The Acne-Dairy Connection
December 8, 2009
Vrschikasana Pincha Mayurasana. Stopping dairy consumption- since dairy is very acidic- helps make our joints more flexible. Photos by Josh Maready. www.joshmaready.com.
There is a definite correlation between consuming dairy products and experiencing chronic acne.
Hey Guys!
Some of you requested I write on this topic, which I have covered before in bits and pieces, but here goes!
You’ll see if you investigate my blog, that I am strongly oppose the consumption of dairy. There are many reasons why, but I’ll stay focused and stick to the topic on hand: acne.
First, let’s take a step back. What is dairy anyway? It is the baby food of another species- cows! It is not fit or meant for human consumption. In fact, it is not fit for any adult consumption- even adult cows. When was the last time you saw a grown cow suckling on another grown cow. Ewwww!! Well that is what is going on when we adults eat dairy products. We are eating the food that is meant for babies- and baby cows at that!
By the time we are 3- 4 years old, most of us have stopped producing the enzymes of lactase and rennin- the enzymes used to specifically break down lactose in milk. Again, nature knows best! The reason we don’t produce these enzymes anymore is because we really aren’t supposed to be having milk anymore. That is the reason we don’t digest diary fully or comfortably. To make matters worse, all dairy sold commercially has been pasteurized, which means it has been heated to such high temperatures that it is even harder to digest, and very acidic in the body.
One-legged Astavakrasana variation.
Since our bodies don’t have a natural relationship to dairy or cow’s milk- and it will take our beauty DOWN. Our body tries to get the dairy OUT since it is so unnatural to the body, and this could be in the form of coughing it up as phlegm, pouring it out through our noses as mucus, packed as extra weight onto our breasts, hips, bellies- and yes, excreted out of our skin in the form of zits and pimples.
Besides acne, chronic runny noses and colds, allergies, menstrual cramps, infertility, kidney stones, obesity and breast cancer could represent the results of our continued dairy consumption despite our lactose intolerance.
Dairy is cloudy, acidic poison for our skin, bodies, brains and spirits. Our skin, chakras, and organs will develop a layer of cloudiness that inhibits higher vibrations from permeating our being, and us being sensitive to the subtleties of healthy, living foods. It will slow you down, and impede clarity.
Think you need dairy for the calcium? Read my blog, “Calcium Myths Debunked.”
Dairy is a huge, politically motivated business. The dairy industry pays millions of dollars to protect their interest and market it as “health food.” Think for yourself, and see what makes sense to you. If we eat a food that is totally unnatural for our bodies to break down- how can we not expect to have repercussions? Acne is one such repercussion. Acne is not fun for anyone, and can bring down our confidence and make us not feel and look our best. I urge you to take the “no dairy” challenge for at least a month, and see what happens to your skin. If you really want to up the ante, also increase your intake of greens and have some Green Smoothies for breakfast! Your skin will start to be more clear and look more radiant.
Some of you have already told me how your skin cleared up after giving up dairy. I’d love to hear more of your stories and experiences!
Lots of love,
Kimberly
PS: I know this question will come up so I’ll answer it now- yogurt is still pasteurized cow’s milk dairy and not recommended!!!!!
Adho Mukha Vrksasana variation.
[...] Kimberly Snyder – sources of nutritional information, the acne-dairy connection and also an insight into some falsehoods that are taught to us about how we should be getting [...]
Hi I have a question about the oppose to the whole consumption of milk and I was wonderin if we drink organic milk would that be a different situation is it better or should we try that almond milk?
Even if milk is organic there are many issues- homogenization, pasteurization, etc. Even if it is raw milk, there is the issue of the casein protein, which many consider deadly. So I don’t like dairy milk in any case!
Hi Kimberly,
I have officially taken dairy out of my diet, and began on Jan 1st. I’m finding it relatively easy to substitute dairy with other ingredients, but am having trouble finding a ‘creamy’ substitute. I sometimes like to make creamy salad dressings, and will use silken tofu blended with lemon juice and mustard. Do you have any other suggestions, as I will soon be removing all soy products from my diet, as per your suggestion.
Thanks for all your great tips!
Nour
What about mashing avocado in it?
So I’ve been off dairy for about 2 months now, and it seems like my skin is breaking out more than usual! What’s going on??
