We are what we eat. And so is our complexion. So, there’s no wonder that there are some foods that don’t exactly give your face the glow you seek! Find out below which are the worst foods for your skin!
Of course, it’s a complicated age we live in: some foods are healthy in different ways and might not be the most beneficial for your face. What are the worst foods for your skin? Well, most of these are the usual suspects, the foods that don’t work at all. The idea here is not to cut these out completely – I would not want to live in a world without salt – but as far as it’s possible, not have them together in the same meal. And reduce the portions you’re having.
5 worst foods for your skin
1. Sugary foods
By now we know that sugar is as close to evil as possible and it has a lot of negative effects on your body. It’s no different for your skin. High blood sugar can weaken your skin because it breaks down collagen. This process leads to lines and wrinkles. That’s the reason dark chocolate with no sugar is good for you, while the sweet varieties are the worst foods for your skin. They are straight-up a wrecking crew for your face.
Sugar in any type of sweets can give you unaesthetic breakouts on your face, and nobody likes that uneven redness. But there are ways to replace sugar in your diet.
2. Salty foods
Sodium found in salty foods also has catastrophically effects on your body and particularly skin. Salt leads to retaining water in your cells, which leads to bloating and puffiness and swelling. If you wake up with puffy eyes in the morning, it’s time to reconsider your snack options. If you’re having peanuts or almonds as snacks, always go for the raw, unsalted varieties.
Now, when it comes to actual cooking, salt has a big part in the chemical processes that give flavor to your dishes. So, you don’t have to give up salt completely. I wouldn’t want to live in a world where all my food is bland. But try to use it sparingly when cooking, and dropping highly processed snacks and other foods from your menu. Remember that canned foods are also loaded with sodium. Plan your meals accordingly.
3. Dairy
Milk and other dairy products have been linked in the past years with acne outbreaks. The connection between the two has not yet been studied in detail and on large groups of people. But there are two studies that tried to define it. One released in 2005 linked acne with consuming a lot of milk. And a 2012 Italian study found a more definite connection between skim milk and acne. If you’ve been diagnosed with rosacea, know that dairy products can serve as a trigger for the redness in your skin.
4. Foods rich in iodine
Iodine is a mineral that, when consumed in large quantities, can lead to breakouts of acne. So be careful not to have too much of these following foods: shrimp, crab, lobster, seaweed, and spinach. These are naturally high in iodine so don’t have them too often together or even apart. About two times a month would be ideal. The iodine accumulates over time and leads to breakouts. But don’t worry if you have one isolated meal that mixes more of these foods.
5. Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks are diuretics, which means that every cocktail or glass of wine you have dehydrates you and your skin. Dehydrated skin can make wrinkles and line more obvious, not to mention you won’t even look fresh after a good night’s sleep. Alcohol can also trigger the rosacea redness. But since alcoholic drinks affect your liver, that will also show on your face, in the form of larger pores and a pasty complexion.
But if you are to have a few drinks every now and again, what drinks hurts the most and what should you choose? Shots of clear drinks like vodka, gin, and tequila are the best because they don’t have any added sugars or harmful ingredients. Cocktails and all kinds of mixed drinks are bad for you because they have plenty of sugar and other ingredients you shouldn’t consume.