10 Foods That Are Ruining Your Skin & 10 That Enhance It
Clear Skin Starts From The Inside Out
Have you ever heard the expression, "You are what you eat?" You may have the perfect skincare regimen that you follow diligently. However, if you're not eating the right foods, it won't matter how many retinoids and ceramides you apply to your face. Everything you put in your body affects your skin. If you're following the proper diet, your skin can look more glowing, dewy, and radiant than ever. However, if you're overindulging on junk food, say hello to dull skin and breakouts. Here are 10 foods that are ruining your skin and 10 that enhance it.
1. Fried Foods
You probably already know that fried foods aren't so healthy for your body, but those negative effects can be found on your skin, too. Eating fried foods often can cause oxidative stress and inflammation, which can cause acne and wrinkles.
2. Processed Meats
Processed meats like ham, salami, hot dogs, and bacon are packed with nitrates and sodium. Nitrates have been found to cause inflammation, while high levels of sodium can destroy collagen and lead to premature aging.
Miguel Marmolejos Fernández on Pexels
3. Dairy
Dairy products like milk and cheese raise your insulin level, which in turn affects your cortisol. This causes some people's sebum production to fly off the charts, leading to acne.
4. White Bread
Refined carbohydrates like white bread cause insulin spikes, which can lead to acne. What's more, it contains gluten, which can be hard for some people to digest. When a food attacks your gut, it shows in your skin.
5. Candy
Sugar not only spikes your insulin, causing acne, but also degrades collagen and elastin. While it's okay to indulge in these sugar bombs now and then, too much can cause your skin to have acne and to age prematurely.
6. Alcohol
Too much alcohol causes your skin to be dehydrated, which can cause wrinkles, fine lines, and dark circles. It also depletes collagen, speeding up the aging process.
7. Potato Chips
Potato chips are a fried food like any other. They rely on inflammatory hydrogenated oils (a.k.a. unhealthy fats) for their addictive crispiness. Eating them can exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions like acne and rosacea.
8. Whey Protein
You may be having whey protein to be healthy, but many people report it causing acne breakouts. For anyone sensitive to dairy, it's not a great option as it's essentially concentrated dairy. Try vegan protein powder instead.
9. Spices
Spices cause heat in the body and sweat which can lead to acne breakouts. However, even spices that aren't considered particularly spicy, like cinnamon, cloves, fenugreek, and vanilla, are common triggers
10. Pastries
Pastries like cookies, croissants, and donuts are a triple-whammy threat against your skin health because they typically contain inflammatory fat, insulin-spiking sugar, and refined carbohydrates as well as gluten. They break down the skin's collagen and elastin and cause acne.
Now that we've gone over some of the worst threats to your skin, let's talk about the superfoods that help your skin glow.
1. Berries
If you're trying to ensure your skin stays radiant, snack on berries like blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries all you want. They're backed with antioxidants that help your body fight off free radicals and collagen boosting vitamin C.
2. Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like spinach and kale are the best friends of clear, healthy skin. They contain hydrating vitamin A, vitamin C, which repairs the skin from sun damage, and anti-inflammatory vitamin E.
3. Green Tea
Not only is green tea hydrating, it's also packed with skin-supporting antioxidants. On type called epigallocatechin-3-gallate is especially strong against age-related skin decline.
4. Tomatoes
Tomatoes help your skin by hydrating it, protecting you from UV rays, improving your skin's texture, reducing inflammation, and promoting collagen production. This is all thanks to an antioxidant called lycopene, which can also be found in grapefruit, papayas, and watermelon.
5. Dark Chocolate
Next time you're itching to satisfy your sweet tooth, instead of reaching for candy or pastries, opt for rich and delicious dark chocolate. It's been shown to improve skin hydration and reduce rough, scaly patches on skin, and protect from UV rays thanks to its antioxidant content.
6. Avocados
Avocados are a great source of healthy fats that keep your skin moisturized and elastic. They're also high in vitamin E, which protects your skin from oxidative stress and reduces inflammation.
7. Nuts
Nuts are the perfect snack for anyone trying to improve their skin health because they're high in healthy fats, protein, fiber, and vitamins. Many nuts also contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory and regulate the skin's oil production.
8. Salmon
Salmon is just one common example of a fatty fish that is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote skin elasticity. It's also anti-inflammatory and can protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
9. Citrus Fruits
There's a reason you see vitamin C incorporated into so many skin products. It aids in collagen production, which keeps your skin firm and radiant. Oranges, grapefruits, limes, and other citrus fruits are some of the best sources.
10. Carrots
Carrots and other orange veggies like sweet potatoes are an excellent source of beta-carotene. You may have heard of this wonderful nutrient's eye-supporting qualities, but it also contributes to a glowy skin tone.
KEEP ON READING