That sounds like a cleansing response. Detoxing. Get a colonic or at least do an enema, to help flush out some of the toxicity that is pouring out of your body!
Besides fruit, veg, beans, rice, and h2o~what else is ok?….i’ve bought margarine made w/olive oil & no milk. Also soy milk for substitute. What about strictness on mayo, salad drsg, breads or other foods w/small amounts of dairy? Are lean meats ok? or do I need to be concerned about hormones in meats too? What about eggs?….I’m just learning about the many problems milk/added hormones can cause. It’s crazy, but I believe it’s true for some ppl. My daughter has had SERIOUS acne for 3 yrs. Topicals, antibiotics, etc., w/NO mention of nutrition from ANY of those prescribing these remedies….As an RN, I know that nutrition counts, but, I can’t say this to my daughter, it has to come from someone else. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case until I started googling for info. She’s pretty much on board. I figure we’ll start w/milk products 1st and go from there.
Hi Rebecca, the acne-food connection is very real- and requires a more in=depth discussion about the overall diet. Dairy is a great first place to cut out, as well as any soy products (and unfortunately soy protein isolates are in a lot of different products so look out!). xx Kimberly
PS- I too think it is UNBELIEVABLE that allopathic practitioners ignore the fact that the body and its organs function holistically
Hi Kimberly,
I just found your blog yesterday, and there’s a lot of great information in it. I’m also a traveler who’s fascinated by the various models of health and natural remedies that I find in other countries.
That said, I’m really glad you brought up dairy. I tend to agree with you, that it’s pretty much void of anything helpful to the body, and I generally avoid it. However, there’s one thing about it that still puzzles me–How do you explain its therapeutic importance in ayurveda? And the Hindus believe that cows are sacred because they produce milk for us to drink, right?
Looking forward to your response!
Amy
Hi Kimberly,
I just found your blog yesterday, and I’ve found a lot of really great information. I’m also a traveler who’s fascinated by the various health models and remedies that I’ve encountered in other countries.
I tend to agree with you, that milk is pretty much void of nutrition, fiber, and anything helpful to the body. But dairy still continues to puzzle me. If it’s not meant to be eaten by us, how do you explain its importance in ayurveda? It’s considered one of the most therapeutic nutritional elements to humans…And the Hindus believe that cows are sacred because they produce milk for us to drink, no?
Looking forward to you response,
Amy C
Hi Amy,
Krishna was a herder, and raw milk was considered holy in ancient times. However, as even my teacher Sri Dharma Mittra says, we can not take the spiritual scriptures literally as far as diet today. Milk today is pasteurized, homogenized, and full of bovine hormone fed to cows. Our bodies are already clogged from pollution, additives and preservatives in food, and corrupted DNA over generations of living with compromised food, etc. We certainly will not derive any benefit from consuming mucus-forming, acidic dairy products. Cows are still sacred animals in India- but it does not mean that we have to drink their milk!
xx Kimberly
Some people are able to strive on raw dairy, so it depends on whether it is pasteurized or not. Simply a point I wanted to bring up that was not covered in your post.
From personal experience, I find that pasteurized dairy consumption gives me mucous, so now I consume only limited amounts.
HI Annie- yes, raw dairy is better, but raw or pasteurized all dairy contains the protein casein, which is a huge problem. That is a whole other topic altogether!
Hi Kim!
You’re such an inspiration for me and I want to do better for my children as well. I would LOVE to get my children off of their morning cold cereal with skim milk diet that they’re so accustomed to. I’d also like to switch my daughter off of her yogurt that she loves! I’m just not going to be able to serve them up a green smoothie without some struggle. Is switching to almond milk with their cereal a good compromise? And, as I’m making this change, what else can I substitute and serve as a healthy and tasty breakfast alternative? It’s one thing to try to change my own habits, but they’re 9 and 8 and it will take a bit longer to get them eating healthier alternatives. After reading this about dairy I can see some side effects in both of my children – mostly congestion/respiratory related. I’d love any suggestions that you have. You’ve certainly helped me with questions before so I’ll look forward to your helpful reply! All the best to you!
Laura
Hi Laura! Yes, switching to almond milk is a huge improvement. It will save their sinuses and much congestion that could show up later on in life. I would try to get organic, really high quality cereal that as natural as possible. Also, you could try soaking oats overnight, and blending them with the almond milk and some dates. It tastes great and is raw!
