Q: My mother used to tell me that chocolate causes acne. Is that true?
A: There's no proof that what pops up on your dessert plate influences what pops up on your nose the night before a big presentation. But what we do know is that 80 percent of U.S. teens and 40 percent of U.S. adults complain of pimples. But in Papus, New Guinea, the figure is 0 percent, so it's a fair guess that something is going on with our lifestyle. A likely culprit is inadequate omega-3 fatty acids (as opposed to saturated or trans fats). Get adequate amounts of these good fats with flaxseed or fish oils. The second culprit? Stress. In studies of college kids during exams, researchers found them to have many more bouts of acne while under pressure. |
