According to an American dietitian, this seemingly healthy food can make your face swell overnight. So, if you wake up with a puffy face, now is the time to find out why.
You may have ever gotten up in the morning, looked in the mirror and noticed that your face is puffy. Your eyelids are heavy, you have bags under your eyes, your cheeks seem plumper and your features are blurred. This phenomenon, called facial fluid retention, is much more common than you think. If lack of sleep, alcohol or even allergies can be the cause, there is also a very popular food that can be responsible.
Feeling bloated when you wake up is actually a sign that your body is retaining too much fluid. This water retention is particularly evident on the face because the skin there is thin and sensitive to water variations. But where does this sudden accumulation come from? The answer often lies in what you ate the night before. Certain foods, due to their richness in salt and additives, promote this retention. However, it turns out that one of the most trendy dishes of the moment is particularly treacherous: light in appearance, fresh and healthy on the surface, it actually hides a sodium content which sometimes exceeds that of many industrial dishes. This dish, appreciated for its variety and conviviality, consists of vinegared rice, raw fish and is almost always accompanied by a generous dose of soy sauce. The latter is one of the main culprits: its salt content is so high that it is enough to upset the body’s water balance in a single evening. Indeed, as explained Caitlin Beale, California-registered dietitian for the magazine RealSimple: “BAlthough everyone can experience facial swelling after eating foods high in sodium, some people are at greater risk.” For example, “you may be more likely to feel bloated during PMS or perimenopause/menopause.”
Behind its healthy image, sushi hides excess sodium which explains why, the next day, your face may appear puffy. Of course, there is no question of permanently banishing this Japanese dish from your diet. But to avoid this inconvenience, it is better to limit the consumption of soy sauce, hydrate well and, why not, opt for low-salt versions.
