Clear things up

It's a cruel joke that the man upstairs plays on teenage boys. During these early years -- when hormones are in overdrive and thoughts of sex occupy almost every second of the day -- boys sometimes just about the worst they ever will in their entire lives. A major part of this grossly unjust twist of fate is the development of troublesome acne.

Natural hormonal changes are mostly to blame, but diet also plays a crucial role. In particular, high sugar foods and drinks -- which seem to be the food and drinks of choice of many teens -- can contribute to the development of pimples. According to an article in a recent edition of Muscle & Body magazine, high-sugar diets are to blame for depleting zinc in the body. And, since this trace mineral is responsible for skin health, having an insufficient amount is clearly a problem.

The article suggests two things to help teens with their acne problem, the first of which being rather obvious: 1 - stop consuming high-sugar foods and drinks, and 2 - replenish zinc supplies by eating foods such as almonds, oysters, beef, pork, and yogurt. While this may not keep a teenager completely acne free, it will at least help stave off some flare ups.