Our diets play a major role in every aspect of our health, from our weight to our heart—and our skin is no exception. It’s always important to get ample amounts of essential nutrients in each meal to ensure a bright complexion, which is why highly processed foods can be detrimental to your skin.
To learn more about the link between processed food and skin issues, we spoke to dermatologist Elaine F. Kung, MD, dietitian Johna Burdeos, RD, and nutritionist Jay Cowin of ASYSTEM. Kung was able to point out one popular processed food in particular that can cause severe consequences when it comes to the health of your skin: instant noodles.
Instant noodles
Burdeos emphasizes the importance of a healthy diet when it comes to skin care. "Our eating and hydration patterns can damage our skin. A diet that is poor quality, lacking in nutrients and hydration, is more likely to cause skin problems like inflammation, dullness, dryness, acne, and wrinkles earlier in life," she explains.
In general, processed foods aren't able to provide those nutrients we need; as Burdeos says, "A diet made up of mostly processed food is lacking in nutrient and antioxidant rich foods." Unfortunately, although they may be cheap and tasty, instant noodles are no exception.
We know—this popular packaged meal is so convenient and so deviously delicious. But experts say instant noodles are a no-go when it comes to your overall health, especially if you want to keep your skin looking bright and clear. This processed food can do some serious damage to your complexion.
Kung says the high amounts of sodium, MSG, and TBHQ found in instant noodles like ramen are to blame for the health consequences—and these consequences shouldn't be taken lightly. "Regular instant noodle consumption has been associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, high blood sugar, and abnormal blood lipid levels," she says.
So what role does all of this play in your skin, exactly? Kung says the negative health effects of instant noodles can easily turn into serious skin issues, including acne and dark spots. "Since people who consume instant noodles are at risk of high blood sugars, high lipids, and metabolic syndrome, they may be more prone to acne, acanthosis nigricans (darkening of skin around the neck or fold areas), and even hair loss," Kung explains.
Kung also says that one of the main issues at hand is the sheer amount of salt instant noodles contain. She says a diet consisting of too much salt will cause fluid retention, which can lead to rashes on the leg known as statis dermatitis. But it doesn't stop there. "Scientific studies have demonstrated that high salt intake has been shown to impair dermal tissue remodeling, inflammation in the skin, and increase hormonal vasoreactivity. Therefore, salt may have implications in wound healing and aging. MSG is well known to induce flushing of the skin, which can worsen conditions like acne rosacea."
Cowin also makes note of the effects of a high-sodium diet on your skin. "Too much salt can do several things to aging skin," he says. “It can cause the skin to swell, which makes wrinkles more pronounced. It can also draw out water from the skin, making it look dry and irritated. This increases the chances of wrinkles and worsens skin conditions like eczema."
Yikes! We don't want to deal with any of that—maybe it's worth taking the time to make some homemade noodles.
