It’s a sad fact that many of our favorite foods and drinks are nutritional nightmares. While pretty much anything can be enjoyed in moderation, be mindful of your intake on the following seven items - your skin will thank you.

Alcohol

One glass of wine or a cocktail is fine. But heavy drinking (14+ drinks per week) causes the blood vessels to dilate. Excessive (and for some, even moderate) drinking causes facial flushing and eventually unsightly broken capillaries. Too much alcohol also causes dehydration, leaving the skin dry, dull and irritated.

Processed Foods

Packaged convenience foods like cookies, crackers and chips are usually loaded with hydrogenated (also called trans fats). These bad fats can clog your arteries, leading to heart disease. Even foods made with vegetable oils like canola and corn are poor choices because they inhibit the absorbtion of good fats like anti-inflammatory Essential Fatty Acids. Replace food that comes in a box with fresh, whole foods.

Cured Meats

Nitrates are often used to preserve the color and safety of meats like bacon and hot dogs. Unfortunately, nitrates convert to nitrosamines, a chemical that can cause cancer and inflammatory reactions at the cell level.

Soda Pop

Whether you imbibe coke or diet coke, drinking any acidic soda is bad way to get fluids. Soda is full of beauty-sabotaging ingredients like sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine and artificial colors.

Sugary Sweets and Processed Breads

Too much sugar can wreak havoc with your skin by triggering chemical reactions in the body prevents collagen from being able to repair itself. Excessive sugar intake can also cause a hormonal imbalance, resulting in acne. If you`re a sugar junkie, try supplementing with L-glutamine to curb cravings and noshing on fresh fruit.

Hot Foods and Drinks

Let your coffee or tea cool down before drinking it. Steaming hot beverages and soups cause many people to flush (vascular dilation) - flushing is often a precursor to the skin disorder Rosacea. To avoid a permanent "red face", enjoy cool water or tea instead. Bonus: H2O keeps the skin moist.

Too much Salt

Most processed foods have a high salt content. If you overdo it on the salty snacks, you might wake up the next day with swollen eyelids and a puffy face! Over time, your skin will begin to lose elasticity as a result of the constant puffing and deflating. To add zip to your meals, experiment with sodium-free spices and condiments in place of salt.

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