Ellen Akins

THE WASHINGTON POST – Jack Reacher has been astride the American literary landscape, stumbling upon nefarious plots and dispatching evildoers, through 26 books and 25 years – and still he has his sceptics.

A six-foot-five, 250-pound ex-Army major, he travels the country carrying nothing but a toothbrush, passport and ATM card – plus an encyclopaedic knowledge of weapons and hand-to-hand combat, a Sherlock Holmesian command of arcane but invaluable details and an uncanny knack for telling time without a watch.

So sure, Reacher might strain credulity, especially when Hollywood could find no more likely actor to play him than the tiny if feisty Tom Cruise. But now, with Amazon’s new series, based on the novel Killing Floor those doubts can be put to rest, because: Alan Ritchson. The actor is 37, which is far too young, or would be if Killing Floor were happening now, because Reacher was born in 1960, which makes him way too old to be hitchhiking around the country, knocking out terrorist cells with his bare hands.

But Killing Floor was Lee Child’s first Reacher book, published in 1997, when the big guy was, that’s right, 37. At six-foot-three, Ritchson is a little short, but the few inches he’s missing in height he probably makes up for in muscle, as anyone can see when the man takes a shower…wowza.

The point is, we now have proof that there can be a man of Reacher’s stature with Reacher’s moves. Then again, the outlandishness of the Reacher books is what makes them so fun, grounded as they are in the character’s outrageously detailed knowledge of every element that factors into each plot.

Despite his signature statement, “I said nothing” (or, in the third-person novels, “Reacher said nothing”), he invariably elaborates to such a ludicrous extent that you’re subdued into believing anything.

After that, it’s so much easier to root for the human superhero who rights wrongs wherever he finds them (and he finds them wherever he goes), no matter how many bodies he leaves in his wake and no matter how unlikely the manoeuvres by which good – battered and beaten but unbroken – conquers evil.

The uninitiated (and there must be at least two dozen left in North America) may wonder which Reacher book to read first. The best?

Every reader seems to have an answer, and after a scientific survey of global opinion and the application of the rules of ranked choice voting, here are the results:

Killing Floor

In the book that launched the series, Reacher arrives by Greyhound in Margrave, a fictional Georgia town where his brother once told him an actual blues musician, Blind Blake, might’ve died. Reacher is immediately charged with a recently discovered murder, because only a stranger would commit murder in Margrave, and Reacher is the only stranger in Margrave.

Persuader

This is a book with a bonus, as the plot – which involves Reacher working unofficially with the DEA to infiltrate a drug-smuggling operation masquerading as an Oriental carpet business, only to discover that the kingpin’s housekeeper is also an undercover federal agent trying to infiltrate an arms-smuggling operation – oh, right, the plot… brings back a villain who, 10 years earlier, was shot point-blank three times by Reacher, fell 120 feet onto rock, bounced into the ocean and disappeared.

Running Blind

In the UK, this book was called The Visitor, which was deemed too alien-adjacent for American readers. In a plot so complicated that it will leave you longing for the simplicity of opera, what’s most noteworthy is the method of the serial murderer, who leaves her (oops, spoiler) victims in bathtubs filled with army-issue camouflage paint.

One Shot

A former Army infantry sniper is arrested for shooting five victims with six shots. But, as we learn, the military sniper’s creed is: “One shot, one kill.” So, what sort of sniper misses a target? Reacher wonders, so we do, too – and darned if our curiosity doesn’t lead us to a Russian gang masquerading as legitimate business executives, with an 80-year-old capo who wanted one of those five victims dead. Come to think of it, didn’t the villain in Running Blind kill many to muddy the murder of one intended victim? Extra points.

Knvul Sheikh

CNA/THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY – Does cutting out dairy really help control acne? With the rising popularity of plant-based milks and beauty bloggers insinuating that dairy-based foods and beverages like, “gooey pasta” and “frothy cappuccinos” will worsen conditions such as acne, you might think you need to ditch dairy for the sake of clearer skin.

But while some evidence suggests that cutting back on certain dairy products may help clear up your acne, it may not be for the reasons you think. Here’s what we know.

WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE SUGGEST?

Nutrition research is inherently difficult to conduct, and few studies have examined the relationship between dairy and acne in general, so results are often conflicting, said a paediatric dermatologist at the Penn State Health Milton S Hershey Medical Center Dr Andrea Zaenglein. Experts can only hypothesise as to what the underlying connections may be, and so far the results of studies have been limited and mixed.

