There's a reason why your skin feels a little off after a series of holiday parties, BBQs, or mojito-filled beach days: "What you eat affects your skin—for better or worse," says Ariel Ostad, MD, fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. While a few indulgences won't age you overnight, a continuously poor diet can accelerate the aging process of your skin (and teeth) over time. Here, 6 foods to consume in moderation in order to look as young as you feel.
Sweets
Sugar overload may kick-start a process called glycation.
The theory: When you eat more sugar than your cells can process, the excess sugar molecules combine with proteins, creating "advanced glycation end products" (appropriately referred to as "AGES"), explains Dr. Ostad. Ultimately, AGES may damage your skin's collagen (the protein that keeps skin firm and youthful).
Unsurprisingly, too much sweet stuff is also bad for your smile. "Sugar sticks to your teeth, encouraging bacteria, decay, and discoloration," says Brian Kantor, a cosmetic dentist who practices in New York City. If you treat yourself to something sweet, swish water around your mouth afterward to remove any buildup.
Alcohol
A healthy liver means healthy skin.
"When your liver is functioning well, toxins that could potentially affect the skin are expelled naturally through your body," says Dr. Ostad. "But if toxins build up in your liver, and aren't broken down properly, your skin can develop a variety of issues, like acne, sallowness, and wrinkles."
Drinking can also trigger rosacea outbreaks.
To top it off, alcohol is dehydrating and bad for your sleep, which was associated with accelerated aging in a Case Western Reserve University study.
"Inadequate sleep is linked to wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and reduced skin elasticity," says Dr. Ostad.
White wine
White wine falls into its own category because of its surprising dental damage. While a glass of red will give you instant "wine mouth," the acid in white wine damages your enamel and makes your teeth more prone to longer-lasting stains. So if you always end your day with a glass of chardonnay, your teeth may be more vulnerable to those coffee stains the next morning.
Here's what not to do: brush your teeth immediately after drinking (same goes for any acidic drink). Brushing already acidic teeth can further the erosion of your enamel.
"You need to give your teeth time to remineralize after being bathed in an acidic beverage," says Maureen McAndrew, clinical professor at the New York University School of Dentistry. "I'd wait an hour after drinking before lifting a toothbrush."
Charred meat
That black char on your burger? It may contain pro-inflammatory hydrocarbons, which could present a problem since inflammation breaks down the collagen in your skin, explains Dr. Ostad.
You don't necessarily need to banish BBQ from your vocab, but at least make sure you scrape off the black stuff, and clean the grill afterward so you don't contaminate your next meal.
Salty foods
You might not cook with salt, but that doesn't guarantee your intake is low.
"Many canned foods are preserved with sodium, which can make you retain water and cause a 'puffy' look," says Ranella Hirsch, MD, former president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology &Aesthetic Surgery, and dermatologist practicing in Massachusetts.
If you need a quick fix, combat fluid retention with a moisturizer that contains caffeine (it's known for reducing puffiness when applied topically).
Processed meats
Think: Deli meat, sausage, and bacon.
"Many of these meats have sulfites and other preservatives, which can trigger inflammation in the skin, and accelerate the appearance of aging," says Dr. Ostad. They also tend to be high in salt, which can make you look puffy. (Not to mention, processed red meats have been linked to heart disease.)
Try swapping the deli meat on your sandwich for chicken or turkey. If you can't say goodbye for good, use less meat, and load up on veggies.
為什麼你的皮膚在假日派對、戶外燒烤和沙灘雞尾酒會後會感覺有點鬆弛呢？這其中是有原因的。
美國皮膚病學會總經理艾麗爾·奧斯達德解釋道：「不管怎樣，你吃的食物會影響你的皮膚狀態。」當然，少數時候的放縱並不會一夜之間讓你衰老，但長時間的不良飲食，久而久之會加速你皮膚和牙齒的衰老。少吃下面6種食物會讓你的身體和心情一樣年輕。
甜食
過量的糖分攝入會開啟體內的糖化作用（glycation）。
原理：當你攝入超過細胞可吸收的糖分時，多餘的糖分子就會和蛋白質結合，形成「晚期糖基化終末產物」（也就是「糖基化終產物」），奧斯達德博士解釋道。最終，糖基化終產物可能破壞皮膚的膠原蛋白（膠原蛋白可以保持皮膚緊緻、年輕）。
毋庸置疑，過多的甜食也會破壞你的笑容。「糖會粘在牙齒上，滋生出細菌，從而蛀蝕牙齒，使牙齒變色。」紐約的美容牙醫布萊恩說。所以，吃過甜食之後，記得用水漱口，清除所有殘留。
酒精
只有肝臟健康，皮膚才能年輕。
「只有肝正常發揮功能，會危害皮膚的毒素才能被自然地排出體外。」奧斯達德博士說道。「但如果毒素在肝內堆積，不能被分解的話，你將面臨許多皮膚問題，比如，粉刺，肌膚發黃和皺紋。」
飲酒也會引發酒糟鼻。
「睡眠不足會導致皺紋，不規律的色素沉澱，以及皮膚彈性的減少。」奧斯達德博士說。
白葡萄酒
白葡萄酒自成一類是因為它對牙齒的巨大損傷。一杯紅酒只是讓你的嘴巴充滿酒味，但白葡萄酒中的酸會破壞牙齒的琺瑯質，使牙齒更易沾染持久難去的汙漬。如果你每天睡前都喝一杯夏敦埃酒（一種無甜味白葡萄酒），那麼你的牙齒會更容易沾上隔天早晨的咖啡漬。
注意：喝完酒後不要立即刷牙（對於任何酸性飲品都適用）。牙齒已經酸化，刷牙只會進一步腐蝕琺瑯質。
「飲用完酸性飲料之後，你的牙齒不需要再次礦物化。」紐約大學牙醫學院的臨床教授莫林麥安德魯說。「喝完酒後至少要等一個小時才能刷牙。」
烤肉
漢堡裡的焦黑的肉有什麼危害？焦塊可能含有引起炎症的碳水化合物，而一旦發炎，皮膚中的膠原蛋白就會被損壞，奧斯達德博士解釋道。
這並不意味著你的字典裡再也沒有燒烤這個詞，只是要確保切去烤焦的部分，並在結束之後清洗烤架，以免汙染下一次的烤肉。
醃製食品
可能你做飯的時候不放鹽，但這並不能保證你的食鹽攝入量很低。
「很多罐裝食物用納保存，食用之後可以保持體內水分，讓人一臉腫脹。」美國美容皮膚科和外科學會前主席，現工作於馬薩諸賽州的皮膚科醫生Ranella Hirsch說道。
如果想要快速恢復，含咖啡因的水可以很好地對抗水分滯留。（此招通常用來緩解腫脹）
加工肉製品
想一想熟食肉，香腸和培根。
「這些加工肉大多含有亞硫酸鹽和其他防腐劑，食用之後會引發皮膚炎症，加速皮膚衰老。」奧斯達德博士說。加工肉也含有大量的鹽，過度食用會讓人看上去臃腫。（更不用說加工紅肉和心臟疾病脫不了干係。）
嘗試換掉火雞肉，或是給孩子的三明治中不再使用熟食肉。即使你不能永遠地遠離加工肉，也要少食用，同時多食蔬菜。