Let me know how you and your kids do!
xx Kimberly
Hi Kim – This is a really interesting post. My parents are both very sensitive to milk so growing up we only drank Lactaid and never had cheese, yogurt or ice cream around, so I wasnt a big dairy eater but still got regular sinus infections and had lots of mucus (ew). Gave dairy up about six months ago and everything has been exactly the same. I’ve been a vegetarian for years, dont eat soy, sugar, processed flour, etc – have done cleanses, fasts and colonics, eat lots of salads and raw foods, and it really hasnt changed. I guess it is different for everyone…
I do have a question, though, regarding the difference between cow’s, sheep’s, and goat’s milk. I know many raw foodists (one very famous one in particular) say it is okay to eat raw goat’s or raw sheep’s milk cheese – that they digest easily and dont make you mucus-y and acidic. I have no interest in doing this but am wondering what the difference is, if any.
Thanks and much love & light to you!
Hi there!
Quickly- cows have 4 stomachs and huge bones and are completely different from us. Goats have enzymes more similar to humans, and sheep are somewhere in the middle- but far better than cows.
So yes, raw goat’s milk would be a great alternative to dairy!
Love and light to you too! xx Kimberly
Hi Kimberly!
Thank you for your inspiration, wisdom and passion!
You truly are a great example for all of us – especially with your pure love to give and help others!
I was wondering, have you ever come accross with patients with other skin problems than acne, and if, have you found some links and solutions with them?
I’ve had some allergies and very sensitive, atopic skin since I was a child, but it has not been too much of a problem in the past as it didn’t occure too actively. I’ve changed my diet a lot for the better about two years ago. Now my skin problems (rash, eczema, itching, dryness etc.) have gotten a lot worse, for some three months now, and seem not to get better but worse all the time.
If you have any experience or ideas in the topic, I’d love to hear some holistic point of views, since the traditional medication with the cortisone filled creams and antibiotics do not interest me at all, and of course are no solutions in the long term.
I’ve also realized that the reason for my skin reacting so strong now might be that what’s going on actually is a healing prosess as I’ve done so much cleaning on my diet, detoxing and using a lot of superfoods in my diet. As the skin is always the last of the organs to heal and clean up, in that sense it would be a realistic possibility that the skin getting worse, is actually just a prosess of healing. But as I’m not at all sure what’s truly going on, I’d like to ponder different options and treatment possibilities.
Grateful for your help and ideas on the matter!
Love, light and happiness!
yes- I have to go to sleep now but will answer you soon! sit tight.
xx Kimberly
I have dairy but not often… not in the form of milk though (yuuuuuck). Mild cheese here and there. No acne or digestive problems here! Moderation is good.
btw I finally just bought Nutmeric. I’m looking forward to it and thanks for writing about it (several months ago…)
Great! turmeric should be applied and used more in Western culture as a great spice.
xx Kimberly
My own personal experience has been that eliminating dairy did NOT clear up my skin. I haven’t messed with dairy in about 2 years now. I feel much better and that my digestion is cleaner. The few times that I have had dairy in the form of a whey protein shake at work, or a bite of cheese pizza on a late night. Ewww – I feel very mucusy. I feel it immeadiately in my throat. Like I said however, eliminating dairy did not clear my skin. BUT eliminating sugar did. I have a sweet tooth so its hard but it seems to be the only thing thats worked for me personally.
AND I’ve been making your green smoothie in the morning and I have to say, my skin is looking even better now.
Hello Kim,
I just can’t stay off your page. Always discover new and exciting things when I come on here. Wow, I never put two and two together that dairy could be the result of my adult acne breakouts. Till now in reading this. Over the summer, I started following your blogs regularly and took to the everyday 32oz green smoothie recommendation, and I cut the dairy out and used a coral calicum supplement. My skin cleared up and everyone kept commenting on it. Over the past two months I’ve fallen off the wagon and my skin is going crazy. I just took a mental note of what I have been consuming, and cheese/ yogart on a daily basis came to mind. I’m going to cut both out and go back to my smoothies. Thank you so much for providing the insightful information. It really does mean a lot:)
Hi Kimberly!
The wonderful, strong pics of you in the yoga poses are amazing–I can’t wait for for your yoga video (not that it will be nearly that advanced, but still!)
