Refined Starches Behind Pimple Problem

Processed, refined cereals and white bread could well be the culprits behind that stubborn plague of pimples. Loren Cordain, an evolutionary biologist at Colorado State University, says eating refined starches triggers a flood of sugar in the bloodstream, leading to high levels of insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and an excess of male hormones. This causes excess sebum production, which acne bacteria thrive on.

Acne plagues people of all ages in industrialized countries--though it's virtually unknown among the people of Papua New Guinea and the Amazon. "The only foods available to these populations are minimally processed foods," says Cordain. "They don't know refined sugars or refined grains." Acne is actually the least of our worries. Refined starches including processed, packaged foods have been linked to cancer and type II diabetes.