Sugar does that too
We all have
to grow old one day. Aging is a natural process and can be an enjoyable part of
life if you’re living life to the fullest in good health. Instead of fretting
about prolonging youth with artificial methods, we should focus on how not
to speed up the aging process. Especially so because premature ageing due to
poor diet and lifestyle choices often involves health problems.
“Sweet” is
often associated with youth. Think terms like “Sweet young thing”, and the
Harajuku fashion style in Japan
where sugary-sweet pastels are commonly used to create youthful, energetic
fashion coordinates. Beautifully-decorated desserts adorned with adorable
colour schemes and designs, like macarons and donuts, are all the rage,
drawing young women like bees to honey. And of course there’s the term "sugar
high" that suggests that a sugar break is what one needs to get all energized
and excited.
Yet sugar
not only contributes to a myriad of health problems, but in fact, speeds up the
aging process.
Sugar is
acidic, and excessive consumption of sugar can cause the blood stream to become
neutral or mildly acidic, causing cells to age faster, and hairs to turn
yellowish and white.
Sugar also
leads to wrinkles. According to UK
nutritionist, Dr Marilyn Glenville, sugar reacts with protein to create
advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). These substances
cause skin to be wrinkled and cell structures to harden.
Naturally-occurring sugars (think sugar within fruits) are
fine as these are usually consumed with fibre, which slows down digestion of
the sugar and reduces the impact it has on the blood stream. Refined sugars are the ones to beware
of. Examples of refined sugars include the table sugar we use to sweeten our
tea and coffee, for baking and cooking, sugar used in desserts (ice cream
included, unfortunately), cookies and edible decorations on cakes and desserts,
powdered sugar, also known as confectioner's sugar, commonly found sprinkled on
cakes and donuts. Needless to say, sweets and chocolates are sources of refined
sugar.
Don’t be fooled by natural and artificial sweeteners, which
claim to offer a healthier alternative without refined sugar. Fructose, a
common ingredient in natural sweeteners, sits in the liver and may lead to
health issues like high cholesterol. Artificial sweeteners, on the other hand,
could lead to increased appetite and consequently, weight gain. This is because
the body expects calories when it detects something sweet. When that isn’t
delivered, we end up seeking out more food to satisfy energy needs.
Don’t panic if you’ve spent your lifetime indulging in sweet
food. It is not too late for a lifestyle change. Foods high in anti-oxidants,
like blue berries, can halt skin damage caused by the AGEs. Omega 3 fatty acids cool
inflammation caused by sugar. Rich sources include flaxeed oil, chia seeds,
salmon, walnuts. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production and
destroys free radicals that can cause premature ageing so be sure to eat your
fruits and vegetables daily.
Cut down on the refined sugar, and switch to healthier
sweet alternatives, such as honey, maple syrup and brown rice syrup, which
contain natural sugars. Very importantly, be sure to get your 8 hours of sleep
daily. Lack of sleep slows down metabolism and inhibits hormone production. It
also weakens your facial muscles, causing sagging. You’ll notice and
improvement in tone and texture in your skin when you get regular, sufficient
rest!
0 comments: