By Jennifer Dawson
Many Americans spend at least $500 dollars each year on a multitude of different skincare products, hoping to achieve smooth and glowing skin. But what if the expression, “you are what you eat,” is true? Could following the ketogenic diet be what you need to transform the health and appearance of your skin?
What Is The Ketogenic Diet?
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat low-carb diet and is often compared to the Atkins diet. The diet involves a drastic reduction in carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This dramatic reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state known as ketosis. When this happens, your body breaks down fats into ketones which become the body’s main energy source, instead of protein or carbs. This is what has made the ketogenic diet popular as a weight loss diet. One study found that people on a ketogenic diet lost over twice as much weight than those on a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet. But while the diet has clear weight loss benefits, what can it do for your skin?
Skin Benefits of Keto Diet
The basis of a ketogenic diet is to increase fat intake and this has significant benefits for your skin. Omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts and salmon are great for both your hair and skin. Increasing your intake of healthy fats can also help soothe dry, itchy and flaking skin. The high oil content of the diet can also help your skin to look more dewy and healthier as more oil is released onto the skin by the oil glands. Meanwhile, as excess sugar in your diet can weaken collagen and lead to saggy skin, lines and wrinkles, the ketogenic diet can help you achieve a smooth, wrinkle-free complexion as it is low in sugar.
Reduce Acne Inflammation
Acne affects up to 50 million people in America each year and happens when hair follicles become clogged with dead skin cells and oil. It can cause pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads to appear on the face, chest, upper back and shoulders. High levels of insulin and related hormones can also make acne significantly worse. However, the ketogenic diet helps to lower the level of insulin in the body and over time, can help to reduce acne inflammation and help you to achieve clearer skin.
The ketogenic diet may have initially got attention for its weight loss properties, but more people are now recognizing the benefits the diet has for the skin. From reducing acne inflammations to achieving a smoother, more youthful complexion, the keto diet could certainly become the next big thing in skincare.
