Following a healthy diet has more of an effect on your body than simply maintaining your overall health. Just as eating nutrient dense foods can allow you to lose weight, increase satiety, and feel good in your body, a well balanced diet can also have a profound effect on your complexion and the texture of your skin. As you age, your skin becomes subject to reveal fine lines and wrinkles, and your diet may actually be expediting the process as some foods have been shown to invoke a more rapid aging process as well as sparking other skincare concerns. For a smoother, younger looking complexion, there’s one food that dermatologists agree you should keep to a minimum in your diet.
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If you have a sweet tooth this may be a disappointment, but white sugar is one of the worst culprits for rapidly expediting the aging process. While nobody is disillusioned into thinking that sugar is actually healthy, it’s important to understand how it can affect your appearance. Healthline explains, “There are two main culprits that accelerate the aging process of our skin: sun exposure and advanced glycation end products. AGEs form when protein or fat combine with sugar.” The more AGEs your skin is inundated with, the more it will reveal signs of aging, and unfortunately white sugar is notoriously bad for the skin.
Broken down into simpler terms, sugar causes a process called glycation in the skin which can have a negative impact on collagen production, reducing elasticity and effectively causing you to appear older. NYC based dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe explains to Dermstore, “More AGEs mean the faster you’ll show signs of aging, both inside the body and on the surface, including your skin. So clearly, limiting your intake of sugar is the first line of defense against the aging effects of glycation.”
White sugar is often found in processed foods such as chips, white bread, pasta, and sweets so eliminating refined carbs from your diet and replacing them with multigrain or wheat varieties can help to limit AGEs impact on your skin. However, not all sugar has an equal effect on your complexion, and natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables are still on the table. But don’t worry too much about perfecting your diet--this could actually make your skin worse. Dermatologist Dr. Robert Anolik explains to Goop, “Frankly, sometimes the stress some patients put on themselves to avoid certain foods can be more of an offender than the food itself.”
Cutting down on refined sugar in your diet can make all the difference in your appearance, clearing up your skin and slowing down the aging process. While a well-developed skincare routine is one of the first line defenses against the hands of time, your diet is just as important in maintaining a glowing complexion and allowing for your skin to reflect your healthy lifestyle. You don’t have to remove sugar completely, but making a significant reduction can preserve your appearance for years to come.
