Looking for a no-nonsense diet for clear skin in a week? You dropped off at the right place!
All of us want that perfect acne and scar-free clear skin. We try zillions of expensive and fancy products and spend hours at the salon. These things may work but not always.
To keep our external appearance spot and acne-free, we have to put effort into our internal selves, health, and body.
We’ve all heard that saying – we are what we eat. And that’s true. The kind of food we put into our bellies reflects on our skin. Adopting a healthy diet along with a healthier lifestyle can have mental health benefits too!
Learn more about the positive influence that a healthier lifestyle can have on mental health conditions such as depression in this article from BetterHelp.
In this post, these are the topics we are going to cover:
- Causes of acne and unclear skin
- Vegetarian diet for clear skin in a week
- Non-Vegetarian diet for clear skin in a week
- Foods you should consume for clear skin
- Types of foods to avoid
Contents
How does the skin get clogged?
Individual pores on our skin have a single hair follicle and a gland. The gland produces sebum (oil), which lubricates and keeps the hair follicle soft. However, when an excess of sebum is produced, substances clump up together, and a plug is formed. This plug is then manifested in forms like whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and pustules on our skin’s surface.
What causes acne?
The root cause of acne can be either one or a combination of these factors.
Hormones
A leading cause of acne is the fluctuation of hormones, especially the hormone called androgen. Androgen is most active during the teenage years, with the onset of puberty. The rise of androgen levels leads to enlargement of the glands beneath the pores of our skin, which further leads to increased production of sebum, which, as we know, eventually leads to acne.
Genetics
Some people are more prone to acne than others, and the reason behind this is genetics. Individuals with acne-prone skin are susceptible to excess oil production and quicker regeneration of skin cells and are more prone to bacteria. When the genetic factors team up with harsh environmental factors, it increases the chances of getting acne.
Pollution
In metropolitan cities, we are constantly surrounded by pollution due to industrialization and increased factories and automobiles. Dirt and dust are slathered on our faces, which makes our skin more susceptible to acne.
Makeup and Beauty products
There is a huge debate as to whether or not makeup causes acne. Researchers conclude that the connection between acne and makeup actually depends on the individual using makeup products. Excessive use of foundation, powder, concealers, and other makeup products block the pores, creating a ground for acne to pop up. However, if individuals wipe off their makeup before hitting the gym or sleeping at night, the chances of getting acne are reduced.
Stress
Stress is not the main culprit of acne breakouts, rather a factor that worsens the already existing acne condition. When stress levels are at a peak, the body secretes male hormone androgen and testosterone, which leads to increased sebum production, finally leading to acne breakout.
Diet
Everything we put inside our bodies is reflected in our skin. Thus, the food we eat is an extreme priority for achieving and maintaining healthy, clear skin. When we eat sugar, junk food, processed food, we let a lot of toxic waste into our bodies. These, in turn, slow your metabolism and overload our detoxification system. Our poor food choices are evident through our dry, dull and irritated skin. Conversely, when we consume healthy nutritious food, it reflects healthy skin in the following ways:
- Meals loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants help fight aging.
- Collagen formation is supported, and dryness and wrinkles are prevented by consuming healthy fats and proteins.
- Flushing of toxins out of our body is done by consuming water, herbal drinks, and supplements, which eventually keep skin free from acne and irritation.
Vegetarian Diet for Clear Skin in a Week
Monday
Breakfast – A bowl of warm oats with nuts and seeds.
Lunch – Brown Rice with sautéed broccoli, mushrooms, and red peppers
Dinner – Chickpea Salad
Tuesday
Breakfast – Spinach wrap
Lunch – Whole wheat bread burger
Dinner – Baked Eggplant with tomato seasoning
Wednesday
Breakfast – Green Smoothie (green leafy vegetables)
Lunch – Mixed vegetable fritters
Dinner – Lentil soup
Thursday
Breakfast – Tomato and Whole Wheat bread sandwich Sweet potato
Lunch – Veg Brown Fried Rice
Dinner – Carrot soup
Friday
Breakfast – Sweet potato
Lunch – Spinach Salad
Dinner – Soya bean with red peppers
Saturday
Breakfast – Açai bowl drizzled with berries, flaxseeds and Chia seeds
Lunch – Kidney bean with brown rice
Dinner – Sweet potato with sautéed vegetables
Sunday
Breakfast – Avocado Toast
Lunch – Brown Rice Risotto
Dinner – Sprouts Salad
Non-Vegetarian Diet for Clear Skin in a Week
Monday
Breakfast – A bowl of warm oats with nuts and seeds.
