the writer
Catherine is an explorer and she loves surfing the internet for interesting and wholesome stuff. Her inquisitiveness propels her towards learning new things everyday and she strives to share her inspirations and explorations with people all over the world.
