Kidney Beans & Acne

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, total costs of treating acne exceeded 2 billion dollars in 2004 1. If you have acne, talk to a dermatologist to see what treatment options are appropriate for you. Making certain modifications to your diet can also reduce the severity of acne. Kidney beans may be one diet addition that can help combat acne.

Background

Non-dietary risk factors for acne include family history, use of oily cosmetics and hormonal changes that take place during puberty, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. A paper published in the June 2005 issue of "Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery" notes that diet plays an important role in acne. In particular, a diet devoid of zinc and a diet rich in fast-digesting carbohydrates may aggravate acne in certain people.

Zinc

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Kidney beans are a plentiful source of the mineral zinc. Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a role in the formation of healthy skin. Additionally, zinc is involved in the functioning of sebaceous glands that produce sweat. Overactive sebaceous glands can cause acne, a May 2007 paper published in the ""Turkish Academy of Dermatology" reports 1. In this study a group of volunteers with and without acne were tested for zinc levels in the blood. The researchers found that those with low blood zinc levels were nearly five times as likely to have acne when compared to those with normal zinc levels.

Glycemic Load

The glycemic load indicates how quickly a food is converted to blood sugar by your body. Kidney beans are a low-glycemic food, Harvard University Medical School reports. In a study published in the July 2007 "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," a group of acne sufferers were asked to consume a fibrous, low-glycemic diet 1. The researchers found that following this diet over the course of 12 weeks reduced acne severity by approximately 25 percent.

Folic Acid

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Folic acid is an essential B-vitamin that's important for the creation of new skin cells. Regular production of new skin cells can clear pores and reduce the risk of acne breakouts. Kidney beans are rich in folic acid. A single-cup serving of cooked kidney beans contains more than 100 percent of your daily value for folic acid, the USDA Nutrient Database reports.