Is There a Link Between the Atkins Diet and Acne Reduction?
The Atkins diet became popular as a result of reports of rapid weight loss while eating foods that taste good, such as steak and cheese. The Atkins diet works by reducing the amount of carbohydrates in your system, forcing your body to convert fat into energy, thus resulting in less body weight from fat. People on the Atkins diet seem pleased with their weight loss, and interestingly enough, claim other benefits from being on the Atkins diet as well.
One suggested benefit is a potential link between the Atkins diet and acne reduction and prevention. So far, one study performed at RMIT University in Australia, suggests a link between the Atkins diet and acne reduction. Whether this correlation between the Atkins diet and acne reduction is legitimate requires further study, but if you wish to make your own decision of whether or not to try it, here are the facts and theory behind this development.
The Study
The RMIT study that suggests that the Atkins diet and acne reduction are linked took 50 young men, all suffering from acne, and separated them into two groups. One group was given a diet full of processed foods, while the other had a diet with higher protein and a lower number of complex carbohydrates, which are digested more slowly than processed foods. The result of the test was that the second group showed a reduction in their acne.
The result of this test has led to a new theory that the higher protein foods in the second group kept blood sugar levels from spiking too high, which can lead to acne problems. The expected result is that because the Atkins diet also leads to less blood sugar spikes, the Atkins diet and acne loss are linked.
What can you do?
Of course, without more extensive testing, the link between the Atkins diet and acne prevention and reduction is merely a theory and nothing more. However, if you are interested in trying the Atkins diet and reducing acne on your own, you can certainly give it a shot. Even if doesn't seem to work for you, some time on the Atkins diet will still result in some weight loss, so it's not as if you won't come out with something to show for your efforts. Still, because a link between the Atkins diet and acne prevention has not been firmly established yet, do not take this route as a substitute for traditional treatments, but merely as a supplement to those treatments. Of course, if you do want healthy skin, then it should follow that you do everything that you can to keep it healthy.
