Having young-looking skin isn’t all about the things you put on your body; it’s also about what you put in your body! Below, read about 7 foods that can actually age your skin.
1. Processed Meats
Generally, more processed foods are not as good for you as whole foods. This is especially true for meat products. Processed meats contain a lot of unhealthy chemicals and tons of salt. However, processed meats are also one of the worst offenders when it comes to premature ageing.
The chemicals that can be found in processed meats are most likely the reason that they are so bad for the skin. Many of the chemicals in these meats are linked to inflammation. When the skin is inflamed, it damages the collagen that keeps the skin firm and smooth. When the collagen is damaged, the skin will begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles.
If meat is an important part of your diet, stick to less processed options.
2. Soda and Coffee
It isn’t uncommon to need a little caffeine kickstart first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, caffeinated beverages like soda and coffee can wreak havoc on your skin.
Over time, putting a lot of coffee into your body negatively impacts the liver’s ability to purify your blood. This can result in dark patches and liver spots appearing on the skin as you age.
Soda is also a problem for your skin’s healthy ageing. Sodas are loaded with sugar; because sugar is not a particularly stable carbohydrate, drinking soda causes rapid fluctuations in your blood sugar. Your skin needs more balanced blood sugar to age gracefully.
If you’re feeling sluggish, try more natural energy boosters, such as hot tea.
3. Alcohol
You may consider alcohol an important part of a night out, but overindulging is bad for you in more ways than one. You’ve probably heard about the damage alcohol can cause your liver, but did you know that it can also speed up ageing?
One reason that alcohol is problematic is that it tends to dehydrate the body. Hydration is one of the most important aspects of maintaining healthy skin throughout your life, so dehydrating yourself with alcohol can cause premature wrinkles. In addition, alcohol is an inflammatory that will make the skin redder over time.
4. Dairy
Good news for vegans: the next item on this list won’t be a problem for you! However, for everyone else who enjoys pizza and ice cream, you may be disappointed. It turns out that one entire section of the food pyramid could actually be contributing to premature ageing.
There are a few reasons that dairy is a skin problem. First of all, dairy contains quite a bit of sugar, which inflames and damages the skin. In addition, most dairy products are made using milk from cows that have been treated with hormones that inflame the skin even more. Even if you’re trying to be healthy by sticking to skim milk, you may have a problem. Skim milk has a high amount of whey protein, which can cause plenty of its own skin problems.
The best bet is to switch to dairy alternatives, such as almond milk and coconut ice cream.
5. Margarine
A lot of “Eat This, Not That” lists will tell you that switching from butter to margarine is a good swap. While there are some benefits to using margarine over butter, margarine actually comes with its own problems. Specifically, it is bad for your skin.
In spite of its healthy reputation, margarine actually contains quite a lot of trans fats. Trans fats are highly susceptible to free radicals that damage the skin. They also oxidize poorly, meaning that they can cause the skin to become inflamed. All of these factors can make your skin age much more quickly.
6. White Sugar
Sugar is everywhere. If you take a look at a nutrition label, you would be surprised at all of the places that it hides. Unfortunately, most of it is highly processed white sugar, which is one of the worst foods for your skin.
Sugar is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to inflammation. If skin is inflamed, it is much more likely to wrinkle. In addition, sugar binds to proteins, such as collagen, when it is processed by the body. The toxins that enter into sugar when it is processed damage the collagen, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.
To combat this, try to look for products that have no added sugar. You can also explore alternative sweeteners, such as honey.
7. White Bread
Much like sugar, white bread is an example of a highly processed carbohydrate. They are what is known as “simple carbohydrates.” Simple carbohydrates are not only bad for your overall health; they are also bad for your skin.
Simple carbohydrates have a high glycemic index. They are broken down quickly in the body, which damages proteins such as collagen. They can make your skin look puffy and inflamed, increasing the likelihood of wrinkling.
A simple way to avoid this problem is by switching to whole grain bread for your lunchtime sandwich.
