Maintaining a healthy diet, experts stress, is essential for having clear, supple and youthful-looking skin. If your objective is to obtain a dewy and vibrant complexion as well as achieve healthy nourishment, certain frozen foods should be avoided.
These are usually those high in salt, sodium and calories, as well as dehydrating in nature, doctors say. To gain insight on this, we sought the opinions of skincare and health professionals.
Read on to learn more about how certain frozen foods can have aging and dehydrating effects, as well as tips and suggestions from Dr. Simran Sethi, MD, founder of RenewMD and skin by Dr. Simran Sethi, Dr. Enrizza P. Factor, dermatologist and writer at My Eczema Team, Lisa Richards, registered nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, and Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements.
Frozen Foods With 'Additives' Can Lead To Premature Aging
Oftentimes, frozen vegetables on their own, Richards says, can be great for a healthy diet, but packaged ones that come with additives or 'extras' can mean lots of salt, extra calories and other undesired ingredients. "Not all frozen vegetables are equal in quality," Richards stresses.
"Frozen produce made with added salt, sugar, oils, dressings, and cheeses have added calories that aren't necessary." These can "negatively impact" your skin.
Sethi concurs, and points out that extra salt in foods like these can lead to a drier complexion (which can mean faster wrinkles and a more sunken, saggy look).
"When there is an excess of salt and glucose in the body, it cross-links with collagen and elastin, proteins that give our skin its firmness and elasticity," Sethi explains.
"Elevated sugar and salt intake hardens skin proteins, making your skin weaker, thinner and less hydrated," she continues. She notes that the damaged skin proteins result in "increased and premature wrinkles, sagging and discoloration of the skin."
High-Sodium, Frozen Vegan & Vegetarian Meals Can Have Similar Effects
If you are vegan or vegetarian, Best recommends preparing plant-based meals yourself rather than reaching for frozen, ready-to-heat meals.
"The sodium, fat, and calorie content in most of these meals makes them among the worst vegan foods to purchase," she says.
She adds that they "offer little in the way of essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals and are significantly dense in calories and fat." Factor agrees, and advises against frozen foods with high sodium content. Sodium, she says, "can take a real toll on your skin's health."
Sodium and salty frozen foods often "cause the body to retain water and lead to a swollen appearance," she adds. "Also, the cells shrink and lead to dehydration. Lack of water leaves the skin with wrinkles and as a result accelerates aging," Factor goes on.
The Bottom Line
Overall, having frozen foods once in a while (or ones without additives like sodium and excess salt) is fine, but our experts suggest skipping them whenever you can. To create a healthier, skin-loving diet to age gracefully, Factor recommends adding the following to your daily menu: "whole grains such as wheat bread, brown rice, barley, millet, oatmeal and quinoa, beans and legumes like black beans, navy beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, peas and lentils."
In addition, she concludes that "strawberries, red peppers, and grapefruit are all other great vitamin C sources," that will support radiant, glowing complexions, along with "leafy greens that are rich in vitamin A, which is an antioxidant and promotes healthy skin cell turnover."
Good to know!
