Avoid iodine: Dairy products (milk in coffee beverages, cheese, ice cream, sour cream, Greek yogurt), processed foods, take-out food, frozen dinners, fast food, canned food, soft drinks, salty snacks, seaweed snacks, salted sunflower seeds, salted nuts, canned, packaged and restaurant soups, ramen noodles, tomato juice, V-8, seasoned salt, iodized salt, salty condiments, high-sodium sports and energy drinks (except Vitamin Water), sushi wrapped in seaweed, Chinese food (salty sauces, MSG, soups, soy sauce), American Mexican food (cheese, sour cream, refried beans and salted tortilla chips), processed meats (lunch and deli meat, hot dogs, bacon, franks, hot links, sausage) and condiments containing kelp, MSG and/or iodized salt.
Peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil and wheat germ contain androgenic hormones and can cause breakouts. You can enjoy other nuts, as long as they’re unsalted. Try low-sodium almond butter, cashew butter, etc.
Supplements can be acne triggers, especially biotin, maca root, CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), seaweed, kelp, blue green algae, spirulina, chlorella, iodine, testosterone precursors (DHEA and andro), creatine, protein drinks that contain whey, casein, kelp, and seaweed, green detox drinks and more.
Acne-safe supplements: Iodine-free multi-vitamins, zinc monomethionine or picolinate (always with meals), enteric-coated fish oil, flax seed oil, krill oil, MSM, probiotics, calcium citrate (with magnesium and vitamin D), vitamin C complex and B-complex. Safe protein powders: Sunwarrior Classic Protein and Paleo Egg White Protein. Can’t sleep? Try Estrovan Nighttime®, Alteril®, valerian root and melatonin. Check with your doctor before taking supplements, especially if you have health problems or are taking prescription meds.
Skip dairy, the biggest acne trigger: Cheese, milk, ice cream, sour cream, Greek yogurt, protein powders that contain whey and/or casein and dairy-rich coffee drinks. Dairy is linked to acne, allergies, eczema, psoriasis, weight gain, digestive problems, water retention, high blood pressure, bloating, puffy eyes and many other health problems. . Concerned about calcium and vitamin D? Eat lots of dark green veggies and take supplements with calcium citrate, magnesium and vitamin D. On cereal, try ice-cold almond, coconut or rice milk. If it’s GMO-free, soy milk may be better than cow’s milk for some, but it contains hormones, is processed to taste better with added sugar and fat, can cause allergic reactions, and be difficult to digest.
Fish and seafood from polluted water can cause persistent skin problems, including a rash-like acne. This doesn’t seem to happen in better restaurants. If your acne is treatment-resistant and rashy, try eliminating fish and seafood from your diet for a while.
Avoid seasoned salt and iodized table salt, which contains iodine and MSG. Try a blend of iodine-free sea salt, Mrs. Dash Table Blend, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, paprika and cayenne pepper.
