Lifestyle - High protein diet reduces pimples

MELBOURNE: In what could finally put an end to the debate over whether what one eats affects pimples, a new study has revealed that a high-protein
diet can reduce acne by 50%.

A team at RMIT University in Australia has carried out the study and found that a high protein-based, low-GI diet could have a dramatic effect on acne symptoms, the 'Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology' reported.

Lead researcher Dr Robyn Smith said: "Diet has long been thought to be the cause of acne with chocolate most often named as a culprit, but I was surprised how little scientific research had been done in this area.

"My research found that a low-GI diet significantly reduced acne lesion counts when compared with the conventional high-carb, high-GI Western diet.

"A diet designed to fight acne should contain minimally refined carbohydrate-based foods and include a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, lean meats, fish and seafood."

In fact, the researchers came to the conclusion after conducting what they claim was the first randomised controlled trial on diet and acne in more than 40 years. The experiment involved 43 teenage boys on two different diets over 12 weeks.

One group followed the typical western teen diet of refined and highly processed carbohydrate foods while the other group ate a more natural diet higher in protein and low-GI foods such as wholegrain bread, pasta and legumes.

"Those on the low-GI diet reduced facial acne by 50%, and showed improvements in their self-esteem and overall wellbeing," Smith said.