The embarrassing condition of acne has been attributed to a wide variety of causes over the centuries. Many people unfairly blame people with acne-prone skin for being dirty or not washing their face properly. Obviously, this is far from the truth, as acne can affect anyone, regardless of their personal hygiene habits. Others believe that eating large amounts of chocolate will ensure an acne breakout. This isn’t the case either, but research has linked acne to a person’s diet choices. We are going to discuss some types of foods that cause acne.

Foods that are highly acidic tend to cause acne as they create an imbalance in your body’s pH levels. Foods to avoid include the following:

• Vegetables: lentils, pumpkin, corn
• Fruits: gooseberries, plums, prunes, blueberries and blueberries
• Grain: barley, cornstarch, oats, wheat bran, amaranth, rice, rye, wheat germ, noodles, macaroni, spaghetti, bread, soda crackers, white flour, rolled oats and wheat flour
• Beans and Vegetables: chickpeas, peas, kidney beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, soybeans, black beans, and navy beans
• Dairy products: butter, ice cream, melted cheese, butter and frozen milk
• Nuts and Butters: peanuts, walnuts, walnuts, cashews, and peanut butter
• Animal proteins: bacon, beef, pork, salmon, lamb, fish, clams, cod, mussels, sausages, scallops, turkey, venison, shrimp and lobster
• Fats and oils: canola oil, lard, olive oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, hemp seed oil, and safflower oil
• Sweeteners: corn syrup, sugar and carob
• Alcohol: spirits, hard liquor, wine and beer
• Condiments: vinegar, pepper, ketchup and mustard
• Drinks: coffee and soft drinks
• Drugs and chemicals: aspirin, pesticides, tobacco and herbicides

If you want to prevent or minimize breakouts, you should replace acidic foods with alkaline food options. Some examples include carrots, cucumbers, garlic, lettuce, tomatoes, apples, grapes, lemons, pineapples, raisins, strawberries, peaches, oranges, and almonds. You might be surprised to see so many citrus fruits on this list. The reason is that the specific citric acid each contains has an alkalizing effect on your body that will actually lower the acidity level, rather than increase it.

Rather than making an effort to avoid a specific type of food, it is better to avoid acidic food groups that will increase your acne. Replace some of the options on the first list with more alkaline foods from the second list. You will soon discover that small changes to your diet can produce big results.