Fasting for Clear Skin?
With all the health and diet changes people try to make in order to achieve clear skin, it’s no surprise that sometimes extreme measures are taken. Fasting in order to detoxify the body and clear out acne-causing bacteria is one such phenomenon that is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. This has mostly been due to word-of-mouth from those who have tried it with positive results.
Acne fasting usually takes the form of either a water fast (with occasional juice or health shakes) or a more dedicated juice fast (or for the really serious, there’s always the green tea fast), and may go on for several days and even weeks with little solid food. The idea is that bacteria builds up within the body and requires a prolonged intake of cleansing liquids in order to be flushed out. During the fast, one should not engage in stressful or physically demanding activities that put a strain on the body’s resources.
This concept of fasting is quite popular among followers of holistic health, but also has a long list of opponents. Personally, I’d recommend against it in most cases, especially if one is considering doing it for any longer than 2 days. One may take in less bacteria from solid foods, but one is also missing out on numerous essential nutrients, many of which promote healthy skin. That said, drinking enough water to enable your body to easily flush out toxins is indeed important. However, this can usually be done effectively without the need to refrain from solid food.
I suspect that many who witness clearer skin and other benefits from these fasts are drinking a lot more than they normally do, and would likely see many of the same benefits if they simply drank a similar amount without quitting solid foods.
