Besides providing your body with energy, nutrients in your diet also support cell renewal.

So you can see the effects of poor nutrition in almost every aspect of your appearance, from the top of your head down to the bottom of your feet.

Therefore, when it comes to looking young and healthy, diet is without a doubt a very important factor.

So let's delve into the ways in which the things that you eat affect the way that you look.

Refined sugars.

It's true, you're as old as you feel.

Various lifestyle factors and choices can impact your biological age, from sun exposure to environmental hazards, to habits and diet.

High sugar consumption accelerates your biological age by rapidly aging the skin.

Researchers, Dr. Aragno and Dr. Mascola explain in a 2017 study that eating glucose and fructose results in the body producing advanced glycation end products, AGEs, toxins that damage collagen and elastin, which create a plump and youthful appearance of the skin.

Consequently, the skin becomes saggy, the complexion becomes poor, and wrinkles and age spots appear.

In a study led by Kelly Van Dralen, glucose levels were examined in relation to perceived aging.

A total of 602 subjects were photographed and their non-fasting blood glucose and insulin levels were measured.

After reviewing the photographs, a panel of 60 independent reviewers rated each subject's age.

Participants with higher blood glucose levels were rated as looking older than their real age.

High glycemic index food.

Have you ever felt something was missing when you skip consuming white bread, biscuits, or sweetened fruit juices, even just for one meal?

According to a systematic review by researchers, James Meekshung and colleagues, these are high glycemic index foods that are rapidly broken down into glucose, spiking insulin levels and triggering the formation of insulin-like growth factor 1, IGF-1.

Due to high levels of IGF, keratinocytes increase, causing skin inflammation that results in acne.

Increased levels of IGF also lead to sebocyte proliferation, resulting in congested pimples.

Too much alcohol.

Along with the beer belly and red drinker's nose, alcohol may have additional effects on your appearance.

Dermatologist Dr. Sina Manjuseb says that alcohol causes inflammation and dehydration.

Inflammation is the second major skin health issue connected to alcohol consumption.

When you consume alcohol, your skin turns red and becomes heated due to inflammation.

You may experience itchiness and flare-ups in chronic skin problems like acne, rosacea, and psoriasis.

The byproduct of alcohol processing by the body is acetaldehyde, which is harmful and drying to the skin.

Alcohol acts like a diuretic, removing the body's moisture.

The dryness may be extremely detrimental to the skin, since the body will remove moisture from the outer protective layers first to ensure the rest of the organs are working properly.

Fast food.

It may not cause much damage to your body if you go through the drive-thru of your favorite fast food restaurant just once in a while.

On the other hand, you might experience some unpleasant side effects if you eat at McDonald's, KFC, or pizza regularly.

Researchers at the UK's Medical Research Council, Andrew Prentiss and Susan Jebb, concluded that fast foods contain high energy density, which encourages unintentional consumption of more calories than what is required by the body.

As a result, there is a rise in the risk of obesity and weight gain.

Too much salt.

Have you looked at yourself in the mirror and wondered how you get those under-eye bags?

Do you also struggle to refrain from eating salty snacks?

According to a study by researcher Ivan Vrek and colleagues, eating too much salt may cause your body to retain fluid, leading to puffiness and dark circles below the eyes.

For example, canned soup and potato chips contain high concentrations of sodium, which can increase fluid retention.

Often, excess fluid from salty foods leads to swelling beneath your eyes because water collects there.

A study led by researcher Zhaoyu Xi found a high-salt diet may cause you to wake up more frequently in the middle of the night.

Obviously, this can result in sleep loss, which can worsen your eye bags and dark circles.

A nutritious diet is beneficial not only to your appearance, but to your physical and mental health too.

So it's worth it to re-evaluate your diet and make some changes if you regularly consume the foods discussed in this video.

Maintaining a healthy diet does not have to be tedious.

There are many nutritional, tasty, and flavorful meals available.

As always, thanks for watching.