Best Diet for Healthier Skin | Stay Away From Processed Sugar and Carbs

  When thinking about the best foods and diets for healthy skin, keep in mind that some options don’t play well with skin care. Your sweet tooth in particular can really sour your complexion. Sugar and refined carbohydrates, such as sodas, white bread, and pastries, can contribute to premature wrinkles and aging skin, according to a study.

“Consuming large amounts of sugar and refined carbohydrates can directly harm skin elasticity because these foods trigger inflammation and contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastic fibers,” Murad says. 

Once sugars and carbs enter the body, they’re converted into glucose, which attaches to healthy proteins and interferes with the production of collagen and elastin — thus leading to skin that’s less firm and resilient, the aforementioned study noted. Specifically, consuming large amounts of processed sugar can lead to the formation of advanced glycation end products, a group of molecules that can contribute to wrinkles and a sallow complexion.

For those with a sweet tooth, don’t worry, you can still have your cake and healthy skin, too. Zeichner recommends avoiding processed sugars and flour — stick to natural grains and eat foods sweetened with honey or other natural sweeteners.