Why grains are so bad for acne

Well, do I have a big shocker for you.

Grains are among the worst foods to eat if you suffer from acne.

For many people grains and acne go almost hand in hand. In the what causes acne page I explained that acne is a result of blood sugar problems and chronic inflammation.

The main problem with grains is gluten.

Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley. Oats as they exist in nature don't have gluten, but it often gets added during processing. That's why people with acne should be careful about oats also.

Gluten in grains causes problems because it's highly allergic. And when something is allergic it's also inflammatory. The immune system treats gluten as an invader and attacks it. This causes more inflammation and also more acne.

Celiac disease is the most extreme form of gluten intolerance. However many researchers say that up 40% of the population in the US may suffer from hidden gluten intolerance. These people show no outward symptoms after eating grains or gluten.

I know from experience that this hidden gluten intolerance causes acne for many people.

Gluten is the main thing that links grains and acne, but it's not the only one.

I wrote about grains as part of my 'Do you make these 5 diet mistakes' blog post. I'll copy-paste the laundry list of problems that connect grains and acne.

Grains irritate the digestive track and may lead to nutrient deficiencies

Grains contain insoluble fiber which is not compatible with the human digestive system. We need soft, soluble fiber from fruits and vegetables not the coarse and sharp insoluble fiber from grains.

Grains are tasteless and unappealing in their natural state

To make grains palatable you need to add spices and eat them with other foods; usually fat or protein. This creates a terrible food combination where neither grains nor the food eaten with them is digested completely.

Undigested food putrefies in the gut and leaks inflammatory toxins into the body. If your body is overloaded with toxins it tries to eliminate them through the skin, which creates the perfect environment for acne causing bacteria to grow.

Further difficult food combinations require huge amounts of energy to digest even partially, leaving you drained.

Grains are addictive

How often do you crave fruits and vegetables? Probably never. But how often you get cravings for starchy foods? Probably very often. Gluten grains contain addictive chemicals that cause withdrawal symptoms once you stop eating them.

"The peptides from gluten and casein are important because the react with opiate receptors in the brain, thus mimicking the effects of opiate drugs like heroin and morphine. These compounds have been shown to react with areas of the brain such as the temporal lobes, which are involved in speech and auditory integration."

http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/gluten-casein.html
Also see: Celiac Notes: Opiate Withdrawal from Gluten and Casein?

This acne and grains link applies to whole grains also. Yes, they have more nutrients than refined grains, but that doesn't negate all the other problems grains have.

If all this was news to you, I really recommend you read the Do you make these 5 diet mistakes blog post. You may find few other surprises there, along with some good discussion.

Despite all the other negative effects of eating grains, for acne victims gluten remains their biggest downside. So if you choose to eat grains, go with the ones that are gluten free.

Examples of grains that do not have gluten include wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, oats, soybeans, and sunflower seeds.

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