It might seem like nothing of importance, but there is a lot of truth behind the saying “you are what you eat.” Ask any doctor, dermatologist and nutritionist and they will tell you it’s not a myth and that what you put in your mouth determines how you look and feel.
So when you indulge in greasy and sugary foods, don’t blame your genes for your skin breaking out. In fact, if you want to achieve and maintain healthy, glowing skin, try to avoid the following food:
1. Cake and Other Pastries
Refusing cake must be one of the hardest things anyone with a sweet tooth can do, but if you want good skin, you need to able to say no.
NYC-based dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, revealed to Yahoo Health that when you consume “high amounts of sugar, your blood sugar levels increase, allowing your insulin levels to quickly spike. This sudden sugar rush within the body leads to inflammation, which can reveal itself in the form of acne.”
It’s all that sweet sugar in cake that’s the main culprit…
2. Dairy Products
Don’t take another bite of that mouth-watering cheese! Nutritionist Keri Glassman, RD, founder of The Nutritionist School, tells us that the “hormones found in dairy are often culprits of breakouts.”
All types of dairy, even the organic ones, contain natural hormones that can cause the human body to produce an excess amount of sebum, leading to clogged pores.
3. White Bread
White bread and other wheat-based foods like cereal and pasta have high glycemic levels that can raise your blood sugar level, leading to excess oil and breakouts.
Like bread and pasta? Well, you don’t have to give them up entirely, with Jaliman pointing out that the key is portion control: “High glycemic food products have been known to trigger acne, so try to limit the amount consumed in order to reduce breakouts.”
4. Sugary Drinks
Quite obvious, isn’t it? Aside from being generally bad for your health, sweetened drinks, like cake, contain high amounts of sugar that lead to inflammation of the skin and, thus, unwanted breakouts.
“Healthy” juices get no slack, because they too usually contain high amounts of sugar. Make sure to read the label before you buy.
5. Fast Food
You must have known fast food would make the list. As Glassman explains, “Trans fatty foods can cause inflammation, which can lead to breakouts and even wrinkles.”
Fatty foods, like dairy products, also trigger a hormonal response that can lead to pimples and other unwanted skin conditions.
6. Salty Food
Salty Food, unlike sugary food, does not directly cause acne. However, it can worsen minor breakouts due to the dehydrating effects of salt.
It is best to steer clear from the recognizable crooks (e.g. chips, pretzels, and salted nuts), and the not-so-recognizable ones (e.g. soups and processed meats) when you’re trying to clear your skin.
