Is there a direct relationship between your diet and acne? Yes. Does Google know? Lets do a little research and figure out what Google really thinks about ‘Diet and Acne’
A proper search in Google should include the correct keywords – you don’t need superflous words like ‘and,’ ‘or,’ ‘with,’ etc. Google should be showing us the most relevant results when it comes to diet and acne when we query ‘acne diet.’ Now let’s dissect the results.
Result # 1: EveryDiet.com says…
Foods with saturated fats and trans fats can contribute to oily skin. Saturated fats are found in most animal products – such as meats, dairy, and pulty. However the body does still require other essential fatty acids – such as from fish, flaxseed, or hempseed oil.
From the get go, this website is trying to claim that saturated fats from animal products can contribute to oily skin. Wrong. Saturated fats from animals (pork fat, e.g.) contain many necessary nutrients for health – our ancestors have been consuming these fats for thousands of years. In fact, the fat of the animals was considered sacred, and the most healthy part of the animal along with animal organs. The prevailing theme of this website has it completely wrong – lets scrap this one and move on.
Result # 2: FreeAcneBook.com says…
Acne is cause by the combination of a high sebum production and pinched off sebum canals. If the pinching off of sebum canals is eliminated, you will get NO new pimples whatsoever. Most foods contain such substances that make the skin pinch.
The overall theme of this site scares me from the start. The domain name screams ‘i’m selling something!’ despite it claiming to be free. But maybe this free eBook is useful, let’s read their first statement:
Acne is caused by high sebum production. It’s true that acne is caused by superfluous sebum production but this isn’t the main cause. This site is implying that this is the true cause, which is wrong. This cause is only one step on the ladder of causes. They go on to talk about pinched off sebum canals – i’m not sure what they are trying to get at here (Accutane, perhaps?) but it’s obvious they are not getting at any true cause. Pinched off sebum canals are not natural. Our skin plays many natural functions – one of which is to create sebum to promote supple skin. Pinching off these canals is like saying, if your having erectile dysfunction, pinching your pee hole will solve all your problems! It isn’t natural.
Result # 3: About.com says…
So, is diet alone going to clear your acne? Probably not. However, a health diet will certainly improve your overall health.
OK, we finally have a self touted authority in information. They have to know what’s up, right?
They start off by citing some references to studies showing some correlation between diet and acne. Good! But then I see what you see above: ‘is diet alone going to clear your acne? Probably not.’ Probably not? It’s a yes or no question. We aren’t politicians here trying to dance on a fence to make sure we don’t upset anyone. We want hard cold answers – and we want it now. We are suffering everyday! ‘Probably not.’ does not answer our questions. Here is your answer: Yes, your acne has everything to do with your diet, and diet alone will clear and cure your acne.
Result # 4: Care2.com says…
Why is it that teens in New Guinea and Paraguay have no acne? Or in Kenya, rural Japan, or Malaisia, for that matter? The reason goes against the commonly held viewpoint of most dermatologists who think acne isn’t caused by diet.
A seminal study on acne published in the Archives of Dermatologs in 2002, reported that there was no one single case of acne–zero–in two non-Westernized populations studied for a diet-acne connection. One population was in New Guinea and the other Paraguay.
What do these two cultures have in common? They were eating the diet of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. Foods you could hunt, gather, plush or fisk, what Loren Cordain, Ph. D, author of the audy and book by the same name, calls The Paleo Diet.
Hmm, this seems interesting. They start with a question, ‘Why is it that teens in New Guinea and Paraguay have on acne?’ – I used to wonder this myself. Then they state ‘a seminal study…reported that there was not one single case.’ – Can’t argue with hard cold facts, right? Lasty they state ‘What do these two cultures have in common? They were eating the diet of our hunter-gatherer ancestors.’
Let’s take a moment to step up from our computer chairs and give a round of applause. Bravo care2.com. You have it right! Our ancestors did not have acne because they were not plagued by the ill effects of processed foods. So you have the reasoning right, the only thing left is to figure out exactly what was the diet of our ancestors and what parts of their diet correlate to our skins health. The Focus:Acne Formula answers that question in extreme detail.
Result # 5: Acne.com says…
Sponsored by ProActiv
Sponsored by ProActiv? I wonder how much they paid to acquire such a straight forward domain name. This just goes to show that acne is a business. It’s not even worth our time to read the propaganda on this website.
All in all, i’m actually quite happy to have found at least one result out of the so called ‘top 5′ that has the true cause of acne correct. Now try to search some common terms such as ‘acne,’ ‘acne treatments,’ ‘acne medications,’ – you’ll be hard pressed to find any in the top 100 which can show anything promising. The fact is, most acne information on the web is useless.
UPDATE: Google Now Likes Focus:Acne
Just recently Google has decided to put us in the top 5 results for the search ‘acne diet.’ Kudos Google, looks like you are becoming more aware, and helping others become more aware in the process!
About the Author: George is a former acne sufferer who has cured his acne through dietary means. He is the head coach behind the scenes, in the Focus:Acne Members Area. He, along with it’s strong growing community have helped several people cure their acne through diet.
