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DIETARY
MYTHS & ACNE
It
is commonly believed that two of
the best ways to treat acne are to
reduce fat and avoid
chocolate. Scientific
studies have not found any link
between chocolate and acne (except
in allergic-type reactions), but
high-fat diets have been found to
increase the flow of the skin's
oily secretions. The advice
to avoid fatty and greasy foods is
consistent also with traditional
Chinese medicine, which views acne
as a "hot" condition and
fatty foods as
"heating." In
Chinese medicine,
"heating" foods or herbs
may increase inflammation.
Thus, symbolically, the fats add
fuel to the fire. The herbs
in this section, including
burdock, canaigre, nettle and red
clover, are all considered cooling
herbs in the Chinese system, and
their folk use in North America is
surprisingly consistent with the
principles of traditional medicine
in Asia. A number of
scientific studies have shown that
acne is a "Western
disease"; that is, its
incidence may be related to modern
diet because it does not appear in
societies that eat more
traditional diets.
Traditional diets lack refined
foods such as sugar, white flour,
and canned products. Further
nutritional studies need to be
carried out in the United States
to verify these connections
between acne and diet. |
ACNE
