Acne is a Widespread Problem - But Only in the West - What Should That Tell Us?
As you stand in front of your mirror, staring at an outbreak of pimples it may feel like you are the only one in the world to have it so bad.
But, you are not alone.
It is estimated that over 90% of all adolescents and almost 25% of all adults in western counties are acne sufferers.
It is also true that acne affects males and females worldwide, regardless of nationality.
But if you dig a little deeper some startling facts and trends start to emerge.
For instance --
Incidence of Acne in Western Countries Adolescents:79% to 95% Older than 25:40% to 54% Middle Aged: 3% to 12% Incidence of acne in underdeveloped countries: often 0% (*Cordain L.
Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization.
Arch Dermatol.
2002 Dec;138(12):1584-90.
) You Are What You Eat Could it be that chocolate really does cause pimples? Or how about oily foods? Do French fries bring on the acne? The latest reports show that although scientific evidence is not 100% accurate in this area, individual foods do not directly cause acne but your overall diet does play a role.
Multiple studies of people living on their traditional native diets - almost all of which are low fat-diets, based on starches, vegetables, and fruits - have found these people have little or no acne.
When these healthy people start eating the tradtional Western diet, acne becomes an epidemic - as do the other diseases of modern civilization (obesity, heart disease, diabetes, prostate and breast cancer).
So it looks like your mother was right all along.
"Eat your vegetables", she would say when you were little.
As important as it was then, it is even more important now that you are older.
Not only do vegetables and fruits help promote a healthy body, but they are vitally important to your skin.
Eating vegetables and drinking vegetable juice can actually help keep your skin free from acne.
Most of us so not eat near enough vegetables and seldom drink vegetable juices.
It's no wonder we get acne.
But, you are not alone.
It is estimated that over 90% of all adolescents and almost 25% of all adults in western counties are acne sufferers.
It is also true that acne affects males and females worldwide, regardless of nationality.
But if you dig a little deeper some startling facts and trends start to emerge.
For instance --
Incidence of Acne in Western Countries Adolescents:79% to 95% Older than 25:40% to 54% Middle Aged: 3% to 12% Incidence of acne in underdeveloped countries: often 0% (*Cordain L.
Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization.
Arch Dermatol.
2002 Dec;138(12):1584-90.
) You Are What You Eat Could it be that chocolate really does cause pimples? Or how about oily foods? Do French fries bring on the acne? The latest reports show that although scientific evidence is not 100% accurate in this area, individual foods do not directly cause acne but your overall diet does play a role.
Multiple studies of people living on their traditional native diets - almost all of which are low fat-diets, based on starches, vegetables, and fruits - have found these people have little or no acne.
When these healthy people start eating the tradtional Western diet, acne becomes an epidemic - as do the other diseases of modern civilization (obesity, heart disease, diabetes, prostate and breast cancer).
So it looks like your mother was right all along.
"Eat your vegetables", she would say when you were little.
As important as it was then, it is even more important now that you are older.
Not only do vegetables and fruits help promote a healthy body, but they are vitally important to your skin.
Eating vegetables and drinking vegetable juice can actually help keep your skin free from acne.
Most of us so not eat near enough vegetables and seldom drink vegetable juices.
It's no wonder we get acne.
