Eating chocolate may trigger acne, say scientists

Chocolate may increase inflammation that aggravates acne, a new small-scale study has found.
Researchers at the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center in the Netherlands, collected blood samples from participants before and after they ate 48 g of chocolate, each day for four days. The chocolate contained about 30 per cent cocoa.
They then exposed the blood cells to bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes, which contribute to acne when they grow inside clogged pores and cause pores to become inflamed, and to Staphylococcus aureus, another skin bacteria that can aggravate acne.
After eating chocolate, the seven participants' blood cells produced more interleukin-1b, a marker of immune system inflammation, when exposed to Propionibacterium acnes. This suggests chocolate consumption could increase the inflammation that contributes to acne, the researchers said.
In addition, eating chocolate increased production of another immune system factor called interleukin 10 after exposure to Staphylococcus aureus, MyHealthNewsDaily reported.
Interleukin 10 is thought to lower human bodies' defenses against microorganisms, and thus, higher levels of interleukin 10 could create conditions that allow bacteria to infect pimples, and worsen them, the researchers said.
Although there's a lot of talk about chocolate and other foods playing a role in acne, there's very little evidence to show they do, said Dr Kanade Shinkai, a dermatologist at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, who specialises in acne treatments.
There is some evidence that so-called high glycemic foods, such as white bread, which release sugar very quickly into the bloodstream, may be linked to acne, Shinkai said. While there may be a subset of people whose acne is influenced by diet, this is probably not true for everyone, Shinkai was quoted as saying by the website.
Shinkai cautioned against broad dietary restrictions, such as avoiding dairy, because dairy products are important sources of calcium and vitamin D for many people, and the nutritional benefits of the products outweigh the impact of acne, she said.

Top Foods That Rejuvenate Your Skin

Your face reflects what you eat. So to bring a natural glow on your skin, you must introduce a healthy diet in your life. Pollution, harmful rays of the sun and improper diet can take a toll on your skin and age it prematurely. Hence, it is pivotal that you eat healthy, sleep well and know how to counterbalance the effect of the environment. Take a look at the foods that can help revitalize your skin and save it from getting damaged further.
 Tomatoes: They are full of lycopene that helps delay ageing of the skin and protects your skin against sun damage. Tomatoes have lots of water that also helps maintain adequate amount of water content in your body during summer and the glow on your face.
Fruits: Eat as many fruits as you can because they can do wonders for your skin. Mango, papaya and apricots are full of pigments called carotenoids. These get stored in the skin and help in improving colour.
Spinach: Doctors can’t stress on the benefits of green leafy vegetables enough. Rich in antioxidants and nutrients they make your skin happy and sparkling. Spinach, in particular, is a good source of calcium, iron, potassium and various vitamins. The grass is definitely greener where spinach is.
Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes are full of vitamin C which helps in smoothing out wrinkles. Experts say that if you consume half a sweet potato regularly for three years, the wrinkles on your skin will be reduced by 11 percent.
Seafood: When we think about seafood, fish is the first thing that comes to our mind. Fish is rich in vitamins, minerals and high quality protein. It is good for your complexion as it has zinc and omega 3 acids that make your skin healthy.