The One Processed Food No One Over 40 Should Be Eating Anymore Because They Increase The Likelihood Of Age-Related Beauty Issues

If you’ve noticed that every time you slip bacon into your sandwich you wake up the following day with a puffy under-eye area, it may not be a coincidence. “Processed meats contain a high amount of sodium and nitrates,” Young said. “Sodium and nitrates have been said to cause puffiness and inflammation.” 

Consider it a double whammy if you fry bacon and other meats, because fried foods are also best to avoid, according to Young. “When food is fried it releases free radicals that can cause damage to the skin and also causes our skin to lose elasticity,” Young said. “Fried foods also contain hydrogenated fat which is highly processed.”

The reason these foods are known to make individuals age faster is because they are loaded with high inflammatory properties and they lack fiber and antioxidants, Young added. 

What are some foods that you should eat instead to promote younger-looking skin? 

You may be swapping processed meats and fried foods with grilled and roasted meat and potatoes, but what other foods should you consider incorporating into your diet if you want to maintain a healthy and youthful complexion? Young recommends focusing on these four nutrients: 

• Antioxidants: “Antioxidants are so important and essential for protecting our body against free radicals,” Young said. Plant focused foods containing antioxidants include blueberries, broccoli, spinach, carrots, and potatoes. 

• Omega 3 fatty acids (some sources are salmon, herring, mackerel, walnuts, chia seeds): “This is essential for skin health as it reduces inflammation in our skin,” Young said. 

• Vitamin E (Some sources are fatty fish, avocado, almonds, and sunflower oil): Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects our skin from oxidative damaged and is essential to beautiful skin, according to Young. 

• Vitamin C (some sources are broccoli, sweet potatoes, oranges, strawberries, blueberries): Last but not least, vitamin C helps our skin produce collagen — and considering how collagen and elastin are building blocks of youthful, supple skin, you’ll want to include these foods in your daily diet. 

Creams and serums are lovely, but for truly radiant skin that emits warmth from the inside out, these simple tips will help you avoid aging foods and replace them with foods that can promote a more youthful complexion.