Is your skin breakout city, population: one? Skin creams, cleansers and enzyme peels aren’t the only things you need in your beauty arsenal to maintain radiant and glowing skin. It’s not only what you put on your body that keeps it healthy — it’s also what you put in it. If you want to keep your skin in tip-top condition, steer clear of these 17 foods that wreak havoc on your face.
1. Milk: Got acne? Milk may do a body good, but what it does for the skin is another story. Added growth hormones and sugar in milk spike insulin, which causes inflammation and increases oil production. That means unsightly, red pimples — yuck. (via Refinery29)
2. White Bread: A diet with too many starchy foods like white breads, cakes and donuts leads to clogged pores and acne-prone skin. These foods can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, which trigger the dreaded breakout. (via Everyday Health)
3. “Healthy” Cereal: Don’t let the package lie. “Whole grain,” “low fat” and “natural” cereals can contain spoonfuls of hidden sugar in each bite. Read your labels and protect your skin from cereals filled with wrinkle-inducing sugars. (via Oprah)
4. Peanuts: If you find yourself dipping into the peanut butter jar more than usual, it could be the culprit of oily skin. This crunchy legume contains a hormone that can increase oil production in some people. (via All Women Stalk)
5. Chips: When you’re struggling to resist that crinkling bag of salty goodness, remember this: Chips are packed with refined carbs, which can cause a lot of stress for your body. That stress can take the form of wrinkles, fine lines and pale skin. (via Prevention)
6. Fried Foods: Dang, why do French fries have to be so good, right? We all know fried foods aren’t great for your waistline, but turns out they aren’t the best for your face either. They can actually cause oil and bacteria buildup in your body, which translates to oily, puffy skin. (via Style List)
7. Chargrilled Meat: Heating meat at high temperatures produces a chemical reaction between the fat and protein that results in compounds called “advanced glycation end products” (AGES), which is exactly what’ll happen to your skin if you overdo it on the ‘cue. Like with everything, BBQ is best in moderation. (via Oprah)
8. Deli Meats: While your favorite deli sandwiches might be convenient and tasty, those deli meats and hot dogs are packed with nitrites. Nitrates are guilty of many health risks, including thin and aging skin. (via Best Health)
9. Soy: Unsightly breakouts popping up around your chin, jaw line or neck? Soy milk, tofu and soy derivatives in everything from energy bars to potato chips might be at fault, thanks to soy’s natural plant estrogens. (via Upkeep, photo via Food Matters)
10. Shellfish: Shrimp, crab and other crustaceous pleasures of the sea may trigger breakouts in those with sensitivities to iodine, a component found in shellfish. (via New Beauty)
11. Seaweed: Seaweed is one of those things where too much can have an adverse effect. It’s rich in iodine, and anyone with skin sensitivities may experience flare-ups of red, pimply skin if they go overboard with the seaweed. When eaten in moderation, this sea veggie gets an A+ in nutrition. (via All Women Stalk)
12. Sushi: If dry, aged skin isn’t how you wanna to roll, then we suggest eating sushi in moderation. It’s not so much the fish, but the large quantities of salt and rice that go into each roll, sucking away moisture from your skin and leaving it dull and dry. (via Popsugar)
13. Soda: We know, we know: Soda is bad for us. But it’s especially bad for your skin — all that sugar breaks down collagen and accelerates the skin’s aging process. Sip on good ol’ H2O instead. (via Women’s Day)
14. Coffee: If you stick to the “one cup a day” rule of thumb, you may be doing your skin a favor. When you slip into the realm of venti lattes and super-sized mugs, you might be drying your skin and increasing the production of cortisol, which ages and thins the skin. (via Beauty High)
15. Alcohol: Don’t overdo it when it comes to beer, wine and cocktails, ’cause you may end up with more than just a bad headache. Alcohol dehydrates skin, leaving it dry, wrinkly and yearning for moisture. Drink responsibly for healthy skin. (via Good Housekeeping)
16. Salt: Puffy face? Check your salt consumption, because anything over 1,500 mg of sodium per day can wreak havoc on your skin. Excessive salt intake can cause fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes, where skin is thinner. (via Women’s Day)
17. Agave: Foods that are touted as “good for you” aren’t always so, as is the case with this sweet syrup. That “healthy” switch you made by selecting agave over refined sugars can actually contain more fructose than the dreaded high-fructose corn syrup and may speed the appearance of aging. (via Prevention)
What foods do you eat to keep skin in tip-top condition? Let us know in the comments below!
