A common food might be wreaking havoc with our skin, a doctor has claimed.
Dr Raj Arora, who is renowned for her practical health tips online, recently turned her attention to skincare in a TikTok video. She highlighted five budget-friendly strategies for enhancing skin quality – one of which involves eliminating a particular element from your diet.
For those aiming for radiant skin, Dr Arora advises ensuring your lifestyle is “on point”. Steering clear of smoking is crucial as it can accelerate the ageing process of the skin.
Moreover, she pointed out that smoking could promote the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, affecting our complexion more than we might think.
Proper sleep is another key factor, according to Dr Arora, as a good night’s rest allows the skin to rejuvenate, warding off wrinkles and dark circles.
Dr Arora warned: “Avoid dramatic weight loss. We’re seeing dramatic weight loss, and what we’re seeing is, lots of fine lines and sagging of the skin as we also lose fat in the face.
“This can result in accelerated ageing. It’s very, very difficult to treat this actually. If you’re trying to lose weight, try and go slow and steady. Number four, try to avoid processed foods or additives like added sugar.
“High levels of refined sugars can not only increase inflammation in the skin, trigger things like acne, but it can also give you premature ageing through the process of glycation – the process of weakening your collagen and elasten and causing more fine lines and wrinkles.
“Include fibre into your diet. Studies have shown that increasing your fibre can actually help with collagen production in the skin. Fibre-rich fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that actually help to upregulate your collagen, therefore giving you bouncier, healthier-looking skin.”
Dr Arora highlighted the necessity of wearing sun protection cream consistently too. She recommended using at least an SPF 50 to ensure optimal protection against harmful solar radiation.
Why is processed food detrimental to our complexion?
Our skin fares poorly with a diet laden with processed goods, potentially leading to inflammation, hormonal disturbances and nutritional deficiencies. A diet packed with highly processed snacks, microwaveable meals and refined carbs can exacerbate skin conditions.
Chronic mild inflammation and aggravation of skin issues like acne are some of the adverse effects induced over time by such diets.