Like vitamins, minerals are present in the food we eat, but unlike vitamins which can be manufactured by plants or some animals, minerals come from the soil in which plants are grown.
This means that if there was not enough of a mineral in the soil, the plants and animals including humans will have a deficiency of that mineral.
Generally it’s better to get your nutrition from the food you eat. However in the case of essential minerals you might need to consider a supplement to make sure you are getting the minerals you need for clear skin.
Zinc
Zinc is a critical mineral it is used for many processes in the body including hormone activation, regulating the oil producing glands, healing and fighting inflammation.
It’s easy to see why zinc would be needed by anyone suffering from acne as this mineral is essential for the proper regulation of many of the processes that can trigger acne.
As is the case with most things in your body Zinc does not work alone. So it is best if you get your zinc from natural sources such as egg yolks, fish, sunflower seeds and whole grains.
Minerals obtained from natural sources come with many other substances necessary for the body to use that nutrient. Apart from fish the other natural sources of zinc can be affected by a lack of zinc in the soil where they were grown.
Unfortunately many soils around the world including areas of the United States are deficient in zinc, so you may need to take a zinc supplement.
Selenium
Research has shown that when taken together with vitamins A & E, selenium reduces the severity of acne breakouts. Selenium works to boost the effectiveness of vitamins A & E as well as having it’s own antioxidant properties which will help you liver, heart red blood cells and lungs
Selenium is found naturally in grains, garlic, mushrooms,oranges, nuts, shellfish and chicken. if you plan on taking a supplement make sure it also contains vitamin E & A.
Chromium
Acne has many causes. High blood sugar levels are one possible cause and can trigger the production of excess sebum. This excess oil is known to lead to acne breakouts. Chromium a trace element is used by the body to control blood sugar levels.
Chromium can be found naturally in molasses, brewers yeast, liver, eggs and beef. As it is a trace element there is usually enough in these natural foods to meet your bodies needs.
However the more sugar you eat the more chromium you need. If you are finding it difficult to reduce or control your sugar consumption you may need to consider a chromium supplement
Acne can be the result of a variety of different causes, but I think you will agree that the minerals above are needed to help with several of the possible causes of acne breakouts. They are not a quick fix and the benefits of including them in you diet will take a few weeks before you see the results. Making sure that you do get enough of these mineral is essential in the long term prevention of acne breakouts.
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