Share: do you think before you eat for skin’s sake?

I have been rather cautious with my diet for awhile, especially the period when I took on a detox to clear my acne. Even after the detox, I was careful and would deliberately avoid consuming diary, sugar, pastries, sweets, and any types of junk food. However, as my acne cleared, I gradually reverted back to my old self and started snacking on my favorite chocolates and sweets. Initially, I would only take a bite just to satisfy my craving because I did not want my acne to make a comeback. But as I ate more and found no skin troubles, I became “bolder” and started snacking often on stuff I shouldn’t have.

Internal struggle
The past two months have probably been the worst, with me binging on my son’s snacks while he is away in school. Hee. But it came to a point I developed a number of pimples and I had to curb my diet but not in the old, strict sense. Personally, it has become a struggle when I open the fridge or the kitchen cupboard looking for snacks as I would always have these thoughts: “Should I eat this?” “Can I eat that?” “Will that give me breakout?” From someone who couldn’t give two hoots about I eat, I have become someone with food anxieties – if there is even such a condition. And it gets worst when I’m outside as obviously, the temptations are higher. So I’ll walk past a pastry shop and promptly forget all my resolutions to avoid refine sugar, but not first without going through the internal struggle though.

Do you think twice?
Do you have such a problem? Do you have to struggle with what you want to put in your mouth because it might “harm” your skin? Or are you basically very carefree about eating, popping whatever you will into your mouth?

Comments

  1. EcoBeauty says:

    It still happens to me sometimes but I have better control now because my skin made a 180 degrees turn after a very strict diet three
    months ago. Although I had a recent disaster with nougats. I couldn’t stop taking it and ended up consuming 2 packs within barely half a day. I
    definitely saw an obvious deterioration of my skin and it took me a week to recover. I went through ‘nougat rehab’ — in my hubby’s exact words.
    EcoBeauty last post is: MVO Everyday Sheer Coverage Giveaway (Worldwide)!

  2. xin says:

    eating BBQ stingray will actually break me out, but i really love it, so each time i will decide that to eat first, and deal with the break out later =/
    xin last post is: Old-Fashion at Its Best – J.R. Liggett’s, Old Fashioned Bar Shampoo with Tea Tree & Hemp Oil

  3. pavani reddy says:

    i never used to do this before but started it recently luking at my skins condition…

  4. sesame says:

    *sigh* Unfortunately, we are what we eat will happen at some point for most of us.

  5. sesame says:

    I go through that thought process too! Or I’ll console myself that I can drink lots of water or “cool tea” to bring down the heat.

  6. sesame says:

    Oh okay, nougats I don’t eat so I don’t need the rehab! Your hubby is cute calling it that! I believe it’s the sugar and the diary acting up on your skin. I can’t take the usual chocolates…can only take those with high cocoa content and even so, must try to moderate the amount I eat.

  7. Fiona says:

    Ugh! Acne >:( Grrr… I normally think before I eat, because I have several food intolerances (which could cause acne) so that helps me stop and think before I eat. However, there are times when I don’t care (usually during PMS times) and I just want to eat what I want to eat (and have a supply of digestive enzymes tablets in my bag to prevent stomach upset), but then there are other food that I eat as treats, like a once a month or once a year thing. Bottom line is, I TRY to think before I eat.

    I did detox once, and it was horrible. Yes, my skin looked nice afterwards, but you’re right, after awhile, I started to binge on other food. I’m tempted to do another, but truthfully I’m quite discouraged by my experience.
    Fiona last post is: This sums it up

  8. sesame says:

    Oh yes, detox can be a tad painful. I didn’t go through the whole works though. I only took some detox supplement and eat lightly. I’ve never done it again since but I’m thankful to have done it.

    I think for us with some skin issues, especially being acne prone, we would have to think before eating. Gone are the days of carefree eating.

  9. fwy says:

    I find my skin conditions are often affected by products I use instead of my diet. Since I stop using makeup & applying rosehip oil, my skin has not gave me much problems although my complexion still looks dull. If you are too hard on yourself over your diet you will always end up binging later.

  10. Soos says:

    Definitely, we are what we eat. And we instinctively know what is good vs what is bad to eat. But being human, we all get bored, and butter, chocolates and pastries TASTE so good! Going off to find some Will Power…
    Soos last post is: It’s Too Hot to Cook

  11. sesame says:

    I like what you wrote – being human! Yes, boredom gets the better of us. My will power leaves me as soon as my skin is behaving okay. ?

  12. sesame says:

    True! True! Cos after being deprived, the cravings become stronger!

  13. Sonja says:

    While I think that “we are what we eat” is certainly true, skin conditions such as acne also flare up because of stress. And if you worry about what you are eating a lot (which I do as well), essentially you are stressed a lot of the time. I think this food-anxiety-stress really contributes a lot to skin problems, I always notice that my skin gets worse when I’m stressed about something. So the best thing would be to enjoy your treats occasionally and not worry about them too much?

