Eight Popular Diets and How They Affect Your Skin

Food can be medicine and medicine can be food, or at least that’s what Hippocrates wrote centuries ago. It’s true, that certain foods can improve your health in all kinds of ways, but so can the lack of certain foods in your diet. Read on to find out how some popular diets, including veganism, vegetarianism, paleo, pescetarianism, fruitarianism, and more may impact your skin health.

What is good nutrition?

First, it’s important to note that there is no single right answer to what a person needs to eat for good nutrition. The only person who can define healthy eating for you is you. That said, some general guidelines can help people lead healthier lives: eat more vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean proteins (fish, nuts) and low-fat dairy products; cut back on red meat (particularly processed red meat), sugar-sweetened beverages, refined grains and sodium; be physically active. If you need help defining a diet specific to your lifestyle or health concerns—and especially if you want someone else to plan meals for you—consider working with a registered dietitian.

The Ketogenic Diet

Research indicates that when you cut carbs, your body switches to burning fat for energy. This diet is gaining popularity due to its weight-loss benefits and may help with acne because it reduces inflammation. However, be warned: Going keto could lead to some serious side effects such as kidney stones (likely from a lack of dietary calcium) or impaired thyroid function (likely from a lack of dietary iodine). Stick with coconut oil for cooking; olive oil has too much-polyunsaturated fat to make a good substitute for butter or cream in recipes. Olive oil does have some health benefits though so don't forget about it entirely, just go easy on it.

The Paleo Diet

This diet is based on eating foods similar to what early humans would have found in nature. Generally speaking, it encourages the consumption of meats, fish, nuts, eggs, fruits, vegetables, seeds and roots. The Paleo Diet is often used to treat various skin conditions like eczema or acne because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Some people claim that eating like a caveman can help with wrinkles by bringing down inflammation caused by acne breakouts or other types of inflammation in your body. But according to dermatologist Dr Joshua Zeichner (Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research at Mt. Sinai Hospital), there are elements of truth to be found in some diets such as Paleo-style diets [...], they aren't designed for acne treatment. Dr.

The Mediterranean Diet

Dermatologists recommend eating foods that are high in nutrients, antioxidants, and healthy fats. These include fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts, seeds, legumes, fish (and other seafood), and whole grains. The Mediterranean diet consists of these foods while also promoting wine with meals to reduce inflammation throughout your body. This diet has been shown to help reduce wrinkles over time thanks to its high antioxidant content.

Gluten-Free Diets

If you’re prone to celiac disease or have a wheat allergy, avoiding gluten is your best bet for clear skin. The protein in wheat triggers inflammation in some people, which can lead to acne breakouts. If you have an autoimmune disease like celiac disease, eliminating gluten from your diet could reduce all kinds of symptoms related to inflammatory responses in your body (like rash and acne). Unfortunately, when going gluten-free, it’s not enough to simply stop eating bread—if you’re gluten intolerant, all processed foods should be avoided. To avoid too many unhealthy ingredients while sticking with a gluten-free diet, try making these 7 simple recipes that use healthy alternatives instead of wheat flour.

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Inflammation can cause or exacerbate a variety of skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema. A study published in 2015 in Experimental Dermatology showed that taking NSAIDs (including ibuprofen) lessened symptoms of rosacea, compared to those who took a placebo pill. Aspirin was found to be more effective than other NSAIDs for reducing the redness associated with rosacea. This could be because aspirin works on an entirely different mechanism; it’s anti-inflammatory but not an NSAID. Many doctors recommend a baby aspirin as part of their treatment plan for adults who have been diagnosed with heart disease or diabetes.

What's Bad For Your Skin

The Low-Carb Diet. Carbs get a bad rap, but they’re a crucial source of energy for your body—and if you cut them out entirely, you could end up with major health issues. According to Dr.

Tips For Clear, Healthy Skin

While there are some aspects of skin health that you can’t directly control (like your genes or environment), what you eat plays a role in keeping skin healthy, reducing breakouts, and maintaining a youthful glow. Here are tips from an expert on how diet affects clear skin.