Growing old gracefully doesn’t have to mean taking absolutely no steps to look and feel your best. If you feel your absolute greatest in the skin you are in and don’t wish to prevent signs of aging, you may not be concerned about foods that are linked to wrinkles and fine lines. And that’s great. But it’s also okay if you would like to stall the hands of time while making sure your diet is filled with nourishing proteins, vitamins, and minerals that can make your skin look amazing, to boot.
If you are eating too much of the following 16 foods, experts say it can show on your skin. It’s not that these foods should NEVER be eaten — but moderation is key, and minimizing some of these choices to allow more veggies, whole grains, fruits, and proteins in can help you achieve a more balanced diet. Since beautiful skin starts from within, the food you eat matter. Here are 16 to eat in moderation.
White Bread
White bread contains sugars that can cause glycation, which is when your skin fibers link together. And this can lead to a loss of elasticity and collagen, which results in sagging and fine lines.
Cereals
Most breakfast cereals are not all that healthy for you — some can have as much sugar as a pastry. They can lead to glycation and the break down of collagen in your skin. A better option would be oatmeal or, if you need that crunch in the morning, a cereal without added sugar made from whole grains like barley.
Margarine
The trans fats found in margarine can dry out your skin, which can maximize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Instead of using margarine, stick with butter or — even better — olive oil.
Breakfast Pastries
We know breakfast pastries are a tradition in some countries — no one is going to tell an Italian not to enjoy la dolce vita. But a high-sugar start to your day cannot only lead to a crash soon after, but it can contribute to breaking down of collagen.
Potato Chips
Where there is salty food, like potato chips, there is salt, and when there is salt there is sodium. Where there is sodium — you guessed it — there is dryer skin. Dry skin can make cracks in your texture like fine lines appear more prominent.
French Fries
Like potato chips, French fries are the salty treat we don’t want to quit, but the trade-off is that you are going to take in high amounts of sodium. One way to minimize sodium and trans fat content is by air frying potatoes and adding other spices to them to give them a kick, without all the salt.
Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are processed meat that contain sodium and sodium nitrates — and the latter can lead to inflammation in the skin. Inflammation can retain fluids, making the skin look puffy, cause redness, and damaging collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles.
Bacon
Consider bacon hot dog’s cousin — it also contains high amounts of sodium and sodium nitrates. Nitrate-free turkey bacon may help satisfy your taste buds and is a healthier option.
Alcohol
A cocktail now and again is a nice treat, but if you are drinking alcohol every day you could be harming your health and your skin. Alcohol is very drying to the skin and causes inflammation that lead to the destruction of collagen and elastin. When you are celebrating with a glass of bubbly, be sure to also drink water to keep up your hydration levels.
Cheeseburgers
What goes well with fries? A juicy cheeseburger, of course. Don’t give up burgers completely if you love them, but try to balance fatty meats, which can cause inflammation, with leaner choices like turkey and poultry.
Processed Cheese & Dairy
Dairy can wreak havoc in the skin of many — it can cause irritation, acne, and inflammation. If you are someone who knows they are prone to nasty skin side effects from dairy, switch to dairy alternatives like those made from oats, almonds, and soy.
Instant Ramen Noodles
We live in a world that’s full of processed foods. These quick meals, including Instant Ramen Noodles, are great for on-the-go lifestyles, but they are less great for our health and skin. They’re often packed with salt, sodium, and fats, and lack nutrients that we need.
Mayonnaise
Mayo is high in Omega-6, which causes inflammation that can aggravate skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Try swapping mayo for protein-rich hummus on your next sandwich.
Microwaved Dinner
It’s not always the case that a fast snack can’t be nutritious — take fruit or raw veggies, for example. But, generally speaking, if a meal promises to be ready for you in four minutes and includes meats, veggies, and a starch, chances are it is processed and can cause inflammation.
Canned Soup
Bring on soups — they’re wonderful for packing in lots of veggies and proteins like chicken and beef. But canned soups aren’t always the best choice. They are usually packed with sodium and can be drying on the skin and cause puffiness, as well.
Soda
Soda is incredibly high in sugar and causes glycation and inflammation. And if you’ve ever noticed that drinking soda just makes you more thirsty — for more soda — it’s not your imagination. The beverage doesn’t quench your thirst or keep you hydrated. We know it’s nowhere near as delicious, but water is your skin’s best friend. Squeeze lemon and orange into your H2O if you need it to be more tasty.
