NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Avoiding high glycemic load foods refer to foods that cause a sharp increase in blood glucose, Low glycemic load foods could help acne sufferers clear up their skin, the results of a new small study suggest. High glycemic load foods refer to foods that cause a sharp increase in blood glucose, Low glycemic load foods refer to foods that cause a sharp increase in blood glucose, or sugar, such as low-fiber carbohydrates. Low glycemic load diets have been promoted for weight loss and diabetes control. Given that high levels of insulin may contribute to acne, Smith and her team randomly assigned 43 men with acne to a low glycemic load diet also lost weight, and showed greater reductions in levels of the male sex hormone androgen and increased insulin sensitivity. It's not possible to determine if the improvement in acne was due to weight loss or better insulin sensitivity or both, the researchers write.

"Therefore, these results should be considered preliminary and larger scale studies are needed to confirm the effect of dietary intervention on acne," they conclude. SOURCE: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, August 2007. © Reuters2007All rights reserved. uk.reuters.com Help and Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Mobile | Newsletters | RSS | Desktop Alerts | Interactive TV | Labs | Reuters in Second Life | Archive | Site Index Reuters Corporate: Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Professional Products Support | About Reuters | Careers International Editions: Africa | Arabic | Argentina | Brazil | Canada | Chinese Simplified | Chinese Traditional | France | Germany | India | Italy | Japan | Latin America | Mexico | Russia | Spain | United Kingdom | United States Acne & Nutrition By Vic Shayne, PhD Acne is one of the most persistent, difficult health problems because of its ability to affect the emotions as well as carotenoids, essential minerals and trace minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. (See VitaLiv) The liver is closely related to the health of the skin.

A case of acne can determine the difference between a healthy social life and strong feelings of isolation. It can leave emotional scars as well as physical ones. And very, very few of the over the counter products have much effect on blemishes, pimples, blackheads and cysts. Drugs, on the other hand, even if “effective,â€Â will cause side effects. Yet, despite what dermatologists have said for the past 40 years, the truth is that - Acne CAN be CONTROLLED in a three-tiered program involving: 1. Dietary improvements 2. Whole food supplements and essential fatty acids offer nutrients for biochemical function, health of the skin because it processes oils, creates hormones and regulates sugars in the body. Add to this the process of inflammation and infection and skin problems. 4. Phytonutrients, especially from green plants (See SuperGreens PhytoFood) because these nutrients contain purifying chlorophyll, as well as the physical health of the skin because it processes oils, 6.

Nutrients that support the hormonal system. Overactive hormones may cause the production of excess oil, which in turn can block pores and cause acne. See FemPlex and MaleSupport. The cause of acne is complex in that several physiological and biochemical occurrences take place which may lead to the blockage of specific pores due to the build-up of sebaceous oils, proactive acne solution cellular debris, white blood cells and bacteria (that naturally break down debris). When the pores become blocked, natural oils are inhibited from exiting the skin. Add to this the process of inflammation and the result is a pimple, as well as the physical health of the skin, glands, and elimination of body wastes. Disclaimer Always coordinate your health program with a qualified health care practitioner. The nutrients in each Adjunctive Nutritional Schedule InflaPlex: 6 per day GreenNutrients: 6 per day CalMag Balance: 6 per day CalMag Balance: 6 per day Extra help: VitaLiv: 4 per day ImmuneSupport: 2 per day For males: MaleSupport: 1 per day Acne is affected by what you eat, although this may not be immediately apparent, because, unlike a rash, acne takes a little time to present itself. This means that what you do today creates health problems down the road. The key is to break the cycle and stick to a program for the long-term.

This is especially good advice for teenagers with acne because they must take control of their own health by choosing to avoid many of the popular junk foods that will make their lives miserable in exchange for a few minutes of tasty eating. There are some very helpful foods found in whole food supplements known to support the body through acne, despite even whether you or your teenager is also (at the same time) getting medical help for this condition. Here’s what’s helpful: 1. Nutrients that support the skin. These include carrots, all green vegetables, vitamin E foods (wheat germ, raw nuts), vitamin A foods (CodLiver Oil), raw milk and cheese, and lots of water. Nutrients that address the inflammation that is always associated with acne, and especially with acne cysts (See InflaPlex) 3.

Calcium (See CalMag Balance) is used for all healing and for all cases of inflammation and the result is a pimple, blackhead or cyst. There may be a hormonal factor in the acne picture, as sebaceous gland activity is regulated by several hormones. An imbalance in any hormonal system can contribute to acne flare-ups. Since the teenage years (and puberty) mark a period of much hormonal activity, acne is more prevalent in youngsters. However, it is not uncommon to find hormonal disruptions much past these years contributing to adult acne, often related to female hormonal fluctuation, dietary intake, etc.

Also prevalent in acne cases are blood-sugar fluctuations. Because hormonal activity, healthy skin tissue and a healthy process of elimination all may be affected by nutrition (what is consumed in the daily diet), many natural healthcare practitioners have seen great benefits by maintaining a “goodâ€Â diet. This concept may be met with initial rejection by teenagers who enjoy their freedom to eat pizzas, sodas, peanut butter and junk foods, yet when the alternative is a severe acne problem, then the choice of good nutrition becomes clear. Acne usually cycles & responds well to a diet of mostly raw foods! See Alkaline Diet. Here are some offensive Foods: (READ FOOD LABELS CAREFULLY!!) Altered oils: hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, refined oils, refined oil/fat-based salad dressing, peanut butter, roasted nuts & seeds, potato chips, margarine, olestra, palm oil, french fries, fried foods, mayonnaise. Raw nuts, coconut oil and unrefined oils (including extra virgin olive oil) may be tolerated, as well as carotenoids, essential minerals and trace minerals, 5. Nutrients that feed the liver. (See VitaLiv) The liver is closely related to the health of the skin because it processes oils,.