Diana Kelly Levey

4 Foods That Are Secretly Aging You

Pixabay

August 22, 2018 | Categories: ,

When you want the most beautiful skin possible, you may focus on keeping your skin clean and hydrated, but did you know what you eat can have a big effect on how healthy your skin looks? These foods that are aging you can include things you eat every day and maybe even foods you think are healthy. Having these foods in your diet may contribute to acne, wrinkles, and eczema, and can even make the skin on your face appear lumpy or bumpy.

In order to learn which foods are adding to your skin problems, you might want to begin an elimination diet—meaning you’ll take all of the following foods out of your daily diet for at least a week. Then, slowly reintroduce one food at a time to see if it results in skin irritations, acne, and skin problems. When planning, here are the foods you’ll want to cut out. (Here’s how to look younger in 2 weeks.)

1. Processed Food

You probably didn’t think salty snacks and greasy foods were good for your skin, so it’s not surprising that too much processed food can actually contribute to lumps and bumps on your face in the form of acne. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests that a diet high in refined carbs (many junk foods) may contribute to premature aging. That’s not to mention that the high sodium content in many processed foods can contribute to dehydration, leaving your skin looking dull. Help your skin bounce back by eating foods that contain collagen, which include bone broth, or foods such as wild salmon that help your body produce more collagen.

2. Sugar

While it’s hard to hear, your sweet tooth could be one of the foods aging you. Loss of elasticity and sagging skin are outcomes related to changes in the collagen and elastic fibers of the skin, which are affected by diet, according to the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. To correct this, limit your intake of added sugars, including juice cocktails and decadent desserts. While fruit does contain fructose, it’s a natural form of sugar and packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Some of the best fruits for your skin are berries due to their high antioxidant counts and tomatoes for the lycopene. Check out these 50 best foods to add to your grocery list.

3. Refined Starches

If you’re eating a bagel at breakfast, a sandwich at lunch, and pasta at dinner, all of those carbs might prevent your skin from looking its best. That’s because your body processes all of those carbs as glucose, which leads to structural changes in the skin, according to the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Enjoy your carbs in the form of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Carrots and sweet potatoes might be higher-carb veggies, but they are good sources of vitamin A, which Cleveland Clinic says is good for your skin.

4. Dairy

There are many health benefits to having dairy in your diet; if you suffer from bumps and lumps from acne, however, you may need to avoid the dairy aisle in your grocery store because it could be one of the foods that are aging you. Several studies show links between dairy—especially milk—and acne problems, according to the AAD. Some experts suspect hormones and growth factors may play a role in this association. Swap out traditional cow’s milk for nondairy options such as soy or almond milk.

Don’t let a less-than-stellar diet condemn you to dull, tired skin. By cutting out harmful foods and taking steps to improve the texture and elasticity of your skin, you’ll age with the grace and dignity you deserve.

Read the full article on BeMyBestMe.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Work With Me

Diana can help with:

  • Writing articles
  • Freelance writing coaching
  • Content marketing writing
  • Copywriting
  • Editing
  • Reporting
  • Magazine writing
  • Magazine editing
  • Website writing
  • SEO writing and strategy
  • Branded content
  • Whitepapers
  • Syndication strategy
  • Launching editorial websites
  • Audience development
  • Blogging
  • Ghostwriting
  • Social media strategy
  • Book projects
  • Creating freelance writing online courses

Email Diana about opportunities: Diana(at)DianaKelly.com.