Healthy Foods That Harm Your Skin

​It’s easy to be confused by health marketing these days. A label like ”all natural”, ”organic”, or ”low-fat” can make us feel we’re making the right choices and doing good by our bodies – which we all want to do! But unfortunately many food companies care more about making money than being honest about how their products really affect our health.

​The foods listed below have been linked to inflammation and acne, through hormones, glycemic load, or high amounts of processed ingredients. I certainly loved eating all these foods at one point in time, but once I became aware they caused breakouts, I knew I had to choose between them and my acne. 

Granola
As with most foods, this can be healthy or unhealthy. My biggest gripe with granola is that the second ingredient is usually sugar. Most granolas have just as much if not more sugar than kid’s cereals – big yikes for your skin!

TRY INSTEAD: Check your local health food store for low-sugar granolas or consider making your own. Here’s some of my simple and delicious homemade recipe: http://emmaolliff.com/granola-recipes/ 

Agave
While it’s been praised as a health food, agave has just as much sugar as all the other processed sugars out there – 16g per tablespoon. The fact that agave is naturally-derived from plants doesn’t make a difference either as sugar is also naturally derived from sugar cane. The fact is in nature, it would take you ages to extract 16g of sugar from those plants. While both agave and raw sugar are better for your body than high fructose corn syrup, they all spike your blood sugar in the same quantity.

TRY INSTEAD: Coconut palm sugar. While this still counts towards your daily sugar budget, it comes with a little side helping of fiber to keep blood sugar levels more stable, reducing overall inflammation.

Dairy... milk
Forget the moustache, we’ve known for some time that cow’s milk has been linked to acne. In my community, I find that the majority of nutritionists I know do not drink milk or consume dairy products.
TRY INSTEAD: Almond milk is a great option if you want to be avoiding those breakouts! Cutting out cow’s milk also tremendously helped my friend’s eczema, it nearly disappeared in a matter of weeks. If you have any skin issues, give it a try!

Greek Yogurt
Yoghurt companies have really been cashing in on the health craze surrounding probiotics, but the fact is that most commercial yogurts are loaded with GMO cow’s milk, processed sugar, and only a small amount of probiotics compared to supplements. Greek yogurt in particular is super concentrated in cow’s milk – about 1 cup of greek yogurt contains 2-4 cups of cow’s milk… yikes for your skin!

TRY INSTEAD: Coconut milk yogurt sparingly as a treat. If you’re really wanting the probiotic health benefits, then take a supplement in the morning with a glass of lemon water. Repeat daily and watch your skin get nice and glowy!

Pesto
Don’t let the green color fool you, pesto is parmesan cheese with a little basil. We know that cow’s milk triggers acne and pesto is no different.

TRY INSTEAD: Luckily it possible to make a homemade delicious pesto, like this one! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/yummy-vegan-pesto-classico/

Soy
Soy is a concentrated product made of soybeans. Because soybeans contain phyto-oestrogens (common in a lot of plants including apples and carrots), the concentrated forms it potent and higher than their whole food counterparts. Most soy products are GMO and a common allergen/irritant for many.

TRY INSTEAD: Fermented soy products are ok in my book, so enjoy products like tempeh, miso, and tamari (gluten-free soy sauce). 

​Fruit Juice
Whole fruit is one of the best things you can eat for your skin. It’s rich in vitamins and minerals, and contains fiber so your blood sugar does not spike from consuming it. Fruit juice however does not have fibre, so the sugar within goes straight into your blood stream. This spikes blood sugar and too much of it can flare up acne. 

TRY INSTEAD: Fruit smoothies or juices that are rich in vegetables and greens. 
​
Cereal
While it may be obvious that cereal isn’t that healthy, it’s worth a second look. Kids cereal we know is loaded with sugar, but even the “heart healthy” and “whole grain” cereal is often over processed or loaded with gluten.

TRY INSTEAD: Oatmeal with whole, rolled oats and topping it off with fresh berries or banana and some coconut palm sugar for a healthier breakfast start. 

Healthy skin isn’t about being perfect, it’s about balance. Find your balance and make progress where you can! Here’s to clearer, more beautiful skin 

​Emma x