When most people consider whether their diet is good for them, they tend to think how it will affect their waistline, rather than their T-zone.
But the truth is, what you eat has just as large of an impact on the skin that covers your body as the fat stores that are underneath it.
Here are some popular diets and how they affect the health of your skin:
Mediterranean Diet
Because the Mediterranean Diet includes a lot of fish, leafy greens and olive oil, the benefits go much further than your waistline.
With plenty of omega-3s, this diet can go far to make skin cell membranes strong and elastic, meaning less sagging and fewer wrinkles later.
Vegetarian/vegan
Whether you’re doing it for the animals, for the environment, or for your health, leading a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle can have a whole slew of side effects.
Vegetarians and vegans tend to eat more whole grains and fresh produce which means more antioxidants to neutralize the free radicals that contribute to wrinkles, brown spots, and other signs of aging on the skin.
You’re also more likely to indulge in plant-based protein sources which have been shown to have super skin benefits. Beans can help battle acne and decrease inflammation and redness of the skin. They are also able to stave off premature wrinkles.
High protein, Low carb
Despite the trend that carbs are simply evil, there can be some skin dangers when ingesting more protein.
In fact, by eating too much animal fat you not only have to worry about cholesterol, but your body could begin producing more free radicals which promote cell death and sagging skin.
Low Fat
Brought back into popularity by Dr. Ornish, it has become increasingly more popular to cut out most fats from your diet.
Although this might be great for your heart and waistline, a diet low in fat will cut out the complexion friendly antioxidants and fat soluble vitamins that your skin needs.
Ultimately, if you stop consuming fat, you’ll have saggy skin that loses its resilience – just look at Bill Clinton who has been following Dr. Ornish’s diet for the past few years.