I’ve never had an acne problem, but I certainly was the dairy queen! In the month and a 1/2 or so since I’ve had even a drop, I’ve noticed that my face has changed–my skin looks fresher and my eyes are brighter. That’s just a bonus on top of the all-over better feeling I’ve had. I’m a lot more ‘lean’, and I don’t feel sluggish. Also, it turns out that all the congestion that I just thought was a years-long-lingering cold, or sinuses, or allergies, or because of smoking–it was dairy! Within a week of stopping, I could tell my voice was more clear and I didn’t have to clear my throat all the time. Other people noticed too that I didn’t sound as stuffy.
What I’ve learned from you–one thing out of thousands–is that if you’re drinking the green drinks and such, you’re not going to have crumbly little frail bones either.
Out of everything you’ve posted about, this was the most major thing for me. I cannot BELIEVE we don’t hear more about the dangers of dairy and the positives about ditching it.
Thank you!
Thanks for the post Kim! What about carbs (sugar) and wheat? I think (from experience) that those can be quite triggers too. What kind of diet would you recommend for those fighting acne? Should fruit be avoided?
It would be really great to have a forum on your site so people could discuss and share stories.
Lots of love.
Ps. Your poses. Amazing.
I started following you last year, and the information that you have provided is amazing. I read back to your first post. I am definitely going to go for the no dairy challenge. I have stopped using milk, since I learned about Almond & Rice milk from your post that I read last year. And I love both, I haven’t stopped using them. My skin has cleared up and I don’t feel bloated all the time. Ice cream will be a challenge to let go, but I’m game. =)
Hi Kim,
I totally agreed with you. When I switch to soy milk a couple of years ago I stop feeling bloated and then when I stopped soy milk I just start feeling very light and slightly less big in my belly. Now these days I drink my green lemonade! And also I drink almond milk! I am drinking more often because I like to prepare a smoothie to add my hemp on it. I need to double check your tips to adding hemp into my diet. I read the article last week and I already forget the tips. Thank you and see you tomorrow! BTW I am trying to print a picture of you in one of the yoga posses and I can’t. I would like to have this on my board as an inspiration! Last time that you went to LA I went to check Dharma yoga and I have a couple of post cards in my board at work as long with my race bibs of this year but I want a picture of you, it will be so cool to say to my coworkers, yes she is my teacher! I have a couple of coworkers that practice yoga, it is really nice to be able to talk about yoga with other people.
WOW Kim, check out your Yoga poses…..this was very informative…i shud really stop eating yogurt! lol
I gave up dairy about ten years ago after having horrible stomach cramps regularly for months. I really didn’t think dairy could be the culprit, but I was so uncomfortable that giving up dairy was worth a try. After one week of avoiding it, I felt so good I’ve never dreamed of eating it again. Besides solving my stomach problems, suddenly my skin and sinuses were like brand new. I’d been washing my face religiously morning and night and using doctor prescribed benzoyl peroxide. It never seemed to help but I was afraid to quit using it. After ditching dairy my skin cleared up completely. Now I might get one or two small pimples just before my period, but otherwise my skin is perfect. And I don’t have to buy and smear expensive products on my face. And finally, for my entire childhood and through high school I had horrible sinus infections at least twice a year. No medications helped. I was constantly miserable. Rattly chest, stinging and clogged sinuses, ugh!… But after quitting dairy…tada! the sinus problems immediately stopped. So, yes, I just reiterated everything Kim said, but she is totally right about the negative effects dairy can wreak on our bodies. Preach on, Kim!
Hi Kimberly! I absolutely love your blog. I started reading it about 5 weeks ago and I’ve been making the green smoothie ever since
and my skin, hair, stomach, and mind thank you for it!!! I feel much more energetic and happy. I totally agree that dairy is bad for you. Ever since I stopped eating yogurt etc. the problems with my sinuses disappeared and the spots and blemishes on my skin got so much better. I have a few questions I would love you to answer, first, how much oil should one use per day(you wrote about too much oil making one’s body soft)? Secondly, I still get spots on my jaw line (you wrote about hormonal imbalance and I have an underactive thyroid, which I think has a huge effect), what do you recommend that could help me balance the hormones in my body? It would also be really nice to hear what your typical daily menu is alike, how often do you eat etc.
Thank you for sharing your journey and all this great information with us! Happiness, light, and love!
