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When you consume too much sugar, it begins to affect your skin in ways you never thought of. Yes, there are several effects sugar has on the skin and one of them is aging. Remember, when you get bored and you walk straight to your fridge to indulge your sweet tooth several times a day. This continued process start affecting your skin.
Sugar is a carbohydrate and it is beneficial for our health but having too much of it poses a threat to our health. Once you start taking sugar consistently, it becomes addictive. Scientists have shown that the continuous intake of sugar releases dopamine in the brain which is a similar action seen in drug abuse. As a result of sugar triggering the reward system, it induces compulsive and excessive eating.
When I mean sugar, I mean it in terms of the food and drinks we consume. Beyond the negative impacts of sugar on weight gain and obesity, a high amount of sugar intake also affects the skin and causes it to age prematurely.
Table of Contents
The Effects Of Sugar On Skin
When you consume a high-carb diet, it gets broken down into glucose and enters the bloodstream. As a result, the body works hard to normalize glucose in the bloodstream so it produces insulin. Insulin then goes ahead to tell the body cells to open up glycogen where glucose is stored for later use. This is usually saved in livers and muscles.
The real effect of sugar on skin aging happens when you eat too much sugary diet. The glucose in the bloodstream gets overwhelmed. Then insulin is rapidly spiked up to eliminate the level of glucose, it tells glycogen “hey buddy, we need more glucose in-store, open up”. Glycogen replies “sorry mate, too full” This action creates inflammation causing glucose to bind to available proteins such as Collagen and Elastin.
Collagen and elastin are important proteins found within the dermis that provide structural and stability to the skin. The result of glucose binding to these proteins (Collagen and Elastin), breaks down the proteins thereby leading to saggy and wrinkled skin. The process is called Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) or otherwise called sugar sag. The name of the process seems to fit the exact problem.
AGEs can also be found in diets that are caramelised or brown for example grilling, frying, the brown crust of bread, doughnuts and so on. The constant consumption of these diets leads to increased skin aging.
This, dear reader, are the effects of sugar on skin and how it accelerates aging
Other Factors That Accelerates The Aging Process
Sunlight
UV exposure also promotes more production of AGEs on the skin. The epidermal layer of the skin contains a receptor for AGEs (RAGE) which when exposed to UV light accelerate AGEs. The production of AGEs is usually higher when you are not wearing your sunscreens. So ensure you wear your sunscreens always!
Diet
The content of the food we eat is highly dependent on the cooking process. Do you usually fry, grill, deep-fry or roast the food you eat all the time? This process of cooking contains a high amount of AGEs and their consumption increases skin aging. The best thing to do is to boil or steam your food. Although that sounds really really boring, it is best to do everything in moderation
Lifestyle
Lifestyle such as smoking aggravates skin aging by accelerating the process of AGEs. Even exposure to cigarette smokers is detrimental to health and accelerates AGEs.
How To Reverse The Aging Effects Of Sugar
The first thing to know is that once the sugar starts getting glycated, it is impossible to reverse the process. However, there are preventive measures that can be taken to avoid such an occurrence.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants such as Vitamin C, E, and zinc are all-natural antioxidants that help fight free radicals that form within the body. This helps reduce the effect of sugar becoming glycated in the skin. Please note that when taking vitamin C avoid the intake of sugar alongside. The cells in our body are more receptive to sugar rather than vitamin C. This then reduces the antioxidant effect of vitamin C. In pharmacology, this process is called competitive inhibition.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A or Retinol can be found in any yellow, orange or red coloured fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, mangoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, watermelon and others. Consumption of these fruits and vegetables is highly beneficial to the skin. You can either have vitamin A consumed in diets or as supplements. The topical application of vitamin A serums is highly beneficial to reduce the signs of aging. If you have no idea about the beneficial effects of vitamin A on the skin, then I suggest you read one of my favourite posts “The beginner’s guide to Retinol“.
Spices and Herbs
The addition of spices and herbs such as rosemary leaves, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, blueberries and cloves helps reduce the formation of AGEs
Food preparation
The way we prepare our foods also has an effect on our skin, for example, do you like to fry, grill, roast food, take excessive soft drinks all the time? Then you might need to reconsider changing your approach as these actions not only has negative effects on your health but also increase AGEs. The best thing to do to avoid these problems is by cooking water-based methods to avoid ingestion of food that is glycated.
Avoid Artificial Colouring In Food
Artificial colouring in food is really enticing and difficult to avoid especially when you see a red velvet cake or sweet with red colouring. For some reason I don’t know, the colour red seems to catch attention even in food. Scientists have noted that the brain is preprogrammed to look for red in food due to the presence of vitamin C and vitamin A. These vitamins are necessary to prevent oxidation and premature aging
Conclusion
The effect of sugar on skin aging and how to fight glycation depends on our diet and lifestyle. Therefore, it is vital to reduce added sugar consumption and also, cook our meals appropriately. This will help good eating behaviour and reduce premature skin aging. It also improves our overall well being and health.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
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Anurika says
Very informative !!❣️
Rayo says
Thank you ?
sseigler2 says
Great post! Surprisingly I’m eating less sugar since the lockdown since I’m not eating fast food and other treats. However you did remind i have not taken my vitamins yet today. Take care!
