You’ve heard the expression—a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips. But it turns out that what you eat can have repercussions elsewhere in the body, namely on the face. Researchers and dermatologists are now beginning to understand that the face is a window into our overall health and a tool that evolution has used to indicate potential fitness for a mate.
Consider the evidence in a recent study that suggested that partners prefer people whose skin has a distinct yellow undertone with red highlights. A slightly yellow face with a reddish glow indicates excellent health status. People with that skin tone have oxygenated blood near the surface of the skin and good antioxidant status—phytonutrients in plants can form part of the skin’s natural colour, like the carotenoids in yellow and green vegetables.
However, those with bluish skin tone could suffer from cardiovascular problems. Their skin appears sallow and pale, which is a sign, according to evolutionary biologists, that they are not fit enough to parent the next generation.
Food impacts the overall appearance of the face. But what should you eat and avoid to enhance the appearance of the skin on your face?
Avoid Alcohol
You’ve heard the expression “wine face,” but what is happening in this condition? It turns out that alcohol attacks the collagen in the face, causing the skin to lose its natural bounce.
Put people on a high-alcohol regime for a month, and you can see the effects: their faces start to look tired and sag. Their eyes get droopy, and their pores expand. Alcohol also damages small capillaries in the face, leading to things like a red nose.
Use Plant Milk
Most skilled dermatologists will inform you that dairy products are detrimental to having flawless skin. Science shows that dairy products start a chain reaction of biochemistry in the body, leading to breakouts and, sometimes, severe acne. It turns out that the enzyme the body needs to digest the sugar in milk, lactase, causes an inflammatory reaction. The body perceives an attack, prompting the immune system to activate.
The face is often the first to suffer: the area around the eyes becomes puffy, there is redness and swelling, and dairy can upset hormones, causing excessive skin cell growth and sebum production.
Stop Eating Added Sugar
Sugar is everywhere. It’s in almost all the packaged foods that you buy, as well as staples like bread. Manufacturers add it to enhance palatability, but it could have a somewhat adverse effect on your face. It turns out that sugar attacks the elastic collagen fibres in the body, making them more rigid.
Sugar also boosts the body’s insulin production when consumed excessively, leading to a washed-out appearance on the face. In summary, sugar is among the most detrimental dietary choices for maintaining healthy, supple skin.
