Plums Health Benefits



A plum or even gage is actually a natural stone fruit tree within the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is recognized from various other subgenera (peaches, cherries, bird cherries, etc.) in the shoots possessing a fatal bud as well as sole side buds (not grouped), the flowers within teams of 1 to 5 jointly on short stems, and also the fruit which has a groove running down one side along with a smooth stone (or pit).
Fully developed plum fruit could have a dusty-white covering that provides them a glaucous look. It is really an epicuticular wax covering and is also referred to as “wax bloom”. Dried out plum fruits are known as dried plums or even prunes, even though prunes really are a unique kind of plum, and may even have got antedated the fruits now popularly known as plums.

Plum is really a fruit which is associated with the family of peaches as well as cherries. It really is among those fruits which are rich in soluble fiber, which in turn shows efficient at enhancing the digestive tract. There are lots of types of plums that are obtainable all over the world, which range in colors such as red, yellow, blue-black, green or amber, purple. Plums are thought to possess originated from Asia and also, since then, they’ve been cultivated around the world. The fresh as well as succulent flavor of the plums causes it to be rejuvenating to consume them on the hot summer time day! Dried out plums, referred to as prunes, will also be pretty delectable.

Plums are members of the Prunus genus of plants and therefore are relatives of the peach, nectarine and also almond. They all are regarded as “drupes,” fruits which have a tough stone pit encircling their seed.
Health advantages of plums are extensive which includes minerals, carbohydrates, sugar, amino acids, vitamins, sodium, soluble as well as insoluble dietary fiber, fatty acids, and many others.

1. Lowering Cholesterol and prevents Cardiovascular Diseases:
Cholesterol is really a wax-like anabolic steroid of fat which is manufactured in the liver or even intestines. It really is utilized to create bodily hormones as well as cell membranes and is also moved within the blood plasma of most mammals.

It is really an important structural element of mammalian cell membranes and is also necessary to set up appropriate membrane permeability as well as fluidity. Additionally, cholesterol is a crucial element for the manufacturing of bile acids, steroid hormones, as well as Vitamin D. Cholesterol is definitely the primary sterol produced simply by animals; even so, tiny quantities could be produced in some other eukaryotes just like plants as well as fungi.

Even though cholesterol is essential as well as essential for mammals, higher cholesterol level within the blood can harm arteries and therefore are possibly associated with illnesses just like those linked to the coronary heart (cardiovascular disease).

Include food items loaded with dietary fiber can start to play a crucial role in reducing cholesterol as well as the Plums are abundant in dissolvable fibers. Phenolic ingredients present in plum function prevent LDL oxidation within humans and in addition stops from the heart illnesses.

2. Prevents Cancer:
Cancer doesn’t reveal overnight. It requires several years to cultivate as well as undergoes numerous phases; all of these could be avoided by great nutrition. These types of phases are start, promotion, development, actual cancer, as well as distribute of cancer referred to as metastasis. Thankfully, the time in between the start as well as cancer stages might take so long as Twenty years, enabling sufficient time for protecting power natural whole-foods to get involved if great nutrition practice is adopted. Cancer may also be healed along with frequent consumption of fruits just like plums.

Amongst foods which avoid cancer, blueberries have already been ranked remarkably. New research suggests that peaches as well as plums might rate even greater in cancer avoidance.

2 chemicals present in peaches as well as plums (phenols:  chlorogenic as well as neochlorogenic) which eliminate even most intense types of cancer of the breast without injuring regular cells. This particular “differential effect” which safeguards normal cells is very important.  Chemotherapy drugs destroy almost all separating cells simultaneously, therefore providing guarantee harm to regular tissues.  This is exactly what creates the horrible negative effects related to radiation treatment:  hair thinning, mouth sores, and so on. However the two breast cancer-killing phenols present in peaches as well as plums don’t damage regular cells

3. Lower GI (Glycemic Index):
The glycemic index (GI) measures how fast a food may lift up your glucose degree. Preventing variations within your blood sugar can help to eliminate your chance of creating insulin resistance, related to type 2 diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease. Fiber slows down the intake of glucose in your bloodstream; therefore fruits loaded with fiber are usually lower on the GI.

