As the old saying goes, “You are what you eat.” In the case of skincare, what you put into your body is just as important as what you put onto your skin. If you’re suffering from acne, puffiness, or premature fine lines, your diet may be the culprit. Keep reading to learn the worst foods for skin.
Simple Carbohydrates
If you’re a carb addict, your diet could be aging your skin. Pasta, white bread, soda, juice, candy, and cookies are all considered simple carbohydrates, meaning that they quickly convert to glucose when consumed. Glucose clings to the wrinkle-reducing proteins collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are essential for keeping skin soft, supple, and smooth, so the last thing you want to do is harm these youth-giving molecules.
To keep your skin soft and smooth, swap simple carbs for complex carbs like whole grains and vegetables.
Dairy
While there’s no scientific evidence directly linking dairy to acne, many skincare experts believe that dairy consumption can contribute to breakouts for some people. Dairy is full of growth hormones like testosterone, which boost inflammation and skin oil production.
If you have acne, you might want to try eliminating dairy from your diet to see how it affects your skin. Just keep in mind that dairy is an important source of calcium and vitamin D, so you’ll want to make sure you’re getting these critical nutrients from other sources (think seeds, beans, spinach, kale, etc.).
Shellfish
Shellfish like shrimp, lobster, oysters, and scallops can also lead to acne breakouts. Shellfish contains high amounts of iodine, which inflames skin and clogs pores. Consuming iodine is healthy in moderation, but eating too much can cause acne. Other foods high in iodine include cheese, milk, kelp, fish sticks, and boiled eggs.
Salt
If you’ve ever had a bloated face after a late night fast food run, you’re already aware of the effects salt can have on your skin. Salt causes tissues to swell, making skin look puffy. It can also dehydrate the skin, leading to the appearance of fine lines.
Almost all restaurant and processed foods contain high amounts of salt, so the best way to reduce your intake is by cooking whole, healthy foods at home (and taking it easy with the salt shaker).
Caffeine
Your afternoon latte addiction may be to blame for tight, dry, itchy skin. Caffeine, the ingredient that gives coffee, tea and soda their pep, is a diuretic. Diuretics prevent your body from holding onto water, and as a result, skin becomes dehydrated. To compound the effect, caffeine also increases cortisol levels, which accelerate the aging process by thinning the skin.
A cup or two of coffee each day is fine, but avoid going overboard to keep skin hydrated and fresh.
Fried Food
Fried foods are usually prepared with vegetable oils. While vegetable oils may sound healthy, they’re actually loaded with trans fats. Trans fats are known to slow circulation, which leads to clogged pores. They also contribute to inflammation and encourage cyst formation. The result? Blackheads and breakouts. Thus, it’s a smart skin move to avoid deep fried foods whenever possible.
Since everyone responds differently to foods, record what you eat and how your skin looks in a journal. See if you can connect your intake with changes in your skin.
If you like this article, you might also like “The 9 Best Foods for Glowing Skin”.
