Unless you are trying to buy alcohol or get into a club, nobody wants to look older than they are. A lot of people, however, experience premature aging and don’t understand the cause. All the skin care remedies and treatments in the world mean nothing if you keep eating foods that age you.
According to nutritionists, the foods you eat can accelerate the aging process. The sad reality is that most people are aware of these age-accelerating foods, even if they think they don’t know what they are. Foods that are devoid of nutrients (the unhealthy, processed, antibiotic-rich, chemically flavored, fatty, fried foods Americans love) cause free radical damage and inflammation, both of which expedite the aging process.
Is There A Way To Look Younger?
Yes, and all you have to do is eat healthier. Foods with trans fats, saturated fats, refined grains, sugars, and processed ingredients put the body in an inflammatory state. According to Timothy Harlan, M.D., eating these types of foods can damage the skin’s collagen, reducing elasticity and causing wrinkles. It’s more beneficial to focus on consuming fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains if you want your skin to look younger and healthier.
Don’t be the 25 year-old with 78 year-old skin. Avoid the following foods and you’ll start to look younger in no time. Plus, you’ll feel a whole lot healthier!
Alcohol
If you want your skin to retain its elasticity, alcohol is not your friend. Alcohol dehydrates the body, drawing water from your pores as you drink more of it. Additionally, alcohol interferes with healthy sleep, and the combination of dehydration and lack of sleep contributes to fine lines and wrinkles.
Fried Foods
Yes, fried foods are delicious; nobody is denying that. If you want to decrease premature signs of aging, though, it’s time to eliminate them from your diet. They are loaded with both trans and saturated fats, which contribute to weight gain. As you pack on the pounds, your skin suffers as a result, making you age faster than you realize.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Almost every soda, sugary treat, candy, or processed juice has high fructose corn syrup. It’s an additive that you need to avoid if you are in search of the fountain of youth. According to nutritionists, high fructose corn syrup is the worst kind of sweetener for your skin and overall health. The excess sugar damages collagen and elastin, which in turn makes your skin look more wrinkled than it should.
High Glycemic Index Carbs
High glycemic index carbohydrates exist in many foods, from pastas and bagels to cereals and pretzels. A high percentage of people have sensitivities to these foods, and the reactions often result in acne or inflamed areas on the skin. Eating too much of these foods can flood the body with glucose, which accelerates the development of wrinkles. Additionally, these foods contribute to chronic inflammation in the body.
Super Salty Foods
People love salt. Some people love salt so much that they salt their food before they even taste it! Super salty foods cause bloating and water retention, both of which give the skin a puffy or aged appearance. Too much salt in the body can actually cause dehydration, which, as we mentioned early, leads to fine lines and wrinkles.
Potato Chips
It’s so easy to eat an entire bag of chips. Do you worry about all the hydrogenated oils, trans fats, and sodium while you’re shoving handfuls of chips into your face, though? Well, those trans fats and oils stimulate inflammation in the body, which impairs immune and respiratory function. Not to mention, the more inflammation you have in the body, the older you’ll start to look.
Dairy Products
A high percentage of people are either sensitive or intolerant to dairy products. Many reactions to dairy products include itchy skin, psoriasis, redness, blemishes, eczema, and scaly patches. If you already deal with any skin issues, dairy products can worsen them. Statistically, people who eat dairy products age more quickly than people who avoid dairy.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
