Coleslaw vs cabbage for acne
Coleslaw scores 91/100 (GLOW) and cabbage scores 100/100 (GLOW) on SpotBite's Skin Score. Cabbage is the safer choice by 9 points, and the gap comes mostly from inflammatory fats.
Where the gap comes from
- Glycemic: Coleslaw has glycemic load 3.2 (9.2 g carbs), Cabbage has 0.4 (4.4 g carbs). Faster sugar means more insulin, which can raise skin oil.
- Inflammatory fats: Coleslaw has 1.2 g saturated fat and 3.8 g omega-6, Cabbage has 0 g and 0 g.
- Skin boost: Coleslaw gets +8 from omega-3 and polyphenols, Cabbage gets +5.
Evidence: Caperton 2014 double-blind RCT (n=14): one dose of 100% cocoa increased acne lesions by day 4 (study). All 13 sources.
Score breakdown, side by side
| Coleslaw | Cabbage | |
|---|---|---|
| Glycemic (of 50) | GL 3.2 −5.8 | GL 0.4 −0.8 |
| Dairy (of 25) | 0 g 0 | 0 g 0 |
| Inflammation (of 25) | 1.2 g sat · 3.8 g ω-6 −11.3 | 0 g sat · 0 g ω-6 0 |
| Skin Boost (of 25) | 0.4 g ω-3 · medium polyphenols +8 | 0 g ω-3 · medium polyphenols +5 |
| Skin Score | 91 · GLOW | 100 · GLOW |
Estimates for a typical serving. Real foods vary by brand and recipe.
Verdict
If you are acne-prone, cabbage is the better pick of the two.
Not medical advice. Both scores are for the food on its own. What you eat with it changes the result, and breakouts usually show up 3 to 7 days after a meal. Diet is one factor among many.
See your own pattern
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