The more you eat, the whiter your skin becomes?! The truth is...

Whitening - an eternal topic in the skin care industry

Whitening methods currently on the market

Also varied

There are defensive factions

A full set of hats, sunglasses, and sun protection clothes when going out

There is an external supplement

Research various masks and essence ingredients

There are also those who focus on whitening from the inside out with food supplements

Drinking lemon juice as water

You will never get tired of eating tomatoes

Can eating these things really help whiten your skin?

Is there really a connection between food and skin color?

Image source: screenshot from Xiaohongshu

“Whitening magic product” is not reliable!

Some foods are advertised as "whitening magic products" and are claimed to make the skin whiter after eating.

01

lemon:

Lemons and lemonade are believed by some to have skin-lightening properties, but in reality, there is no sufficient evidence to show that they can directly cause skin whitening.

Lemons contain vitamin C and citric acid, which do have some antioxidant and exfoliating properties, making the skin look brighter. However, these effects are usually minimal, not to mention how low the vitamin C content of lemon water is.

To achieve the whitening effect, you need to supplement 3000mg of VC every day, which is equivalent to hundreds of lemons ! And it’s not just one day, you need to stick to it for at least 6 weeks...

02

milk:

Some people believe that milk has the effect of whitening the skin, and that they can "replenish what you eat." In fact, whether it is taken orally or used externally, it has no direct whitening effect.

Skin color is mainly affected by genetic factors and daily maintenance habits , rather than the intake of a single food, so taking milk internally does not directly affect skin color. Similarly, applying milk externally will not cause the skin to become whiter. The nutrients in milk may have a certain moisturizing and hydrating effect when applied externally, but it will not change the skin color.

03

Other green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, pomegranates, etc.:

Foods such as tomatoes, pomegranates and blueberries are considered to be rich in antioxidants and vitamins that help improve skin health, but they do not have a direct whitening effect. The antioxidants in these foods can help protect the skin from free radical damage and promote the regeneration and repair of skin cells, making the skin look younger and healthier.

Image source: Copyright Library

It should be noted that whitening is not just about whitening the skin, but also about making the skin healthy, even and translucent. Therefore, in order to achieve a better complexion, we should adopt scientific skin care methods, such as regular cleaning, moisturizing, sun protection, etc., while maintaining a balanced diet and healthy living habits.

These foods will turn you black after eating them? Wash them white!

Some foods are rumored to cause darkening of the skin, which makes people stay away from them. For example, some people worry that eating soy sauce will cause darkening of the skin, and some people even rumor that eating black sesame will cause darkening of the skin. However, these claims are not scientific.

01

soy sauce:

Soy sauce contains a certain amount of pigments, especially dark soy sauce, which may give people the illusion that eating it will make their skin darker. But in fact, the pigments in normal soy sauce are not enough to affect the skin color.

02

Photosensitive foods:

Some people believe that eating photosensitive foods may increase the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, making the skin more susceptible to tanning or spots. Some common photosensitive foods include citrus fruits (such as lemons and oranges), celery, celery seeds, carrots, celery, American ginseng, peppers, coriander, cinnamon, and chili peppers. In fact, photosensitivity reactions caused by photosensitive foods usually occur only when consumed in large quantities, and there are also great individual differences. Generally speaking, moderate intake of these foods will not cause obvious skin reactions.

03

Black sesame:

Although some people think that black sesame is a "black" food that will make the skin darker, in fact, black sesame is rich in vitamin E, B vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which are beneficial to skin health.

Does diet really have an impact on your skin?

Although food cannot directly whiten or darken the skin, the impact of diet on the skin is multifaceted, and it can affect the skin's appearance, health, and resistance.

1. Antioxidant effect : A diet rich in antioxidants, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains, helps fight damage from free radicals and protect skin cells from oxidative stress, thereby keeping the skin healthy and youthful.

2. Water intake : Adequate water intake is essential for skin health. Water can maintain the moisture balance of the skin, keeping the skin soft, smooth and elastic.

3. Vitamins and minerals : Nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc are essential for skin health. They help repair damaged skin tissue, promote collagen synthesis, and improve skin radiance and elasticity.

4. Blood sugar level : High blood sugar levels may lead to the formation of advanced glycation end products, which damage the collagen and elastic fibers of the skin and accelerate skin aging. Therefore, controlling blood sugar levels is essential to maintaining healthy and youthful skin.

The relationship between food and skin is not as mysterious as rumored. Food itself does not have a direct effect of whitening or darkening, but a reasonable diet structure is essential to maintaining healthy skin. Abandon false whitening rumors, look at the relationship between food and skin rationally, maintain a balanced diet structure and good living habits, and you will truly have healthy and beautiful skin.

References:

[1] Wu Yuxuan, Liu Changshu, Liu Jianguo, et al. Comparative study on the antioxidant effects of different antioxidants on skin[J]. Food and Fermentation Industries, 2023, 49(04): 68-76. DOI: 10.13995/j.cnki.11-1802/ts.030886.

[2] Liu Xingyue, Zhang Lulu, Lei Bo, et al. Research progress on the correlation between hyperglycemia and aging[J]. Chinese Journal of Convalescent Medicine, 2019, 28(03): 249-252. DOI: 10.13517/j.cnki.ccm.2019.03.009.

[3] Hu Wen, Gong Jie, Jiang Xian. Can eating these foods help whiten your skin? [J]. Health Expo, 2019(10):59-61.

[4] Chen Jingyi. Safety and physiological function analysis of pigments in soy sauce[J]. Scientific Consulting (Science and Technology Management), 2021(02):92-93.

[5]. Will drinking lemon water during the day make you darker? [J]. Popular Science (Middle School Students), 2021(10):29.

Author: Xiaojuan is not a volume

Master of Food Science and Engineering, Henan University of Technology

Editor: Dong Xiaoxian