Nutrition and Blemishes

Thousands of people every day are burdened by unsightly blemishes. Acne is one of the most common dermatological ailments inconveniencing teenagers and adults alike. Doctors for decades have been trying to get to the bottom of this daily disaster. The most common answer as of late has been to prescribe patients with harsh drugs to zap those pesky zits. Such medications are accompanied by severe side effects and possible organ damage, but could the answer for many affected by acne be found in the foods we eat?

Dietitians and physicians have thought for years that many severe acne cases can be treated with nutrition therapy. During a review of over one hundred articles conducted by a group of doctors and dietitians published by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (March 2013) found strong correlations to dairy consumption and acne breakouts.

Large numbers of dairy farms use synthetic hormones to increase cow milk and muscle tissue production. Testosterone and growth hormone are among the most common of these synthetic substances. Testosterone and growth hormone are linked to overproduction of oil. The oil that's secreted by your skin are called sebum, which testosterone in particularly targets.

The added synthetic hormones injected into dairy and beef supplies in the United States and other westernized countries is skyrocketing. Hormones injected into animal products that are created for human consumption stay in the animals. Traces of the hormones and various other biological substances injected into the animals remain deposited in fat, blood, and can even be passed to the young through umbilical cord blood, and passed through placenta-like membranes. Also processed foods that contain such chemicals as BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) act as hormone inhibitors, meaning that it can stop the body's hormones from doing what their supposed to. These types of chemicals are added to foods to increase shelf-life and enable producers to produce larger volumes of goods at a faster rate. Such chemicals inhibit the body from carrying out common functions that are needed in day to day cellular development and metabolism as well as stressing kidney and liver function. Such imbalances can increase unsightly bodily reactions such as breakouts.

Breakouts are a physical expression of turmoil happening within the body, the body's stress response. The liver and kidneys can become overworked and over toxic resulting in a stress response due to hormone disruption. So, victims of unsightly blemishes can try cutting back on dairy and choosing less processed foods or choose organic, free range animal products and fresh foods.