You are what you eat.  

Staying young doesn’t just depend on what you put on your face, but also what goes into your mouth. Indulging in the wrong dietary habits can cause ageing symptoms – loose and wrinkly skin to appear faster than they should.

Want to continue enjoying firm, supple and radiant skin? Find out which are the culprits that you need to avoid and which are those that you need to stock up in your fridge. 

5 foods that make you age

1. Alcohol

Alcohol has become an important part of our social culture but your health is more important than fitting in.  

Excess alcohol damages our liver, a crucial detoxification organ that is responsible for flushing out the toxins that enter our body. Too much alcohol causes toxins to build up before the liver has enough time to process it all. These toxins surface through our skin instead, resulting in acne and wrinkles.  

Habitual drinking also dehydrates the body, causing our skin to lose moisture and become sallow and less supple. Dizziness and insufficient sleep during a hangover make you look tired and haggard. 

Try this instead:  

• Keep it safe for your liver by limiting your alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink per day.  

• If you need a kick to your drink without the alcohol, go for carbonated water and add a slice of lemon for that extra taste. 

2. Salt – Chips, fries and pizzas

Junk food can be pleasurable, but not when you see its effects on your skin. Having a sodium-filled diet creates water retention, which increases blood pressure. This does not only add stress to our heart and kidneys, but also gives us a puffy face. 

Try this instead: 

• Choose unsalted almonds or walnuts as healthier snack alternatives. They contain Omega-3 to help keep your skin soft.  

3. Trans fats – Fast food, fried food and bakes

Trans fats also known as hydrogenated oils are artificial fats that are industrially made. They are inexpensive and last a long time, which is why they can be commonly found in fast food joints. Known to contribute to high cholesterol, obesity and heart diseases, trans fats also promote inflammation, which is bad news for our collagen. Eating trans fat regularly can make you look older.

Try this instead:

• Read your food labels! Labels that say ‘Trans fat free’ could actually still contain up to 0.5g in their actual product. Double check on the ingredient list and avoid foods that list hydrogenated or even partially hydrogenated oil on their label.  

• Opt for unsaturated or polyunsaturated fat options that are known to be good fats. 

4. Canned food and processed meat 

Don’t substitute your health (and skin) for convenience! Canned sausages and processed meat contain heavy amounts of preservatives and sodium, which can cause skin irritation and inflammation. 

Try this instead:

• Swap out the cans for fresh vegetables and fruits. Broccoli and tomatoes are antioxidant-rich vegetables that can protect your skin from free radical damage so it stays strong and healthy.

5. Sugar – Sodas, donuts, bubble tea and more

We are not talking about the natural sugars found in natural vegetables and fruits. Those are good stuff. Added sugar and syrups are the ones that are really awful for us.

Most of us are taking more sugar in our diet than we ought. Even those food that we thought ‘healthy’ like cereals, sweetened yoghurt, granola bars and sauces like ketchup contain lots of ‘hidden’ sugar in them. Our sugar intake thus becomes extremely high when we are unable to resist that sugar-coated donut or soda after every meal.

Processed sugar gets into your blood and deforms the collagen and elastin structure in your skin – proteins that keep your skin plump and bouncy. These proteins become stiff and less supple, resulting in wrinkles and sagging. 

Try this instead:  

• Load up on fresh fruits. Berries and avocado are delicious natural fruits that contain loads of vitamins and antioxidants. These can help to fight sun exposure damage, ageing and promote collagen production.
  
  *Take note that fruit juices contain high amounts of sugar so be sure not to drink them too often!   

It can be a tough struggle trying to cut yourself off from eating habits that’s been around for years. But give it a try for 1 month and extend it to 2 and you’ll find your appetite changing while loving how you feel and look!