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SUPPLEMENTS AND HEALTHY FOODS THAT CAUSE ACNE

in ACNE-PRONE, HAIR, HEALTH, MEN, NAILS, SKIN, VEGAN on 01/30/18

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AVOID THESE FOODS THAT CAUSE ACNE… AS WELL AS MOST HAIR SKIN AND NAILS SUPPLEMENTS!

My acne is finally starting to clear up for good thanks to my acne guru, Emme Diane. Her coaching on what supplements and foods to avoid for acne, along with acne triggering skincare ingredients to steer clear of, have made a huge difference in my skin. I’ve been using her skincare products since last November (about 90 days now), and I’ve seen a drastic change in my skin. I won’t go into the skincare products here, since I’ve already talked about those quite a bit. But I do want to focus on the foods, protein powder additives and other supplements you might be taking that are making your acne so much worse.

Emme gave me a list of ingredients to avoid in skincare products (contact her and ask for her Acne Bible for the list). She also gave me a list of supplements and foods that cause acne (especially hormonal acne). You may not even REALIZE you are taking some of these! You really have to check your labels. Here are some of the big foods that cause acne (or trigger it if you’re already genetically susceptible):

• Dairy – Yeah, everyone kind of knows this one already but it’s a huge acne trigger so steer clear. Next time you’re eating cheese, ask yourself if it’s worth a shiny new crater on your face! This includes whey protein which may show up in your protein powders.
• Soy – Phytoestrogens can cause breakouts.
• Iodine – Iodine is important for health, but it can also be a major acne trigger. Too little or too much could cause thyroid problems, so it’s important to get some iodine but not to over-do it. If you’re cutting back on iodine, iodized salt can be replaced with Himalayan sea salt.
• Seaweed – There is a TON of iodine in seaweed (especially kelp). This category includes a lot of really good for you super greens like carrageenan (it’s used as a thickener and emulsifier in tons of healthy foods like almond milk), chlorella, spirulina, algae, and kelp (watch out for these in your skincare products – especially algae – it’s in everything!). If you don’t have acne, these are great super foods, but if you’re genetically prone to acne, steer clear. Also check your multi-vitamins, protein powders and other supplements for iodine and seaweeds. But check with your doctor – iodine is a NECESSARY nutrient and you don’t want to be deficient as it can mess with your thyroid.
• Sugar and Processed Foods – It’s not a secret that these are bad for you. They cause inflammation and can lead to an overgrowth of bad bacteria in your gut. Try to cool it on the bad stuff, especially if you’re an acne sufferer.
• Peanuts and Peanut Butter – There are plenty of other nuts, and almond butter is a delicious alternative.
• Biotin and B12 – Biotin and B12 are necessary vitamins, and if you’re deficient, then you need to take them (I often have to take B12 and iron). But if your levels are normal, and you’re taking any kind of hair, skin and nails supplement (check the labels – most have biotin), you’ll probably see a lot more acne breakouts as well. Biotin is amazing for growing long nails and hair, and if you don’t have acne problems, it’s a great supplement. But if you’re acne prone, just say no.

If you’re still eating these foods from time to time, it’s okay –  relax! But don’t go overboard on them, and if you’re having trouble getting your breakouts to subside, do an elimination diet and see if that helps.

If you’re wondering what you can take to grow long hair and long nails, I have just the thing. I’ve been talking about this wonder-berry for YEARS, and some of you haven’t tried it yet! It’s called sea buckthorn and it’s a berry that grows in places like Tibet. I first got started on the sea buckthorn berry train when I met the folks from Sibu many years ago. They sell all kinds of sea buckthorn products – juices, capsules, soaps, lotions, oils, etc.

My ride or die is their sea buckthorn capsules. They are incredible! You HAVE to take them every day (I take two per day), and you have to be consistent. Don’t take them for a month and then give up – if you’re new to sea buckthorn, give it at least 2-3 months to see results. They have grown my hair much longer than I ever could before (without breaking and getting generally awful-looking), and they allow me to have longer nails (as long as I don’t get gels – which always seem to be a problem for me). They are also working for my fiancé’s hair. He’s a convert and he takes the capsules daily now!

The big news from Sibu Beauty, is that they have taken carrageenan out of their supplements! Some people say carrageenan can cause inflammation and glucose intolerance (which can lead to diabetes). It’s probably best not to consume it every day or in large quantities, and if you have acne, then you definitely need to weed it out of your diet as much as possible. I’m very happy that Sibu has cut it out (they replaced it with tapioca starch so it’s still vegan if that’s a concern for you), and now I can enjoy my favorite hair, skin and nails supplement without worrying about breakouts! And as a huge bonus, I’ve noticed that sea buckthorn has also improved my digestion. It’s a pretty amazing little berry!

A note: make sure you check the back before you buy, or better yet, buy directly from Sibu’s website. I noticed that some sellers on Amazon are selling the older version that still has carrageenan.