Yes you heard right, eating too many sweets may cause premature aging of your skin!
Over the years researchers have found that excess sugar in the bloodstream can cause glycation. The process of glycation is when the body consumes to much sugar and carbohydrates, which is then broken down into glucose and fructose and used to fuel our bodies. If we consume too many of these sugars, they may attach to proteins such as collagen in your body without the controlling action of an enzyme. This in turn causes the forming new molecules called “advanced glycation endproducts”, or AGEs. These molecules can modify the skins collagen by reducing skin elasticity, and this results in wrinkle formation.
How do you combat premature aging of your skin? Well, eat a low glycemic diet and eat fewer sweets. Treating yourself to the occasional treat is fine, it’s more important to focus on your regular daily dietary habits. To help you find foods with a low glycemic index, visit the link below.
The University of Sydney has compiled a glycemic index of thousands of foods on their website http://www.glycemicindex.com/ . This is the official website for the glycemic index and international GI database based in the Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders and Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney.
You can search by food type or by the glycemic index number.
General Guidlines:
High glycemic index: 70 and above.
Medium glycemic index number: 56-69.
Low glycemic index number: 55 or less.
Cheers!