You know how eating a big doughnut can cause you to go on a sugar high and then crash? This not only affects your mood and energy but also your skin health.
"When you eat sugar, your blood sugar spikes and the body releases insulin, which helps pull glucose from the blood and store it in cells," Dr. Lipman explained. "Although the body is built to handle this in small doses, when someone is eating sweets or foods that turn to sugar once digested, blood sugar is in a constant state of flux, causing insulin and insulin-like growth factor to be released constantly."
So you're probably wondering what this has to do with pimples. "It is problematic for a number of different reasons, but when it comes to the skin, the excess insulin and insulin-like growth factor causes the skin to release sebum, a greasy substance that can attract acne-promoting bacteria," he noted.
And there is proof to back it up! A study done by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition discovered that acne was improved when food that causes insulin spikes (such as refined carbohydrates and sugar) was reduced. Another study found that a high-glycemic diet is related to breakouts. While acne medicines can be amazing at solving the problems associated with zits, so can watching your sugar intake (and that includes fruit!).
