Fight Bad Skin With Food And Drink

For years, doctors believed that there was no link between food consumption and acne. Now we know that people with diets high in processed foods, which are also often high in sodium and pack in tons of sugar from simple starches (think white bread), may suffer worse cases of acne than those who stick to diets of whole grains, lean protein, and lots of fruit and vegetables.

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Acne can also be caused or worsened by factors like stress, pollution, and hormones, to name a few. Work on your skin from the inside out to help reverse the effects of these issues. Relieve stress with meditation and sipping calming tea. Vitamins A and C are antioxidants, which help remove free radicals from your skin. Probiotics not only improve your digestion, but also help prevent breakouts.

The most important acne catalyst to focus on is your diet, since it's something you can change and improve pretty easily. Start out by eliminating drinks that cause breakouts like soda (diet or regular), energy drinks, and sugary sports drinks. Switch over to hydrating drinks like coconut water, which is a natural stress-reliever and has anti-inflammatory properties, which can calm angry pimples. You will also want to review your diet as a whole. Diets that are made up of mostly processed foods, which are often high in sodium, can lead to breakouts. If you can't switch to raw fruit and vegetables, make sure the products you buy are sodium-free or low-sodium.

Once you've worked on your skin from the inside, you can also utilize natural remedies like coconut oil and facial masks to help soothe inflamed skin. Organic honey is a great product for skin health, as it is both a natural moisturizer and an antimicrobial agent, which helps clear blemishes.

Maintaining a healthy, varied diet of lean meat, lots of leafy greens and vegetables, and whole grains is a delicious way to holistically maintain healthy skin.

Fermented Food

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Fermented food like sauerkraut and kimchi contain probiotics that not only regulate your digestive health, but also prevent breakouts.

Avoid Processed Foods

(Credit: iStock/Thinkstock)
Processed foods, (most) dairy, sugar, and alcohol all contribute to breakouts. If you feel a breakout coming on, check your diet first and switch to lots of fruits, vegetables and lean meat.

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Julie Ruggirello is the The Daily Meal's Recipe Editor. Follow her on Twitter @TDMRecipeEditor.