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Last updated on September 27th, 2024 at 07:25 am
Consuming too much sugar doesn’t just affect your waistline—it can also have serious effects on your skin, particularly when it comes to aging. While it’s easy to reach for something sweet when you’re bored or stressed, regularly indulging your sweet tooth can accelerate the aging process of your skin in ways you might not realize. In this post, you will learn how sugar affects your skin.
Sugar, a type of carbohydrate, is necessary for our health in moderation, but excessive intake poses significant risks. Not only can it lead to weight gain and obesity, but it can also affect your skin’s health, leading to premature aging. 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.
Table of Contents
How Sugar Affects Your Skin To Age Faster
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.
This binding process, known as Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), breaks down collagen and elastin, leading to sagging, wrinkled skin. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as “sugar sag.” Foods that are caramelized or browned through grilling, frying, or baking can also increase the production of AGEs, further accelerating skin aging.
Other Factors That Accelerates The Aging Process
Sunlight
UV radiation from the sun not only damages the skin but also promotes the production of AGEs. The epidermal layer of the skin contains receptors for AGEs (known as RAGE), which are activated by UV exposure. This process is more pronounced when you don’t protect your skin with sunscreen, making it crucial to apply sunscreen daily.
Diet
The way you prepare your food can significantly impact your skin’s health. Frying, grilling, deep-frying, or roasting can increase the formation of AGEs. To reduce these effects, consider boiling or steaming your food instead. While this may sound less exciting, it’s better for your skin in the long run.
Lifestyle
Smoking is another major factor that accelerates skin aging by increasing the formation of AGEs. Even secondhand smoke can have detrimental effects on your skin and overall health.
How to Reduce the Aging Effects of Sugar
While you can’t reverse the glycation process once it starts, you can take steps to prevent it and minimize its impact on your skin.
1. Increase Antioxidants Intake
Antioxidants like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and zinc help fight free radicals that contribute to glycation. However, when consuming Vitamin C, avoid eating it with high-sugar foods, as your body’s cells are more likely to absorb the sugar over the Vitamin C, reducing its effectiveness. This process, known as competitive inhibition, diminishes the antioxidant benefits.
2. Incorporate Vitamin A
Vitamin A, found in yellow, orange, or red-colored fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes, is essential for maintaining healthy skin. You can consume Vitamin A through your diet, supplements, or topical serums like retinol, which are highly effective in reducing signs of aging. For more on the benefits of Vitamin A, check out “The Beginner’s Guide to Retinol.“
3. Spices and Herbs
Adding spices and herbs like rosemary, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, blueberries, and cloves to your diet can also help reduce the formation of AGEs.
4. Change Your Food Preparation Methods
Consider how you prepare your meals. If you frequently fry, grill, or roast your food, you may be increasing your intake of AGEs. Opt for water-based cooking methods like boiling or steaming to reduce the glycation effects on your skin.
5. 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 impact of sugar on skin aging is significant and influenced by diet and lifestyle choices. Reducing your intake of added sugars and being mindful of how you prepare your food can help prevent premature aging and promote overall skin health. By making these changes, you’ll not only improve your skin’s appearance but also enhance your overall well-being.
Remember, moderation is key. Balance your diet, protect your skin, and take care of your body to maintain a youthful, healthy complexion.
Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
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Very informative !!❣️
Thank you 💜
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!
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💜
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.
Awwwww… that’s great. I’m so glad you found the post incredibly helpful 💜
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.
Yes, I agree with you. Thank you for reading 💜
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.
Wow, 6 months no Soda. That’s awesome. I really need to do this.
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.
I had no idea that sugar affected skin aging – thank you for raising this to my attention
I’m so glad you found the post helpful 💜
I like the advice for spices and herbs to add to our routine. Great way to get healthy skin activity from foods we eat.
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!
Awww… It’s really amazing what cutting down sugar intake impacts our health and skin. Thank you for reading💜
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!
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.
I really enjoyed this. Very informative and interesting!
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.
This is such an informative post!
This is super interesting, didn’t know all of this! Thank you for such an informative post!
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
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.
🙂
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!
So true. When I found out I was a diabetic, and now gestational my skin cleared up so week after cutting most sugar out!
I’ve recently started cutting out sugar in my diet and have already seen amazing benefits!!
Roni 🖤
myelevatedexistence.com
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.
Wow I had no idea of the link between sugar and skin! Fascinating and definitely the most interesting thing I’ve learned this weekend!
I’m so glad this post taught you something new. Thank you for reading 💜
This was such an interesting read! Thank you xx
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
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/
Thank you so much, I’m really glad this post has helped you to cut down on sugar intake 💜
Thanks for sharing
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???
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 💜
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
Thank you so much, so glad this post motivated you to cut down on sugar intake 💜
I know a lot about what sugar does inside the body but I never thought about how it affects my skin. Interesting!
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.
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.
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!
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!
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you said well written and easy to understand 💜
Very interesting article. I will try to be more aware of the sugar I ingest. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting! I will be more aware of the amount of sugar I’m ingesting after reading this. Thanks for sharing!
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 🙂
Thank you for reading 💜
You’re welcome!
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!
So informative, I must say! Lovely piece 😀
This post was very informative. Thank you for sharing all this useful information!
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.
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
oh god its not reversible – cuts out all the sugar!
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!
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.
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 💜
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!
Sugar has always been my Friend,I never knew it can affect my skin this much, very educative post…
Yaaaayyyy… Jummy baby, thank you for reading 🥰
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