Do you eat breakfast or do you skip it?
Either way, it’s possible that your breakfast could be triggering your breakouts…
…but that also means just a few simple changes could be key to clearing your skin!
Here are the 3 most common breakfast mistakes that can contribute to acne:
1) Skipping breakfast
Not feeling breakfast because your stomach feels upset in the morning, you’re just not hungry, or you’re too busy?
Those with acne tend to have depleted nervous systems, hormone imbalances, and blood sugar issues that get worse with fasting. Skipping breakfast is a major stressor on your body if you’re prone to acne!
If you’re not used to eating breakfast, start your day off with something small but high in healthy fat and protein, like a spoonful of nut butter. Over time, you’ll start to be able to eat more food.
2) Only drinking coffee for breakfast
Black coffee without added fat (cream, butter, oil) or eating breakfast increases your cortisol levels, leading to acne.
Likewise, coffee with a lot of added sugar or sugary creamer will negatively affect your blood sugar levels, increasing inflammation in your body.
While coffee itself can trigger acne in some people, usually organic coffee is totally fine as long as it’s coupled with fat and protein within 30 minutes of drinking it (a.k.a. eating breakfast!).
For a little laugh, here’s how I really feel about cutting out coffee to heal your acne.
3) Eating simple/refined carbohydrates for breakfast, like cereals, oatmeal, toast, pastries, muffins, or other baked goods for breakfast
When I had acne, I used to drink a latte and eat a muffin for breakfast nearly every day. I thought that since the milk in my coffee was non-dairy and my muffin was gluten-free, I was fine!
What I didn’t realize at the time was how badly this was throwing off my blood sugar levels, and setting me up for inflamed skin for the rest of the day.
Simple, refined carbohydrates trigger blood sugar dysregulation, especially when they’re eaten first thing in the morning.
When I started drinking my coffee with just non-dairy milk (no added sugar) and eating a small breakfast that was higher in fat and protein instead of a muffin (like my chia seed pudding recipe below), my blood sugar levels balanced out pretty quickly.
Want a quick and easy breakfast recipe idea? Check out my chia seed pudding recipe below!
Chia Seed “Pudding”
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 3/4 cup non-dairy milk (like coconut milk or hemp milk)
- vanilla extract, cinnamon, cardamom powder optional
Instructions
- Add the non-dairy milk to a small jar and add in the chia seeds.
- Stir well and let the mixture sit on the countertop for a couple minutes. Stir again to prevent clumping of the chia seeds at the bottom of the jar.
- If desired, add in vanilla extract and spices like cinnamon or cardamom.
- Store in the fridge overnight to gel and turn into a "pudding." Keep in the fridge until ready to eat.
- Add optional toppings right before eating, like hemp seeds, coconut flakes, blueberries, or almond butter. Enjoy!
Ready for naturally clear skin? Download my free guide “7 Days to Clearer Skin” to get started on your journey!