Hi Kimberly,
I just started following you and I can’t tell you how amazed I am at the knowledge that you have. Thank you for posting on this topic. I do however have a problem I was hoping you could help with. I suffer from milia- they’re keratin filled cysts that appear just underneath the dermis around my eyes. It is suggested that to rid yourself of this takes harsh pharmaceuticals and or fine needles to the site. Is there an alternative to help rid myself of this problem? I’ve been using the solution and absolutely love it.
Peace,
Tamara
Hey Tamara!
Honestly love I can’t diagnose or say anything about the treatment of very specific issues like that on a blog. I would suggest getting some second opinions, and going to a natural doctor to see what they say. I will say in general that some amazingly complex issues have been addressed and controlled with diet and natural means though.
Be sure to explore- and see what feels intuitively right for you.
Love and Shanti,
Kimberly
side note: it would be awesome if you had a blog that was just answering readers’ questions about yourself! your yoga practice, background etc. if there was one specific forum we could send all questions.
Have you checked out the Yoga picture section BTW? I have pictures of my teachers.
love this post! i am very anti milk. WHen other ppl ask me for health advice the #1 thing i say is switch to almond milk. I usually say start off with a sweetened one and wean your way off it to unsweetened. A horrible reaction to milk spawned my entire health shift actually! i got really really sick after a night of some homemade box macaroni and cheese with milk. I kept drinking milk though and was constantly experiencing very painful bloating till the point i thought i had IBS. SO i decided to go off milk. Even after 2-3 days after giving up dairy i still had reactions! i think i was getting rid of it. I can’t even take lactose free cow’s milk for some reason! Anyhow, i continued on my milk free trial and by the end of the week was fine. Then i slipped up with a starbucks latte (had milk!) within an hour i had bloating again. That’s when i knew FOR SURE no more dairy for me and i learned all about how dairy actually contributes to osteoperosis etc.
thanks again kim!
Hey Kim:0)
My name is Elizabeth.I just want to tell you that reading your blog really gives me hope for a better healther life and a happer tomorrow. Thank you so much for that!!
I have bad acne and even worse acne scars. I have been really depressed lately beacuse even though i am seeing a dermatologist,i countine to get acne and my scars just look so bad
[I do eat alot of dairy:0(] But no more.
I am taking your challage!! count me in.
For a few days now i have started my day with the ginger_lemon tea [which i really love!]
and i have two 17oz of green smoothies a day [they are so fun to make]
ps: I was wondering how long have you been eating raw?
Kim, thanks so much for writing on this. I’ve almost completely ditched dairy, and my skin is much improved. It’s not perfect, but it is still early on in the journey, especially relative to all of those years I consumed dairy frequently.
Through my own experience and research, I’ve learned that acne is a disease of imbalance, and diet definitely plays a role, despite the fact that many in the medical establishment claim diet plays no role whatsoever. I don’t even want to think about how many doctors I’ve been to over the years who never once addressed diet.
But they were more than happy to throw antibiotics and harsh topical meds my way. Sure, the treatments worked. But only to a point, and only for a while. This made me realize that something was going on on a deeper level. So I started digging around, and this is some of what I unearthed:
Acne is a disease of inflammation, and dairy kicks up inflammation in the body. Not to mention, as you said, that consuming the hormones of lactating cows is not healthy. Sure, there are dairy products that are labeled “hormone free,” but that just means they are free ONLY of hormones being injected into the cows to make them produce more milk. Their natural hormones–the hormones of pregnancy and lactation–cannot be stripped out of the final dairy product. These hormones interact with our human bodies in ways that promote imbalance.
Very interesting what you said about dairy causing mental cloudiness. Maybe that’s why it helps lull people to sleep.
Again, thanks so much for posting on this topic. I can’t wait to hear other readers’ experiences with the dairy-acne connection.
It is UNBELIEVABLE to me that doctors do not think that the diet is not connected to the state of our skin. Our skin is an organ! And an eliminative organ! So of course our skin is influenced by our diet!!! To be fair- Doctors get less than 2 weeks of nutritional education in med school, and aren’t taught that food can be medicine or naturally heal our body.
Acne means our bodies are clogged and congested. Dairy is a major clogger!
xx Kimberly
Agreed, it is unbelievable. Only ONE doctor ever talked to me about the connection between diet, skin, and overall health. And he’s holistically inclined (acupuncturist and M.D.).