The majority of the calories inside the plum originate from carbohydrates in the form of sugar. 2 moderate plums consist of 19 g of carbohydrates as well as 16 g of sugar. In spite of being an excellent source of carbohydrates as well as sugar, plums really are a low-glycemic index food. The glycemic index ranks carbohydrate-containing food items on how they have an effect on blood sugar levels. Foods which have a low-glycemic index just result in a minor increase in blood sugar levels, whilst a food which has a high-glycemic index results in a fast increase in blood sugar levels. Consuming a lot of high-glycemic index food items may improve your chance of cardiovascular disease as well as diabetic issues

The glycemic index, the tool utilizes a scale of 0 to 100 to rate carbohydrates depending on how much they increase blood glucose levels after consuming. Greater numbers are provided to food items that can cause blood glucose levels to increase more quickly. Even though it was made to assist individuals with diabetic issues, the glycemic index is just about the reasons for numerous diets as well as weight loss programs.

4. Protects against Oxygen Radical:
Plums are thought as damage-preventing components and therefore are particularly useful in eliminating the undesirable effect of the oxygen radical- superoxide anion radical. Additionally it is defensive against the oxygen-based damage completed to fats, which are essential portion of our brain cells, the cholesterol flowing within our blood, along with the fats that produces the membranes of cells.

Plums consist of 2 important nutrients, chlorogenic as well as neochlorogenic acids, which safeguard the body from oxygen destruction. The body consists of super oxide anion free-radicals which could injury cells if not neutralized through the 100 % natural ingredients present in fruits just like the plum. These components additionally prevent oxygen harm to the fat inside our brain cells, within the cholesterol as well as triglycerides that flow our blood, as well as in our cell membranes.

5. Helps to Absorb Iron and protects Antioxidant from Vitamin C:
Health advantages of plum perform a significant role in allowing the body soaks up iron. They are excellent method to obtain vitamin C.  This kind of vitamin is needed to produce healthy tissue together with improving the immunity process of our body. Vitamin C safeguards against repeated ear infections. It may also help conquering cholesterol from obtaining oxidized because of free-radicals. Inhibition of free radicals signifies safety from colon cancer, asthma, osteoarthritis, as well as rheumatoid arthritis. It’s been clinically suggested to consume vitamin C abundant fruits and vegetables to lessen dying possibility by stroke, cardiovascular disease, as well as cancer.

6. Protects against Macular Degeneration:
Dry macular deterioration is really a long-term eye ailment that leads to eyesight loss in the middle of your field of vision. Dry macular weakening is noticeable simply by degeneration of the macula (MAK-u-luh) that is in the middle of the retina – the layer of tissue internally back wall of the eyeball.

Dry macular weakening is just one of two kinds of age-related macular deterioration. Another type – wet macular deterioration – is seen as puffiness brought on by leaky bloodstream at the back of the eye. Dry macular deterioration is not related to puffiness and is also the more-common type of the illness.

Information released in the research within the Archives of Ophthalmology implies that intake of 3 plus offering of fruit every single day can help to eliminate the chance of age-based macular deterioration (ARMD), which is primary reason of eyesight loss in seniors. It may be belief that health improvements of plum are simply just countless and one of the very most respected ones.

7. Keeps Digestive System on Track:
The digestive system comprises of the digestive tract that is a sequence of hollow organs joined up with in the lengthy, rotating pipe through the mouth towards the anus along with the some other internal organs which help your body break up as well as soak up food items.

Dried out plums make the perfect supply of dietary fiber. Only 3 or 4 dried out plums consist of 3 g of fiber, which is essential for your wellbeing. A higher fiber diet might help decrease your cholesterol by reduction of your low-density lipoprotein levels of cholesterol. Fiber additionally maintains your digestive tract balanced by encouraging motion of waste from the large and small intestines.

