Does Coffee Affect our Skin?

Before I begin this post, I just want you to know, the amount of research that has been done on coffee is exhausting. With so many brand names in the business, and so many sponsored studies, who really knows if coffee can effect our skin...

Who really knows? Here's an interesting thought - you do. You know. At least only you CAN know if you decide to do your homework.

I could make this article about the different studies, and show you a ton of opposing arguments. But at the end of the day, everyone is different. I have to thank one of my Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctors (she was also a Naturopath) for explaining to me one of the most genius studies out there - the study of one. The study of you!

More an more research is starting to surface explaining just how different our Gut bacteria is. Only 10% of our bacteria is the same! This is why results aren't always concrete. We are all so different. I think that sometimes, the only way we can know for sure is if we do our own homework.

I quit coffee in March. As digestive symptoms usually take a while to settle (which is why intolerance's can be so tricky to pin point), I didn't really notice too much change. Only recently, the last 2 weeks, I have started drinking it again. Easy! I'm having half-caf, yep - half caffeine half decaf. I'm too scared to get addicted but its this time of the year that I need a little pick-me-up.

Anyways! This week, I noticed two things.

One - acne - just below my nose. I didn't notice it had left, but now that I think of it - I hadn't had those little breakouts in months! Could it be the coffee? It is absolutely the only variable in my own personal study.

Two - mouth ulcer! I used to get a mouth ulcer every couple weeks! So much that I would announce it was my genetics (does that even make sense anymore?) I have a super small one now. Could it be the coffee?

Look - I can't tell you if coffee is the culprit for your skin, but its safe to say it is for me. So now what? No more cuppa joe? I think I can tolerate it here and there, as in 2 times a week max. But once a day is certainly too much caffeine for my body and for my skin.

So is coffee affecting your skin? No one else can possibly know for sure - only you can. If you think it's effecting you, cleanse it out. Add it back in after a couple months and see the results. Enough with others putting their opinion on you and more about you finding out your own truth!