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Skin Care Treatment Should Begin With Low Glycemic Index Foods

11/19/2007

When researchers recently discovered the link between acne and high glycemic foods, our days of denying that our diet affects our skin were over. The researchers found that participants in their study saw a 50 percent improvement in their acne or breakouts within just a few months of eating a low glycemic index diet. While a good skin care treatment such as a shielding lotion will help protect the skin from the environmental toxins that can exacerbate acne and breakouts, a low glycemic index diet is vital, and you should know the basics.

First of all, a little about blood sugar, insulin, and the glycemic index: The glycemic index is a scale that tells us how quickly the body converts carbohydrates to blood sugar, also known as glucose. Foods with a high glycemic index convert to glucose quickly, and foods with a low glycemic index convert gradually. A gradual conversion keeps our blood sugar from going too high.

Insulin regulates the level of glucose – when the glucose level is too high, the body increases its production of insulin to get it back down to a safe level. However, a continual diet of high glycemic index food that pushes the insulin production to extremes can result in more or less permanently high insulin levels. Fortunately, this can usually be reversed by switching to a low glycemic diet.

What does all this have to do with skin care treatment? Insulin triggers the production of a number of hormones that cause the body to produce more oil than usual, and to slough off skin cells at an increased rate. The combination of excess oil and more dead skin cells clogs the pores, which then get infected and cause acne and other breakouts.

How can you avoid high insulin levels? The answer lies in eating low glycemic index foods. But figuring out which are low and which are high can sometimes be confusing.

Potatoes, for example, have a high glycemic index – but new potatoes, yams and sweet potatoes do not. Bran cereals that have a solid consistency have a low glycemic index while the bran cereals made into flakes are very high. Oatmeal is low, but quick, instant oatmeal is high. Some vegetables, which you’d think would be good for you no matter what they are, are high, and others are low.

It’s impossible to list the glycemic index of all foods in this article but if you’re looking for a boost to your skin care treatment routine, there are plenty of websites that provide a complete list.

The right dietary changes will help acne, blemishes, dry skin, oily skin and just about any skin problem you might have, but don’t forget to protect your skin from environmental toxins with a good shielding lotion. While good food is important, statistics show that skin problems have accelerated in leaps and bounds as our environment has become more polluted. Good food inside, and shielding lotion outside may be all the natural skin care treatment you need.

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