Plums include higher quantities of anti-oxidants that will help push toxic compounds as well as waste materials out from the digestive system maintaining you free of, diarrhea, stomach cancer, colon cancer, Crohn’s disease along with other inflammatory digestive illnesses.

8. Reduces Aging:
Anti-oxidants reduce the effects of dangerous free-radicals within your body, which could result in a number of severe or even life-threatening illnesses as well as health issues which includes cardiovascular disease, cancer, immune dysfunction, diabetic issues, as well as degenerative brain problems (which includes dementia as well as Alzheimer’s disease). Dangerous free-radicals can be found almost everywhere in this atmosphere, however they are focused in polluting of the environment, chemical substances, radiation, pesticide sprays, alcoholic beverages, drugs, harmful food and in some cases sunshine. Anti-oxidants help with keeping your cells healthy and balanced as well as younger, which could avoid age-related ailments, reduce tension as well as improve your life expectancy.

Anti-oxidants generally present in food sources are vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc, and selenium as well as beta carotene. Beta-carotene is associated with a family of nutrition known as carotenoids. These types of anti-oxidants are accountable for the orange color in carrots, cantaloupe, carrots as well as sweet potatoes. They may be recognized to improve your immunity as well.

Due to the fact Plums are full of vitamin C, it includes large quantities of anti-oxidant. As a result, it lowers aging condition in people.

9. Good for Brain Health and Nourishment:
The Brain Diet: The bond In between Nourishment, Mental Health, As well as Intelligence.

A number of researches have suggested the health advantages of plum because of its antioxidant qualities – Asphenols, which are solely present in plums. Asphenols performs an excellent role in preventing the effect of Superoxide onion oxygen radical and several other free-radicals which damage the fats based in the brain cells along with other cell membranes. Every day consumption of plums may support the right as well as healthy operating of brain and also enhances the memory. Plums will also be useful in dealing with depressive disorders.

Brilliantly colored vegetables and fruit in addition rank highly as foods which are clinically shown to apply protecting effects on the brain. The Healthy Brain Diet especially suggests purple foods such as plums, blueberries; grapes, acai, and eggplant because they’re loaded with anti-oxidants simply call anthocyanins.

10. Eliminates Stress and Fatigue:
The exhaustion would be the deficiency of power or even bodily or even psychological tiredness, and hard to recuperate from all of these signs and symptoms even though relaxing.

If you’re able to consume almost Five to six plums on consistent basis, you will get eliminate your fatigue as well as effort in the near future. A muscle are usually calmed utilizing tranquilizers as well as plum is stuffed along with all-natural tranquilizers that may calm your nerves and in addition act as catalyst to restore natural REM sleep.

Consuming plums momentarily of exhaustion is excellent simply because this provides the body energy as well as removes tension as well as Tiredness.

11. Boost bone health:
Osteoporosis is really a continual bone illness seen as an a reduction of bone size which results in bones fragile as well as susceptible to bone fracture. The illness has an effect on much more women as compared to men as well as the chance for ladies raises in the years following the menopause. Dried out plums consist of a number of nutrition, as well as latest studies suggest that consuming prunes might help to avoid osteoporosis.
Dried out plums consist of numerous substances that could give rise to bone health and possibly react together, which includes boron, potassium, vitamin K1 and copper. What exactly is liable for dried plums’ impact on bone health just isn’t recognized. The entire dried out fruit, along with several nutrition as well as bioactive substances, might be liable for the encouraging outcomes noticed in equally female and male animal models, as well as in little clinical tests.

Studies have found that dried out plums avoided bone reduction in a pet model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Additionally, dried plums assisted recover bone mass as soon as the loss had already taken place in the animals. A little medical trial along with postmenopausal ladies but not on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) found that ladies who consumed about 12 dried out plums every day encountered a rise in biomarkers which evaluate the pace of bone development.  Presently, a bigger medical trial to discover the impact of dried plums on bone mineral density in postmenopausal ladies is going ahead. Additionally, studies have in addition found that dried out plums avoid age-related bone reduction in a mouse model.

