Do you know which foods are the worst for your skin? Most of us would probably say something like fried food or candy. While those are certainly not good for your skin, the real answer is much more surprising. Read on to learn about the two worst junk foods for women’s skin and how they can wreck it in a matter of weeks.
The Real Worst Foods for Women’s Skin
The worst foods for women’s skin are pretty surprising. If you are aiming to improve your skin, you need to avoid these two types of foods: processed meats and refined grains. If you’re not careful about what you are putting into your body, you could be doing major damage to your skin. These two foods, when consumed too often, can cause issues like acne, breakouts, and wrinkles, even for women in their teens and early twenties.
Processed Meats
Processed meats are not good for your skin because they are high in saturated fats and nitrates. If you consume too many of these meats regularly (one serving per day would be too much), they can cause free radicals to form in the body. A high intake of saturated fats is also linked to an increased risk of acne, and processed meats contain a surprisingly large amount of these fats. Cured meats, like sausages and salami, are particularly bad for your skin, as they are high in sodium nitrate. If you regularly eat these meats, you are more likely to break out.
Cereal and other refined grains
Cereal and other refined grains, including pasta, white bread, and rice, are not good for your skin because of the way they affect your gut bacteria. When you eat refined grains, they are broken down so quickly, they don’t give your gut bacteria enough time to process them, leading to bloating, gas, and acne. When your gut bacteria are in disarray, they are less efficient at producing vitamins and nutrients, which can leave your skin looking dull and dry. Cereal, especially if it is high in sugar, can also cause acne, which is why dermatologists often recommend avoiding it.
The Bottom Line
The worst foods for women’s skin are processed meats and cereal and other refined grains. If you regularly eat these foods, you are more likely to break out, have dull skin, and experience premature aging, including wrinkles and fine lines. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever eat these foods again. It just means you should avoid them as much as possible, and when you do eat them, you should try to go for the healthier options. For example, try using low-fat meats to keep your fat intake low, choose unsweetened cereal, and switch to whole wheat pasta and brown rice. Your skin will thank you!
