Low glycaemic diet clears up acne

Foods with lower glycaemic index not only improve insulin sensitivity, but also help in clearing up acne.Glycaemic index (GI) is a ranking system for carbohydrates based on their effect on blood glucose levels. A high glycaemic load found in foods like potatoes, tend to cause a rapid surge in blood sugar. This glycaemic load is also involved in the pathogenesis of acne. Comparatively, in fibre rich foods, such change is found to be more gradual and thus, they have a low glycaemic index. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body's cells become insensitive to the effects of insulin, so the body's response to a normal amount of insulin is reduced. As a result, higher amounts of insulin are needed for this hormone to work in the body.Researchers in RMIT University in Melbourne, assessed acne symptoms in 43 male patients, between 15 and 25 years, who were randomly assigned to a low glycaemic load diet or a normal diet for 12 weeks. The intervention diet consisted of 25 percent energy from protein and 45 percent from low-glycaemic-index carbohydrates. The findings indicated that a low-glycaemic diet led to a significant reduction in acne as compared to normal diet. In addition, the low-glycaemic diet produced significantly greater reductions in body weight and body mass and a greater increase in insulin sensitivity. The improvement in acne and insulin sensitivity after a diet with a low GI suggests that nutrition-related lifestyle factors may play a role in the development of acne. By taking a diet with a low-glycaemic index, one can also reduce acne.