Dylan's Lunchbox: Food and Your Face

School can be a stressful time, and it doesn’t help with these seemingly random acne breakouts either. Thankfully, I can be of service. There are plenty of skin-healthy foods in this week’s edition of Dylan’s Lunchbox!

Acne can be stressful, hard to manage and is something that no one wants to be tied down with. In the media, there are advertisements for so many different types of face washes and acne medications that it’s hard to know which ones will actually work. Good news! There is an easier and less expensive way of taking care of acne that might work for you. Before you try all of these face washes and medications, you should look at your diet and make some alterations.

How does diet affect our skin? Well, our skin produces its cells from the fats that we store in our bodies. These fats are from the foods that we eat.  So, if our diets contain foods that are highly infused with oils, such as fried foods, then our skin will create cells from those oily fats. These oily skin cells, unfortunately, are more prone to producing pimples.

If you have a problem with acne it is a good idea to avoid all fried foods and try eating foods that are grilled, steamed, or boiled instead. Fried foods are not the only culprit, foods that are high in sugar can also cause for breakouts. It is best to avoid large amounts of candy and other foods that are high in sugar. I know! Fried and sugary foods taste so good! Even though, fried foods and sugary foods do taste delicious it is very important to eat these foods minimally. You will notice that your skin and your body will be healthier without them.

So what should you eat? In order to avoid acne, it is good to eat fish, nuts, and whole grains. The Omega-3s found in these fish and nuts act as anti-inflammatories and natural mood enhancers. These two factors help reduce acne that is caused by poor diets and stress. It is also a good idea to make sure to eat plenty of foods with antioxidants, iron and vitamin A to ensure a healthy diet.

What can I put on my skin? Crushed avocadoes are an excellent way to help reduce acne. Avocadoes are featured in many acne scrubs because they are infused with linoleic acid. Linoleic acid has anti-inflammatory properties and also acts as a moisturizer. Avocadoes are also are a great source for vitamin E that helps protect skin from damage. Not only does avocado make a great facemask, it makes a great snack too! Try and find ways to incorporate avocadoes in your meals so that you can attack your acne from the inside out.

Remember when I told you that the avocado is an amazing food? I really wasn’t kidding. Let me know what remedies you use for your skin, and I will see you next week with some brand new healthy tips!