By all accounts so far, the answer is a resounding “yes – it can”. Researchers in the anti-aging field have been studying the effects of dieting on the skin and the verdict is in – poor nutrition and abusive dieting techniques greatly contribute to the signs of premature aging.
Scientists have conducted several studies that resulted in evidence supporting the damaging effects of poor nutrition on the skin, in addition to the decrease in signs of premature aging in people who have followed a well-balanced and healthy diet over the years.
What Is Considered Dieting?
Researchers in the anti-aging field have considered dieting to include any amount of restriction in the intake of food. However, with so many different diets on the market and the ever-changing fad of “low-this” “low-that” diets (low fat, low carb, etc.), it`s not always that simple.
The most common abusive dieting technique is often referred to as “yo-yo dieting”, and consists of cyclical weight gain and loss in significant amounts – amounts of twenty pounds or more. Most of us have been there – greatly reducing our intake of calories and perhaps exercising like a maniac to lose as much weight as quickly as possible.
There is a second “yo” in the “yo-yo”, however, and what goes down must come up. This second “yo” consists of the weight lost, and in most cases an additional pounds, being put back on in a short amount of time when the dieter begins eating normally again, or in many cases bingeing.
Then, of course, there are the extreme cases where dieting turns into malnutrition in what has developed into an eating disorder. Here is where the greatest amount of damage occurs to the skin and the most premature aging occurs.
Scientists have studied and compared the skin of malnourished individuals to their healthier counterparts and found that these undernourished subjects look far beyond their years and more often suffer from the fine lines and deep wrinkles that constitute premature aging.
Dieting can be done in a reasonable manner that gradually reduces a reasonable amount of calories from the diet and incorporates more physical activity. As long as enough water is consumed during a reasonable and moderate diet, your skin will actually benefit.
How Does Poor Diet Contribute To Premature Aging?
Unhealthy dieting practices leave the bodies nutritional reserves deficient, and when your body is poorly nourished, it shows in your skin. The vitamins and minerals consumed through our diet are key for the proper functioning of every system of our body, including the skin. Yo-you dieting has the additional effect of stretching the skin with each weight gain, causing it to lose it’s elasticity.
If you are dieting, it is important to make sure that you are getting the proper nutrients or taking supplements that will provide you with these necessities that you are not getting from food. Among the most important include Vitamin A, E, C, and D. All of these vitamins ward off signs of premature aging by fighting sun damage, pollution, and disease; promote the renewal of skin cells, and hydrate the skin.
These benefits can be enjoyed simply by making sure your diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, fiber, a reasonable amount of protein, a healthy amount of essential fats, and plenty of H2O.