If you spend time wondering how to look your best, you’re likely well aware of the beautifying benefits of a healthy diet.
Staying well-hydrated, getting all the essential nutrition and antioxidants from fresh fruit and vegetables, and minimising saturated fat, salt and excess sugar intake can all contribute to a healthy glow.
As far as the foods to avoid go, you might not expect many of the healthy options to be cause for concern.
However, one in particular could be contributing to a puffy appearance the next day. Julianne Moore reportedly avoids it – as far as beauty advice goes, it’s safe to say Julianne knows what she’s talking about.
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The food in question is sushi, although it isn’t the only food that cause give you a puffy look.
Real Simple enlisted the advice of a dietitian to explain what’s going on here. Caitlin Beale, the dietitian in question, said it’s all to do with fluid retention.
Essentially, high sodium foods inspire the body to retain water, but a minor immune reaction can cause puffiness too.
This kind of reaction can trigger inflammation and histamine release. Histamine is the compound the body fires out during an allergic reaction, and it can make you puff up.
Other puff-inducing foods and drinks include:
- Alcohol – it’s a diuretic that dehydrates you, triggering water retention when your body rebounds from the intoxication;
- Dairy – the majority of the world’s population has some level of lactose intolerance, so there’s a good chance you have a mild immune reaction to dairy even if it isn’t noticeable in your general health;
- Cheese, wine and fermented foods – all of these contain histamine, compounding your body’s release of the stuff.
“Hormones may play a role too,” Beale explained. “You may be more likely to feel puffy during PMS or perimenopause/menopause.”
She noted that poor sleep and dehydration can also lead to mild face swelling.
To help combat puffiness, there are few things you can do.
- Stay well-hydrated;
- Eat potassium-rich foods each day, such as bananas;
- Avoid late-night eating as this can interfere with digestion and increase fluid retention;
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated to help fluids drain out of it.
You can also assist with this drainage process by using something like a jade roller, helping to minimise puffiness. However, there’s little evidence to suggest using a jade roller or something similar will offer long-term anti-ageing benefits, but in the short term they help a lot of people to battle the puff.
Rachael Davis