You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You are what you eat.” It holds more truth than you might think. Most people think you should watch what you eat due to weight-management. This is true, but food and beverages can have a significant effect on your skin’s health. Here are some examples of damage that can be done to your skin by certain foods (such as those high in fat, sugar, and salt).
Aging
Aging is the skin condition that keeps the beauty industry alive. In fact, according to a study done by Zion Market Research in 2018, the anti-aging market is expected to hit $216.52 billion annually by the end of 2021. However, many people don’t realize if you cut one thing out of your diet, you’ll significantly reduce the effects of aging on your skin. That one thing is sugar.
Scientific research has been done on the effects of sugar on your skin. The late Dr. Frederick William Danby, a world-famous dermatologist, researcher, and professor, published a study demonstrating how sugar renders skin incapable of repairing itself, especially when constantly exposed to ultraviolet light (sunlight). Essentially, sugar keeps your skin from retaining its youthful appearance over time.
It’s virtually impossible to completely eliminate sugar from your diet. Almost all of today’s modern processed foods have sugar, especially beverages. Even natural foods have natural sugar. However, you can reduce the excess sugar in your diet to help your skin continue to look as young as possible for as long as possible.
Dry Skin
Have you noticed that you have chronically dry skin? Does it seem like you could start a fire by rubbing a stick on your arm? If you have a problem with chronically dry skin, it could indicate that your diet contains too much salt.
Salt dehydrates you. Too much salt can dramatically dehydrate you. It will suck the life right out of your skin. This results in dry, dull skin that seems like it can’t be moisturized no matter how much lotion you use.
Excessive salt can also make you retain water, which seems odd, given that your skin could be bone dry. However, this water can make you feel and appear bloated and can cause you to pack on extra pounds, which is also unhealthy for your skin. You may even have puffiness or bags under your eyes. Like sugar, a lot of modern foods already have salt in them. However, you can limit how much additional salt you add to your food to keep your skin moisturized and looking alive.
Acne and Blemishes
Getting rid of acne and blemishes is another area that generates a hefty amount of revenue in the beauty industry. When you’re going through adolescence, acne is considered normal. However, it is widely believed that, when you’re older, many acne cases can be caused by eating the wrong foods.
Sugar is a big culprit in acne, but one food that often gets overlooked as a cause of acne is grease. Technically it’s not a food. It’s more like an ingredient or by-product. However, too much of it can cause oily, greasy skin and clog your pores, causing acne. Persistent acne then leads to blemishes that you try to get rid of. Attempting to get rid of the blemishes in the wrong way can then cause them to become permanent. It’s a vicious cycle in which your skin is the victim.
It may be hard, but you should try to avoid greasy foods. Butter is another greasy culprit. Cut these out as much as possible, and you may see fewer problems with acne and blemishes.
Final Thoughts on How Foods Can Affect Your Skin
Today, it can be hard to eat all the right things all the time. On top of that, even if you do eat the right thing most of the time, there are still other factors that can affect your skin’s health and appearance.
Despite this, there are ways to reverse a lot of the damage to your skin. One of those ways is through the work of a professional surgeon, such as Dr. Binder in Beverly Hills. Much of the skin damage of youth can be repaired–and who doesn’t want to look young again?
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