Blue light is one of the best natural acne treatments available. It works by destroying acne bacteria on and just under the skin. But how can you prevent acne from ever developing in the first place? A recent Australian study shows your diet may have a lot to do with it.

In the study, as reported in the 2007 Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1/2 the young men were given a high protein, low GL diet. The others were instructed to eat a typical Western teenage diet, heavy on sugar and processed foods. After 12 weeks, those following the high protein, low GL diet had over a 50% reduction of acne lesions.

So a low GL diet gets right to a major cause of acne, hormone imbalance.  Meals and snacks with a low Glycemic Load keep insulin under control, which helps with general hormone balance, which naturally reduces oil production in the skin, which leads to less breakouts.  You will also likely lose weight and save money following a high protein, low GL diet.

“The research clearly shows that your daily diet can improve acne symptoms. This is highly significant and contrary to current recommendations that say that what you eat plays no role in acne. A healthy diet with low GI carbohydrates and higher levels of protein is now the first line of treatment for anyone suffering from acne, in addition to any cream or ointment your dermatologist recommends. When used for acne in its early stages or for mild to moderate cases, this may mean up to 100 per cent improvement in symptoms.”

Catherine Saxelby
Accredited Practising Dietitian

Click here for the full study, as published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Recommended Reading:

The Teenage Anti-Acne Diet Booklet. The doctors who did this study created this booklet to help parents implement a high protein, low GL diet for their teenagers.   It is an excellent publication, and it’s free.

The Schwarzbein Principle: The Truth About Losing Weight, Being Healthy, and Feeling Younger
by Diana Schwarzbein, M.D and Nancy Deville.  This book explains food in relation to your hormone balance and provides practical ways to make the necessary changes in diet and lifestyle.

The Easy GL Diet Handbook: Lose Weight with the Revolutionary Glycemic Load Program – A great little ‘quick-start’ guide to eating well.

More studies on acne and diet:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20361171

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21335995