According to Kerry Neville, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, “Americans eat too much sugar, and it appears that the threat of making them fat doesn't seem to discourage excess sugar eating. So this latest wrinkle scare might just do the trick. That is great.”
We all know how far women would go just to stop the aging process, and the prospect of getting wrinkles from too much sugar consumption may affect their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Some women may even develop inferiority complex, and experience stress and anxiety due to aging problems.
A recent study in the British Journal of Dermatology reveals that a process called glycation occurs when sweets -- not just refined sugar, but anything that turns into glucose during metabolism in your body -- are eaten and the glucose enters the bloodstream. As they float along, they search out and latch on to proteins and form a new molecule called advanced glycation end products, or appropriately shortened to AGEs. The increase in sugar consumption also increases AGEs production. These molecules wreak havoc on the adjacent proteins, the most vulnerable of which are the compounds responsible for keeping our skin firm and elastic: collagen and elastin. The result is sagging, wrinkled skin.
However, here's the good news for all those who have a “sweet tooth.” There are some things we can still do to remedy the damage being brought about by too much sugar in your diet. Obviously, you have to limit your sugar intake. “The lower your sugar consumption, the better it is for your health,” said Neville.
But it's not easy to ascertain where those added sugars are coming from. “Eliminating them all is hard,” said Neville. “Often it is a matter of where you are getting the added sugar. Food labels don't spell out added sugars.” It is important to look for words such as corn sweetener, corn syrup, sucrose or sorghum, to name a few.
On the other hand, Dr. Darren Casey, a dermatologist and dermatological surgeon in Atlanta, Georgia, isn't so worried about potential skin damage from sugar. “Sun and smoking are the leading cause of wrinkles,” he said. Getting plenty of antioxidants in your diet as well as taking chewable vitamin C can help offset the harmful effects of too much consumption of sweet.
Products that contain retinoids can also revitalize sugar-damaged or environmentally challenged skin. Retinoids are a class of compounds related chemically to vitamin A that are readily available over the counter or through prescription. They are the best treatment to help soften fine lines or wrinkles, which in turn will help you look younger.
So when the next holiday treats start to beckon, think again. Don't get tricked by its sweet talks.