  14. sesame says:

    You’re right…if we are stressed, we can also suffer acne breakouts. But nah, I’m not so stressed about food, at least not like before because back when I had acne issues, whatever I eat just broke me out big time. Now, it’s a lot better although I would still think before eating.

  15. Olga says:

    I have this situation now.
    I strictly follow the diet to improve my skin. And always asking a questions myself “Should I eat it or not?”

  16. Sherah says:

    Not really but I’m off skippy peanut butter for sure now though I super love. Coz after everytime after eating it the next day i will wake up with the whole face full of breakout and it last daysss… It’s really really sad. I have no prob with normal peanut just skippy n it is sooooo nice but I jus can’t touch it…:(
    Sherah last post is: Friend

  17. Lydia says:

    Ouch…. now I feel very bad because I cannot control my craving for chocolate habit. I know it’s not the healthiest thing to do but my will isn’t strong enough for this. With that being said I still try to reduce my sugar intake by avoiding it in my tea/coffee. It’s better than nothing. lol
    Lydia last post is: Mandarinen Schmand Kuchen

  18. Nat says:

    Unfortunately I think AFTER I eat. With the following track of thoughts “Oh Nooo, there would be consiquences”. The thought of that just doesn’t enter my mind before, when I see something yummy. Luckily only overdose of chocolate shows up on my skin with a few breakouts. Other indulgences go just with a mildly oilier skin and that’s all. But generally I try to watch what I eat. There is a book I’ve purchased recently called “Eating for Beauty” by David Wolfe offers a lot of tips on “beauty” foods. Entertaining reading. If interested, you can find it on Amazon.

  19. sesame says:

    I see…it’s a bit tedious but the result can be rewarding for your skin. Back when I observed my diet, most of the time was: “No, I can’t eat this at all.” Amazingly, food had less appeal for me then because I suppose the need to get my skin better was higher.

  20. sesame says:

    I definitely can’t eat peanut butter so you have company. I like Nutella too but definitely can’t touch that one too.

  21. sesame says:

    For chocolate, take those with higher cocoa content. I take those 70% and above. They are more bitter but still nice. I think it’s the sugar that causes skin problem.

  22. sesame says:

    Haha…I think both ways…before and after but usually end up eating them anyway these days. I’ll take a look at the book you’ve mentioned; seems interesting. Thanks for highlighting it!

  23. Swati says:

    when I am on an eating spree, I generally don’t think about what I am eating and later end up regretting that its not great for skin!!!
    Swati last post is: Happy Dusshera!!!

  24. babybunii says:

    Yes, I am very prone to acne so I always tink for my skin 1st rather than my weight.. I like desserts, puddings,fat free ice creams.. =p
    But stuff like cheese,peanuts & fried food will turn me off, even if how nice they smell, I don see them as an indulgence..

    I do envy people who can eat wat they like without breaking out.. !

  25. Amanda says:

    Basically I don’t have any problem with snacking, because I seldom eat snack. BUT when I am ordering food for lunch or dinner, I often have to struggle between fried stuff, which is more palatable, and healthy food. But I guess my acne mostly comes from sun exposure (which is when I have to stay outside to work for an entire afternoon), not the food I eat.

  26. sesame says:

    LOL…you’ve got company!

  27. sesame says:

    Oh tell me about weight! That’s another area of concern with snacking!

  28. sesame says:

    That’s strange…never heard of acne coming from sun exposure. Could it be the heat causing your skin to secrete more sebum? But at least you don’t snack and that’s good. Keep it that way!

  29. jo says:

    Hey! I’ve been a silent reader for a long time, and this is my first comment here ?
    I went to a naturopath some time ago, and she told me I had some bacteria in my Intestine. She prescribed me some medicine and I have been taking it for almost a week and I can see a really big difference!
    I have also been battling with breakouts, and I figured that maybe there was something which was not in balance in my organs. And BOY was I right! For years I have been buying 375637846587 products for my face, and I feel quite stupid because all it takes is eating a lot of fruits and veggies and taking some supplements.
    Some of the supplements I was taking was a capsule with omega 3-6-9 and another capsule with mastic gum. Have you heard of that? ? The doctor said that greek people use it a lot in creams and stuff~

    You can do it! No sugar, no wheat, no milk products and no spicy food ! ~

  30. sesame says:

    I’m glad you solved your skin problems…diet is important and sometimes, vitamins/supplements can solve the problem. Acidophilus works for me and that’s my skin saver. Never heard of the supplement you mentioned…sounds quite intriguing. Shall do some search on it soon.

  31. Amanda says:

    Smart! It’s the heat plus sweat that causes the problem.

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