Eat your way to glowing and radiant skin by learning which foods are doing more harm than good.
Did you know that the foods you eat have the ability to affect your skin? While using the best skincare and beauty products is important, healthy skin starts with what you put inside your body. Taking care of your skin should be a more holistic approach. This includes the foods you eat, your environment, stress levels and of course, the topical products you splurge on for beauty and self care.
If you thought eating a packet of oreos just meant you needed to squeeze in an extra gym session, think again. Poor nutrition is just as bad for your skin as it is for the rest of your body. We’re not saying to avoid the oreos - we love a delicious vegan treat here at BB HQ - but we are saying that a balanced diet can do wonders for your complexion. If you’re wanting to put your best face forward in 2019, keep these foods out of your shopping basket next time you’re at Tesco. Nourishing your body with a healthy diet goes a long way in ensuring your skin is at its very best.
Refined Sugar
If your struggling with acne, redness or puffiness, it might be time to unsweeten that sweet tooth. Sugar, especially refined sugar, is pro-inflammatory. This means that a diet high in sugar can worsen many common skin conditions like acne, eczema and even psoriasis. To avoid unwanted flare ups, steer clear of foods like white bread and pasta, fizzy drinks, candy and sugary cereals.
Studies have even found that diets high in sugar are responsible for the breakdown of collagen levels, affecting your skins strength and elasticity. Luckily a balanced diet with the help of skincare that includes collagen can boost your levels and keep wrinkles at bay. Balance is key, babes.
Dairy
Eliminating dairy from your diet can improve skin conditions, texture and tone. It is the first thing any nutritionist or naturopath will recommend to eliminate from your diet if you’re struggling with skin irritations. Cows milk, particularly skinny milk causes the most skin issues because of the whey protein, hormones, and sugars in it. Luckily there are plenty of non-dairy replacements for your cheeses, yogurts and morning coffee. One iced-almond latte to go please.
Salt
Do you notice after a movie night of popcorn, potato chips and sweets that you wake up feeling a little puffy around the eyes? Too much salt can cause water retention, which leaves us looking a little swollen all over. The skin around the eyes is so thin that it is unfortunately affected the most and also the hardest to hide. A diet high in salt can also lead to high blood pressure, which affects our collagen levels. Ditch the salt to avoid bags under your eyes.
Alcohol
Alcohol is a natural diuretic. This means that it increases the excretion of water from our bodies leaving us very dehydrated after a few too many. Alcohol also saps the natural moisture from your skin, which can bring out unwanted wrinkles, fine lines and even trigger rosacea. It's always a good idea to drink in moderation and alternate alcoholic drinks with glasses of water in between. Not only will it help your skin but your head won't hurt so much the next day either.
Anything fried
As if you needed another reason to feel guilty about eating french fries. Unhealthy fats from fried foods can clog pores and have virtually zero benefits for your skin - or body really. Fat as a whole is not all bad though. Good fats from avocados and nuts are super beneficial for your skin. They regulate cell function and help keep skin looking youthful and healthy. All in all, choose your fats wisely.
Now you’re armed with all the knowledge you need for a beautiful, clearer complexion, BB babes. The world is your oyster.
