The new year is finally here, so you know what that means.
It the glorious time when we make a list of overly ambitious resolutions we'll probably give up by the end of the month.
If you're like many others who are looking to improve their skin in the new year, there's a good chance you've jumped on the no-dairy diet that promises to banish blemishes from your complexion.
However, it turns out that cutting cow's milk out of your meal plan might not be doing you as much good as you originally thought.
Yep, I hate to break it to you, but science just revealed your no-dairy diet could actually be ruining your skin rather than helping it.
I know! Why does dieting have to be so damn confusing?
Dr. Nestor Demosthenous, an aesthetic doctor and specialist in non-surgical procedures, recently told MailOnline about some of the potential dangers associated with non-dairy diets.
Apparently, the main problems with this diet are in added sugars and a lack of calcium.
Dr. Demosthenous points out that naturally-sweet cows' milk doesn't contain added sugars like many of the artificially sweetened non-dairy milk products.
In addition to having some unpleasant consequences for your waistline, consuming a lot of added sugars can also have negative effects on your skin.
Dr. Demosthenous told MailOnline,
Sugar molecules bind to proteins such as collagen in the skin, which causes a loss of firmness and the start of premature wrinkles forming. As collagen breaks down, skin becomes less elastic, thinner and drier. We lose our even skin tone. This all contributes to a dull, aged complexion. Losing the fullness in the cheeks and forehead is another side effect of the loss of collagen, which usually happens naturally as we age, but can be aggravated and accelerated by external factors. The cheeks can atrophy (waste away) and fall down our face, deepening nasolabial folds and marionette lines, which gives us a sad look to the face.
In addition to steering clear of sugar, Dr. Demosthenous recommends using product with ingredients like grapefruit oil and vitamin C to fight the signs of aging and collagen loss.
The second issue with dairy-free diets is that they often lead to calcium deficiencies, which in turn, speed up the signs of aging and cause your face to lose bone density.
Dr. Demosthenous explains,
There are two dynamics that happen in the ageing face, which can be exacerbated by dietary choices: bone expansion and bone resorption. We lose bone density in the maxilla and mandible (upper and lower jawbone). This causes an appreciable reduction in facial height and a moderate increase in facial width and depth.
If you're looking to maintain a youthful appearance until the cows come home, you can ditch your dairy-free diet for a daily serving of unsweetened milk.
Or, if you're really committed to staying dairy-free, you can add some alternative calcium-rich foods into your diet such as almonds, oranges and leafy green vegetables like broccoli, spinach and kale.
Citations: s your soya latte ruining your FACE? Doctor reveals how a dairy-free diet can wreak havoc with your skin and bone structure (MailOnline)
