You may find your diet speeds up the signs of skin aging. Below are the worst foods for skin that you should avoid to eat.
Your skin is your largest organ. Taking care of yourself includes taking care of your skin. Finding the best way to do that can be confusing. Dermatologists agree you should keep your skin clean and moisturized. Use sunscreen to protect your skin from damage and the risk of skin cancer.
Diet can also affect how your skin looks. You may find your diet speeds up the signs of skin aging. Learn what foods have the worst effect on your skin.
1. Fatty Meat
When working on your diet, it is important to make sure you are getting the best foods for your health. When it comes to meats, a lot are high in saturated fats.
Fatty cuts of meat such as short ribs, which are high in saturated fat, are associated with high concentrations of insulin growth factor. The insulin growth factor stimulates the production of the sex hormones that can increase acne production.
If meat is an integral part of your diet, we suggest opting for lean cuts with very little fat. The key with meat is to keep it lean. Tenderloin cuts tend to be leaner. Look for ground beef that is at least 95% lean. Ground turkey breast and chicken breast are other lean options.
2. Fast Food
Acne is strongly associated with eating a Western-style diet rich in calories, fat and refined carbohydrates. Fast food items, such as burgers, nuggets, hot dogs, French fries, sodas, and milkshakes are mainstays of a typical Western diet and may increase acne risk.
3. Processed Foods
Highly processed foods tend to be high on the glycemic index. White bread, pastry, baked goods, potato chips, French fries, white rice, and sugary drinks all can spike your blood sugar. This can lead to weight gain, and affects skin health as well.
In one study, people on a low-glycemic index diet had less acne. When blood sugar spikes, it is thought to trigger inflammation, causing breakouts. A diet that stabilizes blood sugar can lead to clearer skin.
4. Salt
Too much sodium is also a health concern. Eating a diet high in salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure. Reduce the amount of salt you eat to make a difference in your overall health.
Salt also affects how your skin looks. Too much salt can lead to dehydration. Dehydration pulls moisture away from your skin, leaving it dull and lifeless. Excess sodium can also lead to water retention, where your body holds on to too much water. Water retention can make your skin look bloated or swollen. You might notice bags under your eyes and a generally puffy appearance.
5. Sugar
The calorie content of sugar leads to weight gain. Sugar also has a chemical effect on your body. Sugars such as fructose and glucose can interfere with your body’s production of collagen. Collagen is the protein that gives skin its strength and elasticity.
Too much sugar can reduce the amount of collagen your body produces. Without collagen, your skin will look slack and loose. It won’t be as elastic. Over time, you may see signs of premature aging. Your skin could also be more vulnerable to injuries.
6. Dairy Milk and Dairy Milk Products
Studies looking at teens and milk consumption show a correlation with acne. Cow’s milk elevates insulin levels and some brands even have growth hormones. Elevated insulin increases circulating cortisol levels that bind to our sebaceous glands, increasing sebum production. Milk will not give acne but may unveil an underlying genetic predisposition.
Since cow’s milk has been linked to skin issues, the same is true for dairy products made using cow’s milk, like certain types of cheese, ice cream and more.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol has the ability to speed up the aging process and cause changes to skin’s texture, especially in females if it is not consumed moderately. This is because alcohol acts as a diuretic, it draws out liquid from the body. Less fluid can lead to dehydration and take away moisture from the skin, contributing to dryness. This can make fine lines and wrinkles appear more pronounced.
8. Spicy Foods
As it turns out, foods that have a little kick to them can do more than just make your face turn red. Spicy foods like salsa, hot sauce and chili peppers trigger rosacea, another inflammatory process. The inflammatory cascade causes dilation of blood vessels, increased sebum production and skin sensitivity. Rosacea runs the spectrum of flushing, breaking out and cysts to nose swelling.