Lunch – Brown Rice and sautéed broccoli, mushrooms, and red peppers
Dinner – Tuna Salad
Tuesday
Breakfast – Scrambled Eggs with spinach
Lunch – Baked Eggplant with tomato seasoning
Dinner – Fried Mackerel
Wednesday
Breakfast – Green Smoothie (green leafy vegetables)
Lunch – Wrap with Chicken breast and avocado
Dinner – Lentil soup
Thursday
Breakfast – Sweet potato
Lunch – Egg Brown Fried Rice
Dinner – Lamb with sautéed vegetables
Friday
Breakfast – Tomato and Whole Wheat bread sandwich
Lunch – Spinach Salad
Dinner – Chicken with red peppers
Saturday
Breakfast – Açai bowl drizzled with berries, flaxseeds and Chia seeds
Lunch – Chicken burger with whole wheat bread
Dinner – Salmon with sautéed vegetables
Sunday
Breakfast – Avocado Toast
Lunch – Chicken Brown Rice Risotto
Dinner – Chickpea Salad
Foods that Promote Clear Skin
- A low glycemic diet (low in simple sugars) reduces the release of androgen, which is one of the primary causes of acne, thus reducing acne’s severity. Foods with a low GI include oat bran, whole wheat, brown rice, sweet potatoes, nuts and raisins, lentils, etc.
- Omega-3 is a type of fat usually found in animal and plant protein sources. The omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and help in reducing acne. Food items with high omega-3 fatty acids are different types of fish like mackerel, sardine, salmon, cod liver oil, flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, soybeans, etc.
- Antioxidants are chemicals that balance the toxins in our body. Omega-3s, antioxidants are anti-inflammatory. The food items packed with antioxidants are berries, kidney beans, broccoli, green tea, tomatoes, raisins, and dark chocolate.
- Zinc is a micronutrient that is vital for skin development and maintenance as well as regulating metabolism and hormone levels. Items like spinach, chicken, mushrooms, yogurt, lamb, chickpeas, sesame, and pumpkin seeds are loaded with zinc.
- The healing of acne and advancement of healthy glowing skin is facilitated by Vitamin C. The food rich in vitamin C are oranges, kiwis, papayas, peppers, guava, broccoli, strawberries, berries, Indian gooseberries.
- Green leafy vegetables are loaded with Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and zinc. All of which are vital for optimal skin health. Leafy vegetables like spinach, fenugreek, kale can be steamed, added to sautéed vegetables, or added in lentil soups.
Foods You Should Avoid for Acne-free Skin
Chocolate, fried foods, pizza, caffeine, nuts, dairy, etc., are foods that scientific research has been shown as in some cases to affect, but no concrete cause-and-effect relationship exists.
- Refined carbohydrates like white bread, white pasta have a high glycemic index and contribute to acne by causing more sebum production.
- Dairy products milk and cheese promote the release of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) as well as an enzyme called mTORC1, both of which may contribute to the development of acne.
- Sugar raises our insulin level, which ultimately may boost those oil-triggering male hormones, leading to acne breakouts.
What to Keep in Mind
- Start your day with warm lemon water.
- Between the three meals, you can snack on fruits, nuts, and seeds.
- Wash your face twice, once in the morning and once in the night.
- Use a moisturizer that is customized for your skin type.
- At least twice in the week, smear on a face mask.
- Avoid using a lot of makeup. But if you do, don’t forget to take it off with an appropriate makeup remover.
- Consume a lot of water and sip on some green tea whenever possible.
- Avoid food and drinks that not good for your skin, like coffee, chocolates, burgers and pizzas, processed food, excess sugar, etc.
The takeaway
We hope the above-mentioned diet for clear skin in a week will help you achieve beautiful, clearer skin in no time.
Since there’s no rule here of one size fits all, we mentioned the diet plan for vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
Take it as a way to go rather than a piece of medical advice and always look for any allergies if you have with a particular food item. Happy skin-loving with healthy food!
Thanks for making a meal plan! Diet is so important for many of our health issues.
Jennifer
Such a nice and informative post dear. Thanks for sharing.
Adi xx