While certain foods can keep your skin healthy (turn to page 16-17 to find out which ones to snack on), others will make it look dull and tired. Yamini Walia tells you what foods you should be avoiding
With our fast-paced lives, we all end up looking a little tired by the end of the day and no makeup or concealer can hide dark circles and puffy eyes. If you’ve been sleeping enough and drinking enough water, you may need to take a look at your diet to see what’s making you look so tired. Read on to find out what foods you need to avoid.
Salt
While consuming a small amount of salt won’t harm you, if your meal is high in salt content, you will end up looking more tired than usual. The sodium in the salt dehydrates your skin and dries it out It’s a good idea to switch to a low-sodium alternative.
Fried Foods
Fried foods are your skin’s worst enemy. They contain oil and transfats, which clog your arteries and stiffen your blood cells, making your skin look dull and tired. They also lead to weight gain, so beware!
Alcohol
One of the major causes of dehydration is the excessive consumption of alcohol. If you are dehydrated, your skin will appear dull. If you drink regularly, alternate each alcoholic drink with water, so that you remain hydrated.
Spicy Food
Love spice? Unfortunately, you need to avoid spice as much as possible in order to avoid looking tired. Even though speeds up your metabolism, spice causes skin irritation and leads to an uneven skin tone and diluted blood cells. This makes your skin look older which in turn makes you look tired. So, avoid foods that are excessively spiced.
Artificial Sweetener
Artificial sweeteners are as bad as sugar. They contain aspartame, which can cause joint pain and ironically, make you crave more sugar. Instead, opt for foods with natural sugars, such as fruit, to avoid looking puffy.
Processed Cold Cuts
Cold cuts are delicious, but they also make you look tired. The preservatives in them lead to skin inflammation, making your skin dull. So, cut back on the amount of cold cuts you eat and opt for fresh produce.