Worst Foods for Skin
Bad news for late-night fast-food bingers: What you put in your body is just as important as what you put on it. Some of the best foods for your skin are antioxidant-rich foods, and a few simple diet changes can help brighten, plump, or lock in moisture. Other foods that can cause redness and irritation in some people can also cause acne.
1. Soda
You’ve probably heard that avoiding soda (yes, even diet soda) is good for your waistline, but it turns out that it’s also good for your skin to avoid it. Both diet and regular soda can cause skin inflammation. There are numerous delectable alternatives that are frequently less expensive. Fruit-infused seltzer water is one of them. To plain seltzer, add berries, lemon, lime, or orange slices.
2. Spicy foods
If you have rosacea, you should probably avoid Taco Tuesday. Any foods that cause your blood vessels to dilate and make you flush may trigger a flare, according to the findings of a study review published in the journal Dermatology Practical & Conceptual in 2017. Researchers discovered that many people with rosacea experience flushing after eating spicy foods, drinking alcohol, or drinking hot beverages. However, tacos are not the only culprit.
3. Pasta
Pasta isn’t the only villain here. Inflammation is linked to any refined carb, including white rice, bread, and bagels, all of which are high on the glycemic index. (The glycemic index is a method of determining how a food affects blood sugar levels.) A 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology discovered a link between acne and high glycemic index foods.
Sugar has been linked to inflammation. You want to keep your glycemic index under control in order to reduce inflammation. The simplest way to accomplish this is to consume as much plant-based, whole foods as possible. Brown rice, whole grain bread, and whole wheat pasta are examples of carbs. Intermittent fasting is a method of eating that entails periods of voluntary fasting from food and drink. It has numerous advantages for skin health. It may be an indirect benefit, but it is still significant.
4. Dairy
Dermatologists can often tell when a patient has consumed an excessive amount of dairy. This is why: a large review of studies published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology in 2017 found a link between adult acne in women and consumption of not only high glycemic index foods, but also cow’s milk. This is due to the fact that dairy can be pro-inflammatory. This means it can aggravate any condition involving tissue inflammation, such as acne.
5. Whey protein shakes
Protein shakes are great for building and repairing muscles after a hard workout, but research suggests that some types of protein may cause skin problems. Whey protein, in particular, has been linked to acne flare-ups.
6. Potato chips
Have you ever seen a dermatologist or someone with great skin consume processed foods like potato chips? Doctors are still working to prove it, but dermatologists are increasingly accepting that foods have an effect on the skin, specifically acne. Eating greasy foods does not guarantee that the grease will end up on your skin and cause a breakout, but eating highly processed foods high in trans fats may have an effect on glycation, inflammation, and acne or rosacea breakouts.
7. Fried Chicken
Your taste buds probably enjoy fried foods, but your skin does not. Despite the fact that legal restrictions have significantly reduced the amount of trans fat permitted in foods, the dangerous fats still occur naturally, and some added types can still sneak into your food and increase inflammation.
8. Sugar
There’s nothing wrong with the occasional treat, but eating too many sugary foods can harm your skin. Why? They, like all high-glycemic foods, quickly raise your blood sugar, causing inflammation and triggering glycation, which may stiffen collagen fibers, leaving skin less plump and wrinkled over time.