12. Beneficial in the pregnancy:
Plum juice consists of vital vitamins, nutrition as well as soluble fiber that you simply along with your baby require. However, there are commonalities in between the 2 juices, plum and also prune juice offers noticeably distinct tastes. Ingesting plum juice is usually secure while pregnant, until there are higher quantities of sugar within the brand you select. Talk to your obstetrician or even midwife regarding plum juice along with a balanced diet while pregnant.

Plum juice, offer essential fluids as well as vitamins for you personally as well as your baby. Including plum juice, is much more focused and better in calories than the usual bit of fruit.

Consuming lots of liquids during the day might help reduce an unpleasant bowel problem that usually comes along with pregnancy.

Plum juice consists of several nutritional vitamins, which includes vitamins A, C and also K. Vitamin A is important for bone development, eye-sight, cell division as well as reproduction both for you and the baby, in accordance with the National Institutes of Health. An excessive amount of vitamin A while being pregnant can result in poisonous indications, which includes birth defects. Vitamin C, or even ascorbic acid, assists the body battle infection while pregnant as well as encourages tissue development, while vitamin K aids in preventing blood clots.

13. Prevents from the Constipation:
Constipation implies that an individual has 3 or even much less bowel motions in one week. The stool can be difficult as well as dry. Frequently it’s unpleasant to pass through. At one time or some other, just about everyone gets constipated. In many instances, it continues a short while and isn’t severe.

Fresh new plums are usually filled up with minerals and also have a moderate laxative result. They are able to reduce gas and also have a cleaning impact on your intestines.

Fruits for Losing Weight




Fruits are great source of nutrients, vitamins and anti-oxidant. A fruit diet once a day will help you to LOOSE WEIGHT, stay FRESH and HEALTHY. Fruits are ideal for weight management program.
Fruits are an excellent source of energy and nutrition and diets rich in fruits provide the required nutrients to the body and keep the body hydrated.

Fruits improve blood circulation, boost immune system, improve digestive system, give glow to the skin, and add shine to the hair, promoting overall health. A fruit diet is a good detoxification medium and, if one is looking for natural weight loss remedies, fruit diet or diets rich in fruits may ensure weight loss without causing any harm to the body.

The five categories of fruits considered best for losing weight are:
 
High-carbohydrate fruits
Diets rich in high-carbohydrate fruits--such as banana, plum, pear, kiwifruit, pineapple, mango, grape, and fig--should be eaten for breakfast. These fruits give the required energy to jump start digestion and provide the required sugar content after the night’s fasting. These fruits should be included in diets on a regular basis and should be consumed with dry fruits, such as dates, raisins, almonds, apricots, and prunes.
 
Low-carbohydrate fruits
Watermelon, peach, nectarine, cantaloupe, apple, and papaya come under this category. These nutritious fruits have high water content and control the body temperature and help expel bad cholesterol from the body. They provide the necessary energy for the cardiovascular and nervous systems to function optimally. The low-carbohydrate fruits like these do not tax the body with excess sugar content; instead, diets rich in these fruits aid burning excess fat and losing weight.
 
Citrus fruits and berries
Diets rich in citrus fruits provide minimal carbohydrates. These fruits include raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, and to some extent strawberries and blue berries. A small amount of lime, lemon, or sweet lime can also be included. These fruits help promote bowel movement and thereby detoxification. They eliminate toxins or undigested matter from the body. Citrus fruits and berries cleanse the blood and reinforce cardiovascular system. This promotes heart health as well. These fruits aid in removing bad cholesterol and improving digestion and appetite, thereby leading to healthy weight loss.
 
Watery fruits
Fruits—such as watermelon, cantaloupe, musk melon, and honey dew melon—all have plenty of water in them with an amount of carbohydrates. They provide excellent hydration for digestion and low amount of carbohydrates for instant energy to the body. These watery fruits provide the required water content for effective digestion and excretion of toxins, thereby aiding detoxification and healthy weight loss.
 
