When it comes to glowing, healthy skin, what you eat matters just as much as what you put on your face. Experts are now pointing to high-sodium, highly processed foods as major culprits behind premature aging, acne, and other skin concerns.
“Our eating and hydration patterns can damage our skin. A diet that is poor quality, lacking in nutrients and hydration, is more likely to cause skin problems like inflammation, dullness, dryness, acne, and wrinkles earlier in life,” explains one skincare specialist.
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Why Ramen Noodles Can Negatively Impact Skin Health
Processed foods, while convenient and often tasty, rarely provide the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants our skin needs to thrive. “A diet made up of mostly processed food is lacking in nutrient and antioxidant rich foods,” says Johna Burdeos, RD. Unfortunately, some of our favorite quick meals—like instant noodles—are no exception.
Dermatologist Elaine F. Kung, MD, points out that instant noodles, including popular ramen varieties, contain high amounts of sodium, MSG, and TBHQ, all of which can have serious health consequences. “Regular instant noodle consumption has been associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, high blood sugar, and abnormal blood lipid levels,” she notes.
These health risks have direct implications for your skin. “Since people who consume instant noodles are at risk of high blood sugars, high lipids, and metabolic syndrome, they may be more prone to acne, acanthosis nigricans (darkening of skin around the neck or fold areas), and even hair loss,” Kung adds.
Salt and MSG can also affect your skin’s structure and appearance. “Scientific studies have demonstrated that high salt intake has been shown to impair dermal tissue remodeling, inflammation in the skin, and increase hormonal vasoreactivity. Therefore, salt may have implications in wound healing and aging. MSG is well known to induce flushing of the skin, which can worsen conditions like acne rosacea,” Kung explains.
Even small amounts of excess sodium can impact your skin’s appearance. Nutritionist Jay Cowin of ASYSTEM, highlights, “Too much salt can do several things to aging skin. It can cause the skin to swell, which makes wrinkles more pronounced. It can also draw out water from the skin, making it look dry and irritated. This increases the chances of wrinkles and worsens skin conditions like eczema.”
The bottom line
While eating the occasional salty snack isn’t likely to cause permanent damage, making high-sodium, heavily processed foods a regular part of your diet could accelerate skin aging, worsen existing skin conditions, and make your complexion look tired and dull. For healthier, glowing skin, dermatologists recommend focusing on a nutrient-rich diet with plenty of water, fresh produce, and antioxidant-packed whole foods—and leaving the instant noodles on the shelf.