Rayo says
Haha, that’s great. Unlike me I have been indulging in sugary stuff so I have taking precautions to limit it. And yes, I’m glad I reminded you to take your vitamins. Thank you for reading?
The Starving Artist Blog (@StarvingBlog) says
I had no idea sugar had such a terrible effect on your skin! This post is an eye-opener. I have a huge sweet tooth, which of course leads to all sorts of bad things, but I had no idea it would affect my skin too. Thank you for this post. I’m now incredibly motivated to cut down on sugar, which I had been thinking about doing anyway.
Rayo says
Awwwww… that’s great. I’m so glad you found the post incredibly helpful ?
timelessideas1 says
This is very informative, thank you for sharing this! A lot of us are unaware of the sugar on the skin, this will encourage us to change our eating behavior.
Rayo says
Yes, I agree with you. Thank you for reading ?
justthegameoflife says
This was a very interesting read! I actually cut out soda about 6 months ago. I seen the effect it was having on me and didn’t like it so I made the change.
Rayo says
Wow, 6 months no Soda. That’s awesome. I really need to do this.
justthegameoflife says
Believe me, it has been a hard journey. My family still drinks it so sometimes I will just open the fridge and stare for a bit and have to convince myself I don’t need it.
Lisa Alioto says
I had no idea that sugar affected skin aging – thank you for raising this to my attention
Rayo says
I’m so glad you found the post helpful ?
Heather says
I like the advice for spices and herbs to add to our routine. Great way to get healthy skin activity from foods we eat.
Castlesandturrets says
I’ve recently limited the amount of sugar I have in my daily life, it’s been a few months now but I’ve noticed a huge difference! It’s great because I was actually just trying to eat heathily to lose weight, but then my skin got a lot better! Great post!
Rayo says
Awww… It’s really amazing what cutting down sugar intake impacts our health and skin. Thank you for reading?
lifetravelsoul says
Very informative! I love sweets, so this post is a good reminder for me to cut back on sugar. I also need to be more consistent in using sunscreen and taking my supplements.Thanks for the tips!
adamjnew85 says
I’ll be honest, I never even considered skin ageing as an issue of too much sugar. I eat far too much sugar, but I’m trying to cut down.
Natasha says
I really enjoyed this. Very informative and interesting!
Jaya Avendel says
I love ginger and garlic and cinnamon in my food, but I did not know that roasting upped AGEs! I love what you say about cooking things in moderation; a balanced diet is key to good skin, and sugar hides in many different places.
Ashleigh says
This is such an informative post!
thephysiomama says
This is super interesting, didn’t know all of this! Thank you for such an informative post!
Katrina Rhea Durana says
Thanks for the reminder! Snacking and high consumption of sweets are one of the norms now since almost everyone is in quarantine. Your article is so precise and helpful. I am already aware on most facts in this post but you still provided me with new information.
Love, The Hollapinos | Mike & Katie
thehollapinos.com
dr.rasi gupta says
YES! super insightful and useful! Sugar is a horrible ingredient and finds a way into almost everything!
One thing i strictly cut is those horrible soft-drinks. PURE GARBAGE and only sugar and empty calories! Yuck!
And great info about the Vitamin C too.
🙂
Charity says
This is such a great and informative post. I need to stop eating so much sugar. Especially right now since I’m stuck at home I’ve been baking too much and craving sweets!
rameyspeaks says
So true. When I found out I was a diabetic, and now gestational my skin cleared up so week after cutting most sugar out!
Roni (@writeroni) says
I’ve recently started cutting out sugar in my diet and have already seen amazing benefits!!
Roni ?
myelevatedexistence.com
Bolupe says
Thanks for this reminder. I was on a good routine where I cut out foods high in carbohydrates and went full on Paleo diet. It worked because of the routines I established however, I have since gone back to sugar and high carbohydrates food. It’s so hard to maintain cutting sugar out totally but like you said it’s best done in moderation.
Yaya says
Wow I had no idea of the link between sugar and skin! Fascinating and definitely the most interesting thing I’ve learned this weekend!
Rayo says
I’m so glad this post taught you something new. Thank you for reading ?
Jenni @ I on Image says
This was such an interesting read! Thank you xx
glowsteady says
It’s definitely important to try and stay mindful of our diets during lockdown and try to keep things as balanced as possible. I always see it in my skin if my diet hasn’t been great x
Sophie
Angie M. says
Your post is very informative. I was called to it as I tend to consume a lot of sugar, one way or the other, and I am really trying to fight that for health purposes. Reading your post has been truly insightful, thanks for sharing (: https://angiewaves.com/
Rayo says
Thank you so much, I’m really glad this post has helped you to cut down on sugar intake ?
