Tired of trying out expensive new creams and miracle elixirs that claim to make you look younger but seem to do little more than make your skin slightly softer? There’s a real solution to getting younger, healthier-looking skin, and it has nothing to do with the ingredients in a bottle. What you eat – and, specifically, what you don’t eat – can have a big impact on the look and feel of your skin.
Sugar, in particular, may be causing you to age more quickly than you actually are. Indulging in too many sweet treats can cause your skin to look dull, to sag, and to develop fine lines and wrinkles.
How Sugar is Ruining Your Skin
One of the primary reasons that sugar affects your skin is that is causes inflammation in the body. The inflammation can cause cellular breakdown, which can cause sagging and fine lines and wrinkles.
Sugar consumption can also cause spikes in blood sugar levels. When blood sugar levels rise too quickly, it can lead to a process known as glycation. During this process, sugar attaches itself to collagen and produces damaging byproducts that can undermine the elasticity of your skin. This process can make your skin appear dryer, thinner, and more rigid – all of which will make it appear older.
Not only does sugar damage the collagen you have, but it also affects the type of collagen you have. Glycation transforms the stable and longer-lasting collagen type into a weaker, more fragile type of collagen, which makes your skin more vulnerable to damages.
Choosing Healthier Alternatives
You don’t have to eat a lot of sugar to experience these harmful effects on your skin. The sugar in a single can of soda is enough to set off the chain of reactions that can age your skin. It’s important to cut out sugar as much as you can to improve the health of your skin.
Even if you can’t cut out sugar cold turkey, you can make healthier choices. Instead of white breads and pastas – which will cause the same spike in blood sugar as candy bars and cakes – choose whole-grain options. Instead of white potatoes, eat sweet potatoes or yams. Instead of chocolate, eat dark chocolate. Instead of candy, eat fruit.
You can also protect your skin against the damages caused by sugar by consuming more antioxidants. Good sources are berries (blueberries, strawberries, cranberries), nuts, red bell peppers, and tea. Antioxidants fight free radicals that are caused by inflammation, helping to protect against cellular damage. Not only do they help fight against skin damage, but they also fight against disease and other chronic health conditions.
Don’t waste money on expensive moisturizers and wrinkle creams that claim to turn back the clock. Just focus on eating a healthy diet that’s free of sugar and high in healthy vegetables. You’ll look like you’ve had a face lift without ever going under the knife.
About the Author:
Bridget Sandorford is a freelance blog and culinary writer, where recently she’s been researching the variations of a chef’s salary. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her first cookbook.
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