Dry fruits
These are dried fruits like raisins, dates, and prunes. Dry fruits can be added in small quantities to fresh fruits in diets. These fruits are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, and they complement the deficiency of minerals and vitamins in fresh fruits. Dry fruits along with fresh fruits in diets are effective in burning excess fat and reducing cholesterol, thus promoting healthy weight loss. They also improve the immune system and aid in detoxification.

Some of the fruits are:

Apples
An apple a day can keep weight gain at bay. People who chomped an apple before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who had a different snack. Plus, the antioxidants in apples may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a condition marked by excess belly fat or an "apple shape."

Steaks
Beef has a rep as a diet buster, but eating it may help you peel off pounds. Try to consume local organic beef; it's healthier for you and the environment.

Eggs
Dig in to eggs, yolks and all: They won't harm your heart, but they can help you trim inches.

Kale
This green has been buzzy lately. One raw chopped cup contains 34 calories and about 1.3 grams of fiber, as well as a hearty helping of iron and calcium.

Oats
All oats are healthful, but the steel-cut and rolled varieties (which are minimally processed) have up to 5 grams of fiber per serving, making them the most filling choice. Instant oats contain 3 to 4 grams per serving.

Lentils
Lentils are a bona fide belly flattener. Eating them helps prevent insulin spikes that cause your body to create excess fat, especially in the abdominal area.

Goji berries
These chewy, tart berries have a hunger-curbing edge over other fruit: 18 amino acids, which make them a surprising source of protein. Snack on them mid-afternoon to stay satisfied until dinner. The calorie cost? Only 35 per tablespoon.

Wild salmon
Not only do fish fats keep your heart healthy, but they shrink your waist, too. Omega-3 fatty acids improve insulin sensitivity—which helps build muscle and decrease belly fat. And the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns. Opt for wild salmon; it may contain fewer pollutants.

Buckwheat pasta
Swap plain noodles for this hearty variety; you'll slip into your favorite jeans in no time. Buckwheat is high in fiber and, unlike most carbs, contains protein, so it's harder to overeat buckwheat pasta than the regular stuff.

Blue Berries
All berries are good for you, but those with a blue hue are among the best of the bunch. They have the highest antioxidant level of all commonly consumed fruit. They also deliver 3.6 grams of fiber per cup.

Almond butter
Adding this spread may lower bread's glycemic index (a measure of a food's effect on blood sugar). A study from the University of Toronto found that people who ate almonds with white bread didn't experience the same blood sugar surges as those who ate only the slice.

Pomegranates
The juice gets all the hype for being healthy, but pomegranate seeds deserve their own spotlight. In addition to being loaded with folate and disease-fighting antioxidants, they're low in calories and high in fiber, so they satisfy your sweet tooth without blowing your diet.

Chiles
One reason to spice up your meals: You'll crank up your metabolism. A compound in chiles called capsaicin has a thermogenic effect, meaning it causes the body to burn extra calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chiles.

Yogurt
Dietitians often refer to plain yogurt as the perfect food, and for good reason: With its trifecta of carbs, protein and fat, it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady.

Quinoa
Curbing hunger is as easy as piling your plate with this whole grain. It packs both fiber (2.6 grams per 1/2 cup) and protein, a stellar nutrient combo that can keep you satisfied for hours.

Sardines
These tiny fish are the unsung stars of the sea. They are high in protein and loaded with omega-3s, which also help the body maintain muscle. And they're low in mercury and high in calcium, making them a smart fish pick for pregnant women. If the flavor doesn't appeal to you, soak them in milk for an hour; it will remove any trace of fishiness.

Tarragon
You can use this herb, a staple in French cooking, in place of salt in marinades and salad dressings. Plus, tarragon lends a sweet, licorice-like flavor to bland foods.

Parmesan
Drop that rubbery lowfat cheese and pick up the real stuff. Women who had one serving of whole milk or cheese daily were less likely to gain weight over time, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds.

Avocado
Don't let the fat content of an avocado (29 grams) scare you—that's what makes it a top weight loss food. The heart-healthy monounsaturated fat it contains increases satiety. And it's terrific party food.

