Food journal your way to a clear complexion. Do you have a reason to believe that something you are eating is triggering your breakouts but you’re not sure what exactly it is that is causing your acne to flare up? What if I told you there’s a link between nutrition and healthy skin? It’s true! Keeping track of your eating habits is the key to glowing skin. Writing a food diary can help you find the perfect diet for your skin – It’s simple, you just need to start!
You Are What You Eat
There are a lot of people out there, especially on social media, proclaiming that a special diet helped them to achieve flawless skin. Certain dietary habits can lead to an increase in sebum production which in turn leads to blocked pores thanks to a higher production of hormones and insulin. Many people state that their acne gets worse after consuming high glycemic foods with a high content of saturated fatty acids, such as chocolate.
Anti-Acne Diet Tip
Sometimes we are so caught up in the stress of our daily lives, that we don’t even notice how much junk we eat.
Using your phone might be a good alternative for all people who prefer to have all their notes in one place.
Most of the time, we have our phones right next to us which makes it a lot easier to stick to the routine. Seeing your diet on a screen or on paper will make you more aware of what you eat, how you eat, and why you eat.
In turn, this can help you to make beneficial changes to your well-being to achieve that glowing complexion you’re working towards.
How To Start Food Journaling
What is your intention? – Set your intention first. Why are you food journaling in the first place? What do you hope to achieve from it? If you want clearer skin, think about your goals and intentions every time you open your food journal. Reminding yourself WHY you do something is half the battle. It will help you to stay dedicated, and will help you to not only meet, but crush your goals too.
Make a list and stick to it! – there’s no better way to screw up your chances for clear skin than going to the grocery store and buying one or two guilty pleasures (*ahem* frozen pizza *ahem*). Plan out what you’re going to buy beforehand and stick to it.
Become a label investigator! – Remember to read food labels looking for dairy, soy, B12 & biotin in the food you’re purchasing. You’d be surprised to know that some of the things you consume daily have sneaky acne causing culprits in them. For instance, let’s talk hummus. We love that stuff too BUT some brands are chock full of soybean oil that inflames your skin bringing on the breakouts!! The food you have near you is 90% of the battle when it comes to diet and acne. Self-control is seriously overrated. Don’t keep inflammation-causing salad dressings and insulin-spiking protein bars around with the intention of only having them once and a while because it’s just not worth it.
When you get done, pat yourself on the back. Seriously, I mean it. Doing this is a huge step forward in achieving clear skin from within. It’s not an easy feat.
Stick To What Works Best
A good way to maintain continuity is to find a structure that works for you. Forming new habits like keeping a food journal can seem like a daunting task.
The trend goes back to pen and paper as many people feel the need to take some time off the screen and to return to the basics. Buying a journal with a pen which feels good in your hand might be the perfect motivational starting point. Whether you use an app or an old, empty journal, find a method that fits easily into your schedule and matches your personality. Review the ingredients in the foods you eat against our Clear Skin Guide to see if you’ve been setting yourself up for failure with all your favorite foods!
Playing to your strengths will only help you in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Most importantly with food journaling: It’s important to write down what you eat as soon as you’ve finished eating. Doing it right away will help you to foster this new habit. Write down everything you eat and drink, from breakfast to your midnight snack.
Keep the diary faithfully for at least a few weeks, also noting any bad breakouts. Once you have enough data, you can look back at the things you’ve eaten before acne flare-ups and identify patterns. Chances are, you might notice a few of the diet villains we’ve already discussed in our previous blog posts! (We’re looking at you, sugar and dairy.)
We want you to eat food you love and get the gorgeous skin you crave. Are you ready to go all in for clear skin?
Wondering about which of your favorite foods might be causing your flare ups? — Schedule an acne consultation, and we will happily provide you everything you need to know.
Cheers to clear!
Rene