In one study of 225 teenagers published in 2016, for example, Dr Zaenglein and her co-authors found that those who drank low-fat or skimmed milk were more likely to have acne than those who drank whole milk. In another study published in 2016 and performed on more than 1,000 adults, researchers concluded that whole milk (in addition to reduced-fat milk) was linked to the appearance of pimples.

When it comes to yoghurt and cheese, there is no evidence that they can lead to more breakouts, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Association.

Some dermatologists suggest that the amount of milk (rather than the type of milk) you consume may be most important in acne flare-ups. Others have hypothesised that the artificial and natural hormones present in milk could influence breakouts. And limited research has suggested that the whey protein found in milk might be linked to pimples in some people, based on case studies of athletes whose acne improved after cutting out whey supplements.

IT MAY BE THE SUGAR AND THE CARBS, NOT THE MILK

Still, the most popular theory of all when it comes to the relationship between food and acne has to do with a food’s glycemic index. Food that is rich in sugars and simple carbohydrates tends to rank higher on the glycemic index and is quickly digested by your body, causing blood glucose levels to spike.

Regularly eating high GI foods like pizza, cookies and sweetened yoghurts can force your body to increase its production of insulin and lead to a host of issues over time, including inflammation and acne, said a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic Dr Amy Kassouf. While many dairy products are low GI foods, consuming too much of them may also trigger the same pathway of inflammation in the body, exacerbating acne.

Studies have suggested that focussing on eating low glycemic foods, like many vegetables and fruits, beans and whole grains, not only helps stabilise insulin levels, but also leads to a reduction in acne.

“What this really tells us is that acne is a very complex inflammatory disorder,” Dr Zaenglein said. “It’s incredibly difficult to say that one single factor makes a huge difference.”

WHAT IS ACTUALLY PROVEN TO IMPROVE ACNE?

While more research is needed to determine whether going dairy-free can clear up your skin, there is no harm in taking a closer look at the impact your diet may be having. The AAD recommends keeping a food diary and noting when certain foods or drinks seem to trigger a breakout or worsen existing zits. Then, they recommend experimenting with cutting out those foods or drinks to see if that helps.

If you think dairy products in particular are making your skin worse, start by eliminating those that have a high glycemic index, like ice cream, milk shakes and sugary yoghurts. But make sure you’re still getting important nutrients, like protein and calcium, from other parts of your diet. “For many people, dairy is a primary source of protein and calcium in particular. So we have to be very cautious about saying dairy causes acne, because dairy may also be preventing osteoporosis and all sorts of things that are a little bit more directly correlated,” Dr Zaenglein said.

Keep in mind that if you do see any skin changes as a result of cutting out certain foods from your diet, it won’t happen overnight. Based on what she’s seen in her own clinic, Dr Kassouf said, “you have to commit to at least three months and maybe closer to six to really see a positive benefit”.

Still, keeping your skin acne-free may require more than a diet change, said a dermatologist and medical director of the Acne Treatment; Research Center in Brooklyn, New York Dr ​​Hilary Baldwin. “I have never had a patient come to me and say, ‘I gave up dairy and it made all the difference in the world.’”

People with mild acne may benefit from certain over-the-counter products containing the topical retinoid adapalene or the antimicrobial compound benzoyl peroxide, Dr Baldwin said.

But be wary of using too many harsh products, which could include astringents, toners and exfoliants, and products containing alcohol. These can irritate or dry out your skin or make your acne worse, she said.

In fact, according to the AAD, acne-friendly skincare is actually pretty simple: Wash your face twice a day (using gentle cleansers, avoiding harsh scrubbing and rinsing with lukewarm water), avoid touching your face, shampoo your hair when it gets oily and remember to remove makeup before going to bed.

However, people with moderate to severe acne may require prescription treatments, Dr Baldwin said, including topical or oral antibiotics, prescription retinoids, creams that reduce oil production or inflammation, or oral contraceptives.

A dermatologist may also recommend lesser-known treatments, like the blood pressure medication spironolactone, which can reduce oil production and acne. Nutrition is just one of the many factors that may play a role in acne, Dr Baldwin said. Your genetics, hormones, sleep quality and environment can also influence acne. And in the end, she added, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for everyone.