Olive oil
Like avocados, olive oil has healthy fat that increases satiety, taming your appetite. But that's hardly its only slimming feature. Research shows it also has anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation in the body is linked to metabolic syndrome.

Pineapple
Pineapples are rich with numerous essential nutrients, vitamins, fiber, enzymes, antioxidant, calcium, manganese, potassium and minerals. The fruit is Free of Fat and Cholesterol. It is a good weight loss and weight management fruit. Pineapple fruit contain more than 85% water and is high in fiber. So pineapple will keep the stomach full for a long time and reduce the urge to eat.

Watermelon
Watermelons are completely Free of Fat. Watermelons are rich in A and C, not to mention, B1 and B6, potassium.  It helps reduce Blood Pressure and also pumps the body with energy. Watermelons keep your stomach full to some extent so decrease the intake of food and frequent hunger.

Lemon
Lemons are mostly consumed as juice or you can squeeze half a lemon on your fruit salad or any salad for more taste and great health benefits. Lemons are rich in vitamin C, riboflavin, vitamin B, minerals like phosphorous, calcium, magnesium. Lemon juice with Honey is a good recipe for weight loss. Lemon is a good weight loss and weight management fruit.

Banana
Little greenish bananas are rich in soluble starches that speed up the fat-burning process. Raw and green have more starch in them in natural and much active state. Bananas create fullness in the stomach and when we sip little water at regular interval this fullness stays more so helps us to control our intake and again there is burst of energy that helps us to be active.

Oranges
A large size orange is less than 100 calories, whereas the daily intake limit for women is many times higher. So Oranges are low on calorie, rich in water substance. Oranges are great source of vitamins and helps in fat bursting. Oranges are a good chew for people who like to munch too often. Orange is a good weight loss and weight management fruit.

Mango Health Benefits


Mangos taste so good that people forget they are also healthy!  Discover how the “king of fruits” can help you, plus fascinating trivia and a few mango cautions and concerns.

Mango has a myriad of benefits that are good for the health of our bodies, can treat diseases such as cancer, helps digestion because it is rich in fiber and many more benefits and efficacy that we can get by eating mangoes every day. Mangoes classified as rich fruit beta-carotene and vitamin A. As a provider of vitamin A. Because rich in beta-carotene and vitamin A, eating mangoes can also boost the immune system and can lower the risk of heart disease.

1.  Prevents Cancer:
Mangoes contain various antioxidant compounds that help protect the body against colon, breast, leukemia, & prostate cancers. Some of these compounds include: quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat.

2.  Lowers Cholesterol:
Mangoes contain high levels of fiber, pectin, and Vitamin C that help improves digestion and lowers cholesterol.

3.  Clears the Skin:
Can be used both internally and externally for the skin. Mangos clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples. 

4.  Eye Health:
One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes.

5.  Alkalizes the Whole Body:
The tartaric acid, malic acid, and a trace of citric acid found in the fruit help to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.

6. Helps in Diabetes:
Mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood.  The traditional home remedy involves boiling leaves in water, soaking through the night and then consuming the filtered decoction in the morning. Mango fruit also have a relatively low glycemic index (41-60) so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar levels.

7. Improved Sex:
Mangos are a great source of vitamin E. Even though the popular connection between sex drive and vitamin E was originally created by a mistaken generalization on rat studies, further research has shown balanced proper amounts (as from whole food) does help in this area.

8. Improves Digestion:
Papayas are not the only fruit that contain enzymes for breaking down protein. There are several fruits, including mangoes, which have this healthful quality. The fiber in mangos also helps digestion and elimination.

9. Remedy for Heat Stroke
Juicing the fruit from green mango and mixing with water and a sweetener helps to cool down the body and prevent harm to the body. From an ayurvedic viewpoint, the reason people often get diuretic and exhausted when visiting equatorial climates is because the strong “sun energy” is burning up your body, particularly the muscles.  The kidneys then become overloaded with the toxins from this process.

