by Dr. Phil Hariram
When my son played Ice Hockey as a teenager, he went away on
weekends for back to back games. He always returned very spotty. When
he was at home, his diet was dictated by us and was very good but when
away he ate lots of junk food high in carbohydrate.
Most people are aware that there is some relationship between diet
and acne. A very recent study, however, has confirmed this as true.
Acne causes distress to sufferers and is very common. It affects people
of all ages. 79 to 95% of adolescents, 40 to 54% aged 25 and older, 12%
women and 3% men in their middle age have acne.
No one knows the true cause of acne. The distribution globally of
acne raises the possibility that low carbohydrate intake is responsible
for the lower incidence of acne in non-Western countries. The theory is
that high carbohydrate intake causes raised Insulin level
(Hyperinsulinemia). High Insulin levels is an important part of acne in
general because it affects androgenic hormones and growth factor.
A study conducted by Dr. Robin. N. Smith and colleagues used
randomised low glycemic load diet and a control diet that was rich in
carbohydrates. The low glycemic load diet had 45% energy from low
glycemic Index carbohydrate and 25% from protein. Included in the study
were 45 male adults between 15 and 24. The study was carried out at the
RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. This is the first randomised
controlled trial to examine the influence the effects of glycemic load
has on acne. In the July issue of the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition the published results showed that significant reduction of
acne in the low glycemic diet group as compared to the group on
carbohydrate rich food.
Although this is the first randomised study to look at the effect of
low glycemic foods on acne, I suspect there are a few more in the
pipeline.
In a press release, Dr Smith and his colleagues said, “Although we
could not isolate the effect of the low glycemic load diet from that of
weight loss, the findings support the hypothesis of a relationship
between acne and high insulin levels and acne.”
Food with low glycemic Index are rich in complex carbohydrates. As a
result, they release glucose very slowly into the blood steam. If sugar
is released slowly into the blood, the Insulin demand is less. Insulin
controls circulating blood sugar and affects growth and sex hormones.
To find out the Glycemic Index of food, the blood sugar level is
monitored after eating that food. HGI(High Glycemic Index): 70+ MGI
(Medium Glycemic Index: 56 to 69. LGI (Low Glycemic Index): 55 and
lower.
Low GI Foods. All-bran (UK) 30 Oat bran 50 Rolled Oats 51 Whole
Wheat 49 Special K (UK) 54 Natural Muesli 40 Porridge 58 Soya and
Linseed 36 Wholegrain Pumpernickel 46 Heavy Mixed Grain 45 Frozen Green
Peas 39 Frozen Sweet Corn 47 Tomatoes 15 Raw Carrots 16 Broccoli 10
Boiled Carrots 41 Cauliflower 15 Cabbage 10 Mushrooms 10 Lettuce 10
Green Beans 15 Red Peppers 10 Onions 10 Chillies 10
High Glycemic Index Foods. Watermelon 80 Dates 103 Instant White
Rice 87 Glutinous Rice 86 Short Grain White Rice 83 Tapioca 70 Scones
92 Pretzels 83 Rice Cakes 87 Fresh Mashed Potatoes 73 French Fries 75
Donuts 76 Instant Mashed Potatoes 80
To knock spots off your teenage child or yourself, eats cereals and
beans regularly and avoid white bread, burgers, and French fries.
About the Author:
Dr. Phil Hariram is a General Practitioner with
several years experience treating various illnesses. Visit his Blog for
up to date Information on
health and
health news.
Hey there and welcome to one of the highest quality resources around geared specifically toward adult acne. We don’t limit ourselves to just adults though, teens can also benefit from our research, treatment and prevention tips. Overall, acne usually has a fairly universal set of triggers, which helps narrow down the underlying causes.