Saania says
Thanks for sharing
A Capone Connection says
This post is EVERYTHING I believe in! I’m 42 and people are always shocked when I tell them my age but I know I look young because I do these things that you suggest. It really is about diet and lifestyle. There is no magic cream that can make up for a crappy diet and lifestyle. Thank you for sharing this. I didn’t know about the vitamin C and sugar part. Makes me wonder about orange juice since that has vitamin C and a lot of sugar in it???
Rayo says
Yes you are right, no amount of creams can make up for crappy diet. Beauty starts from the inside and emanates outwards. And yes orange juice with sugar is just sugar, lol. So many marketers claim that due to the presence of oranges, you would be getting vitamin c. While the claim is true, adding sweeteners to vitamin c drinks will disrupt the effects of vitamin c. Thank you so much for commenting. And lastly, you look amazingly young and beautiful ?
Bexa says
This is such an interesting and helpful post, thank you for sharing! I am always trying to eat healthier and cut down on sugar, this post has given me more motivation to do so! Thanks for sharing and reminding us how important it is to follow a healthy balanced diet! <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Rayo says
Thank you so much, so glad this post motivated you to cut down on sugar intake ?
Blue to Bliss says
I know a lot about what sugar does inside the body but I never thought about how it affects my skin. Interesting!
A Cup of Wonderland says
As someone with a skin condition I have always thought I was mindful of my actions and how they could affect my skin but I’ve never really thought of sugar and how that can play hazards with my skin too. Really informative post and you’ve given me a bit of think about now, thank you.
Britt | Shed Happens (@ShedHappenscmty) says
I’m still shocked by the number of people who fail to see the impact of factors like UV exposure and diet on your skin. There once was a time that we were blissfully unaware, but that time is long behind us now. It’s important to open our eyes to the information being provided and act upon it. Thank you for sharing this valuable post.
Ethereal Empathy says
This is a great thing to keep in mind. I sometimes have a difficult time avoiding sugar, mostly because of my love of Chocolate. I work hard to monitor my intake and attempt to make healthy lifestyle choices in general. I love the info you provide here as it pertains to food and vitamins as well. Great post!
Yanitza Ninett says
Very informative. It’s good to find articles on such an important topic and that are so well written and easy to read. I’m a former Esthetician, I love everything about skincare!
Rayo says
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you said well written and easy to understand ?
Lu says
Very interesting article. I will try to be more aware of the sugar I ingest. Thanks for sharing.
lureviewsbooks says
Very interesting! I will be more aware of the amount of sugar I’m ingesting after reading this. Thanks for sharing!
Crystal says
Great information and something that’s not talked a lot in conventional healthcare. I recently learned how damaging sugar is to the skin and even what AGEs are. Thank you for sharing these important facts 🙂
Rayo says
Thank you for reading ?
Crystal says
You’re welcome!
Je says
I chuckled at the romantic stroll bit haha!
I love this post. I’d seen in some documentary that the natural world has very little amount of good sugar (Allulose) but at home, like you mentioned, it is so easy for us to access bad sugar through carbonated drinks and other junk foods.
Very informative piece. Thanks for sharing!
Pragati Mahapatra says
So informative, I must say! Lovely piece 😀
bournemouthgirl says
This post was very informative. Thank you for sharing all this useful information!
Alexandra Wrigley says
Very interesting. So, are you going to reduce your sugar intake? I don’t even know where to start for me, but now want to after reading this.
Rayo says
Oh yes definitely, I’ve made conscious effort to be aware of what I ingest. I drink a lot of water now. You can also do it
bookendsandbiscuits says
oh god its not reversible – cuts out all the sugar!
Sophie Harriet says
This was really interesting to read – I knew sugar is really unhealthy but I never knew it could affect your skin too! Thank you for explaining the science behind it in such a clear way. I’ve been doing my best to avoid sugar lately, so your post has given me extra motivation to steer clear of the stuff!
arianasuero says
This is a very informative article. It helped me reasure my decision to cut sugar from my diet. I´ve been sugar free for a while now and I feel amazing.
Rayo says
Yes, I’m so glad you found this article. It’s amazing what cutting sugar can do to not just the skin but overall health. Thank you for reading ?
Casey Anne says
I love sugar 🙁 my goal for May is to stop eating sugar and sweats because I’ve been just going crazy since this quarantine and I know how unhealthy it really is!
Olajumoke says
Sugar has always been my Friend,I never knew it can affect my skin this much, very educative post…
Rayo says
Yaaaayyyy… Jummy baby, thank you for reading ?
Shell-Shell's?tipsandtricks says
This is good to know, I didn’t know this.
My Mom eats a lot of sugar and is 66, she looks 40 lol!
I know sugar in general isn’t good for you. I’ll stay away from it. I had no idea it affected how your skin looks.
~Michelle
https://michellescrazybusylife.net