10. Boosts Immune system
The generous amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A in mangos, plus 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy and strong.

Foods That Are Bad for Skin



With growing awareness, people have become more health as well as beauty conscious. In this aesthetic-loving age, it is very essential to let people know that what they consider 'aesthetic' is also related to their skin. Importantly, manifestations of your nutritional status as well as body’s nutritional needs reflect on the skin's health.

Dehydration
 Dehydraton causes drying of the skin. Wrinkling is a common side effect of lack of moisture in the skin. Dehydration and acne are interlinked because drying of skin and dead skin cells coming together cause acne.

Excess Salt 
 Excess salt retains additional fluid in the body causing swelling and a puffy look to the skin. The skin texture is spoilt on prolonged salt abuse. Papads, pickles, salted foods, table salt, brined/canned food products are the potential sources of salt to the body.

Excess Caffeine
Caffeine is a known stimulant which increase the cortisol production in the body and enhances the ageing process by thinning the skin. This dehydrates the skin and even leads to wrinkling. In addition, caffeine is a diuretic which further increases the risk of dehydration. So beware when you decide to go for an additional helping of coffee, tea or chocolates too!

Alcohol
Alcohol inhibits the Anti-Diuretic Hormone secretion thus causing dehydration. Furthermore, it also causes vasodilatation, which then leads to excess water loss through the skin. This is also known to be a contributing factor to acute phases of psoriasis as per the American Academy of Dermatology.

Foods with high glycemic load
These foods cause drastic fluctuations in the blood sugar. This leads to excess secretion of insulin and androgens during the high and low bouts respectivel. A major reason to contribute to surplus sebum production, enhanced skin cell division and aggregation of dead skin cells – leading to acne.

Excess sugar
Not literally only sugar, but even jaggery and honey

Aerated beverages
Aerated drinks can be nightmarish for the skin. Exceptions are the so-called diet-cokes and the family. But their caffeine content makes them the villains for skin health.

Processed foods
Refined or processed foods like maida (refined flour) and its products, canned and sweetened fruits and juices are low in fiber content, thus increasing the glycemic load. Moreover the processed foods are often high in their salt/sodium content. As a by-product of processing, these also lose the nutrients of the parent food products important for skin health.

Foods that enhance free-radical production
 Free radicals are known to disrupt the skin's structure by destroying collagen and elastin; the fibres that support the skin structure. They also cause damage at the cellular level by disturbing the DNA structure.

Red meat
Consumption of red meat, especially fat-laden parts can lead to inflammatory reactions. This is by the virtue of saturated fat content of meats. In excess, free radicals generated overpowers the anti-oxidation capacity of the free radical scavengers in the body.

Fried foods and hydrogenated fat
Excess heat application like during frying of foods and production of hydrogenated fat (margarine, vanaspati ghee) leads to oxidation of fatty acids and destruction of anti-oxidant nutrients like vitamin E, omega-3 fats present in the oils/fat. Generation of trans-fatty acids encourages free radical production by fueling the oxidation process. So next time you thing margarine is healthier to butter…you’ll remember reading this!

Excess use of artificial sweeteners/ colors/ flavors
These chemicals lodge into our systems and are difficult to flush out of our body. Overuse and inability to flush them out in time could be the pre-cursor for free radical production.

Crash diets
Dehydration is a side effect of crash dieting. Studies suggest that consuming lot of water throughout this phase barely helps and this is because body doesn’t retain water due to nutritional deprivation and lack of balanced meals.

Crash diets are known to cause dramatic fluctuations in blood sugar levels, no wonder acnes are so common amongst anorexics and bulemics. Skin requires antioxidant nutrients (Vitamins A, C, E, zinc, selenium, etc.) that scavenge the free radicals. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology (Feb, 2005) testifies that long term vitamins C and E intake is linked with reduced incidence of sunburns from exposure to UVB radiation. These antioxidant vitamins help protect against DNA damage by protecting the skin structure. Crash diets are known to cause nutrient deficiencies and thereby the lack of antioxidants too.