The Paleolithic diet is not a passing fad. It was the diet of our ancestors for a million years. At that time, people lived a hunter-gatherer existence, subsisting off of meat they caught in the wild and fruits and vegetables that they gathered. Recently, scientific evidence collected by Dr. Loren Cordain and published in his book "The Dietary Cure for Acne" has shown that a diet that mimics that of our Paleolithic ancestors can mitigate the occurrence of acne.
Acne is a Disease of Civilization
Dr. Cordain studied two modern day tribal societies for instances of acne. Examining the faces of 1,200 Kitavan Islanders of Papua New Guinea, including 300 between the ages of 15 and 25, and 115 members of the Ache tribe of Paraguay, he did not find a single incidence of acne. Eskimos were also completely absent of acne while eating their traditional diet. When exposed to the modern Western diet, they broke out in pimples.
What Paleolithic Man Did Not Eat
Our ancestors ate only what they could catch or gather. They didn't eat or drink processed foods. Most of the foods we find in supermarkets today are a blend of ingredients put together in a factory. Paleo man did not eat bread, pasta, sweets, cakes or cereals. He certainly didn't drink sodas, processed milk, sports drinks or beers.
The Paleolithic Diet- What to Eat
Eat a wide variety of vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale. Root vegetables such as onions, squash and carrots are also part of a healthy acne-free diet. Our ancestors loved fruits, but they were only available during certain seasons. Eat fruit, but not too much, advises Mark Sisson, author of the paleolithic diet book "The Primal Blueprint."
Meat and Nuts
Eating meat is an essential part of the paleolithic diet. Buy grass-fed and free range chicken when possible. Stay away from meat that has been treated with salts and sugars for taste. It is always best to buy food that is fresh. Fat and protein can also be obtained from eating nuts.
Why the Paleolithic Diet Works for Acne
Dr. Cordain believes that the Western diet causes acne through a process that begins with chronically elevated insulin levels. Eating highly processed, starchy and sugary foods such as breads and pastas raises insulin levels, which in turn causes a sequence of hormonal changes throughout the body that leads to an excess production of sebum. Sebum is the oily substance that covers your skin and gives you acne. By eating a paleolithic diet you avoid eating insulin spiking foods and therefore decrease the amount of sebum your body produces, which in turn decreases your acne.
References
- "The Dietary Cure For Acne"; Loren Cordain, Ph.D.; 2006
- Marks Daily Apple: How to Treat Acne
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