Acne and disease are on the rise globally due to the influence of Western food.

The Japanese had virtually no acne or cancer, and very low cholesterol levels before fast food arrived in their country. They now suffer the same diseases and skin problems as we do in the Western world.

Here are the realities of the American diet:

Carbohydrates

-The main source of carbohydrates in America is bread and cereal, which is an acceptable way to ingest a large amount of our calories.  However, only 3.5% of our energy from cereal and bread comes from whole grains. It is surprising since “whole grains” is a buzzword we hear over and over.

-Processed carbohydrates (cereal and bread) remove the fiber and nutrition from whole grain flour. Lack of fiber causes elevations in blood sugar and an increase in insulin levels. When grains are processed they lose valuable vitamins and minerals such as zinc, selenium and vitamin B6, which help prevent acne as well as other disease.

-Each of us consumed ½ pound of high fructose corn syrup per year in 1970 and 60 pounds of high fructose corn syrup in 1997. Our intake of high fructose corn syrup spikes blood sugar and insulin, which causes an increase in sebum production.  Sebum clogs our pores, which leads to acne eruptions.

 Vegetables

-The four vegetables consumed more than any other in the American diet are iceberg lettuce, onions, tomatoes and potatoes. These are all included in a typical McDonald’s meal of hamburger and fries. 

-Phytochemicals are manufactured in colorful plants as defense mechanisms for their survival and health. Our bodies and skin benefit in the same way if we consume a variety of colorful fruit and vegetables. Dark green, yellow, red and blue fruit and vegetables are only included in 9% of the typical American diet. We are missing all of the vitamin A, antioxidants and over 25,000 microchemicals needed to keep our skin clear and prevent cancer and heart disease.

Fats

-Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are important components of our cell membranes. However, the fat we consume is almost devoid of Omega 3 fatty acids. We eat mainly Omega 6 fatty acids located in corn, safflower, sunflower  oil.  A high concentration of omega-6 oil clogs our arteries and our pores. These types of oils consumed in excess also cause inflammation, which is the source of all disease. 

-The ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 should be 2:1.  In the American diet, omega-6 is now out-numbering Omega-3 intake by a ration of 20:1. We should consume 400-700 mg of EPA and 500-900 mg of DHA (omega-3 oils). We consume a total of only 100mg of omega-3 oils. In the Western world it is hard to consume enough omega-3 fatty acids so, we must take omega-3 supplements.

The Clear Skin Diet book review continued:

This is a compilation of facts of what I think are important points taken from the book.

• It’s not just sun, smoke and pollution that cause skin problems.  We now have scientific proof that poor diet leads to acne, wrinkles, and most other skin problems.
• In the last half century acne has increased dramatically.  Many adults are experiencing acne for the very first time.  The most obvious changes within the last 50-60 years are increased stress, and changes in our diet.
• We’ve heard for many years that diet has no relationship to the quality of our skin. Many doctors have held onto that myth even in the face of overwhelming evidence proven by advances in clinical nutrition.
• Dietary changes may not help everyone to the same degree, and are not a substitute for skin care. However, the foods that are responsible for poor skin are also the cause of the most common health problems in modern society…diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Let’s discuss the anatomy of the pore and what causes skin to break out.

The hair follicle is our pore.  Below every hair is the root of the hair follicle, and on the side of the follicle is a  gland(s) that secretes sebum. The sebum is secreted along with old skin cells up through the hair follicle, travels up the hair (like a wick) and onto the skin. Sebum serves as a skin lubricant.

What is acne?

1. Over-production of sebum.

2. Pore obstruction by dead skin cells that are not removed from the skin.

3. An increase in bacteria & yeast since they feed on sebum that is trapped in the pore. The body responds by producing inflammation, a normal response to any infection.

A complication of acne could be the rupture of the follicle allowing the infectious material to travel beyond the pore, and into the surrounding tissue.  This results in a cyst filled with pus and debris.  When the inflammation occurs deeper within the pore, a hard, red and painful nodule can occur.  Pitted scars can form when these reddened nodules remain for long periods of time.

To be continued…