Doctors Say To Avoid These 4 Processed Foods That Are Linked To Headaches And Skin Problems: Potato Chips, More

1. Sugary Foods

Foods with high sugar levels are a disaster for collagen, wrinkles, and even acne.

Dr. Eric Berg says, “If you want to get rid of your acne, most of the time all you have to do is get rid of the sugar because the sugar increases the insulin,” and insulin increases androgens that enlarge sebaceous glands. The oil glands are directly involved with acne.

Sugar is found in many foods like pastries, cereals, and soda, but it’s also hidden in foods that seem healthy, such as fruit juice. Dr. Berg says fruit juice is probably “the worst; it’s all pasteurized and sterilized,” making it equivalent to drinking soda.

Tana Amen, BSN, RN, says that “sugar impacts your brain's pleasure and reward center, causing a release of dopamine and serotonin; the feel-good chemicals. So when you quit sugar, those levels take a temporary dip, and that's when the headaches kick in. Think of it like breaking free from an addiction.”

2. Alcohol

Regular alcohol consumption can cause a variety of health issues, but did you know it's also linked to headaches and skin problems? Dr. Anil Rajani, founder of RajaniMD says, "It seems like alcohol affects bags under the eyes, which a lot of people here know about due to fluid retention. It also triggers the inflammation process that damages the skin when you drink. Another thing is rosacea, or the redness that many women experience."

Especially in the facial area, Rajani says that "alcohol can really make your blood vessels red and expand." There can be "long-term redness issues that often can be treated, but why not just avoid them?" he says. Acne is also linked to rosacea, and there are "many different types of rosacea," he goes on, so "if you're dealing with that, check out some more natural solutions."

Rather than opting for alcohol, Rajani shared a clever and tasty hack. "One trick I do in the evening is add a bit of pomegranate juice to a glass of soda and water, which gives it some fizz and flavor." He also shared: "Sometimes, just the carbonation and the act of drinking is enough to satisfy that craving after a long, tough day at work. In this case, we’re actually swapping out alcohol for something else, packed with anti-aging antioxidants, or whatever you want to call it."

According to an article published by Business Insider, "a 2018 study showed alcohol to be a trigger for over 35% of study participants with migraines. Red wine was the most common alcoholic beverage trigger. The studies haven't determined if sulfites, tannins, or any other naturally-occurring chemicals in wine are the cause of migraine triggers," Thomas Berk, MD, neurologist and headache specialist, says.

3. Processed Meat

Processed meats such as bacon, hot dogs, sausages contain nitrates and preservatives that can cause migraines and inflammation.

Dr. Aaron Chadwick highlights its processed nature and says foods that are overly processed “cause the liver to stress out because the liver is our factory." A liver has a variety of jobs such as processing food and nutrients and filtering blood that contains nutrients while removing toxins. “When it gets overwhelmed with these overly processed foods, that factory gets backed up. Then those toxins leak into the blood, they circulate around, go up to your head, and cause a headache.”

"Processed foods and meats are filled with saturated fats and nitrates, both of which can lead to inflammation of the skin," Dr. Paula Morgan , MD, PhD, FRCPC, FAAD adds.

4. High-Sodium Potato Chips

Most classic potato chips have extremely high levels of salt and regularly eating this snack can cause wrinkles, cracks, and peeling, Dr. Simran Sethi warns.

"Due to osmotic pressure, salt draws water out of cells, including skin cells, leading to dry skin," Dr. Simran Sethi explains. "Potato chips are notoriously high in salt and also contain a sizable amount of sugar," she adds.

When there is an excess of salt and glucose in the body, Sethi continues, it cross-links with collagen and elastin, "proteins that give our skin its firmness and elasticity." Elevated sugar and salt intake "hardens skin proteins, making your skin weaker, thinner and less hydrated," Sethi warns.

In a 2014 study, Berk notes that even artificial salt, or chemicals designed to mimic the taste of salt in snacks and processed foods like potato chips, contains preservatives that can trigger migraines.