Let's talk about ageing, and how we can look and feel younger.
The main way we define age is our chronological age - the amount of time that has passed from birth to the given date. It’s our age in terms of years, months, days, etc.
So nothing is going to make me NOT 60 or you NOT 40 or 70 or whatever your chronological age.
But Biological ageing, that’s different. We can impact that. We can affect how old we 'look', 'behave' and 'feel'.
The basic idea behind biological ageing is that ageing occurs as we gradually accumulate damage to various cells and tissues in the body. It takes into consideration a number of factors other than just the day of birth.
The appearance of our skin is one of the tell tale signs of ageing. None of us like to see the wrinkles and crinkles coming too early.
I'm on a bit of a sugar crush at the moment and all my research leads me to t he undeniable fat that YES, Sugar ages you.
Although there are lots of factors that ruin your skin, sugar is probably one of the worst offenders for outright ageing your face and body. Not only should you avoid sugar for dietary reasons, you now have the added incentive of protecting your looks from the ageing ravages of sugar.
Sugar damages your skin through a natural process called glycation. The sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins and produces harmful free radicals called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). As AGEs accumulate (the more sugar you eat, the more they develop), they damage the proteins around them.
In this video I talk a bit more on this topic so worth a listen, but read on for 5 Ways to Prevent Sugar Ageing Your Skin.Cut Back On Sugar
Reduce as much as possible. Now I know it can be hard to completely eliminate sugar from your diet, but there are a few ways to cut back. Start by steering clear of “hidden sugars” like barley malt, fruit juice concentrate and maple syrup. That means reading your labels.
Get support if you are a big consumer of refined sugars. How does 14 days of support, tips, sugar free recipes, fact sheets, shopping lists and worksheets sound? Why not join my 14 Day Sugar Free Challenge.
Increase Water Intake
We need fluids for the production of collagen and elastin so staying hydrated is essential. It will also help the body to counter the ageing effects of glycation. Drink plenty of water and include water-rich foods like cucumber, tomatoes and watermelon into your diet to maintain hydration.
Supplement Your Diet
A number of published studies cite Vitamins B1 and B6 as AGE inhibitors. Vitamin B1 (thiamin) can be found in green peas, sesame seeds and spinach, and has powerful antioxidant properties that help in the fight against free radicals. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), which is essential for skin development and maintenance, can be found in chickpeas, pinto beans and sunflower seeds.
Load Up On Antioxidants
As I mentioned in the video, antioxidants neutralize and protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals. Your body produces antioxidants naturally, but you can also find them in everyday foods like berries, leafy greens and coffee. Vitamin C is one of the most well known. You can even find them in your skin care. Look for products that contain vitamins C and E which help collagen and elastin hold their shape and maintain their strength for your skin.
Sleep
One of our best beauty secrets is to get enough sleep. While you’re sleeping, your skin goes into overdrive, regenerating and repairing any damage done during the day. Studies show that poor sleep contributes to more fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone and less elasticity. But, it comes down to more than the quantity of sleep; just as important is quality. Your body does the most work during deep sleep to counteract the aging effects of sugar and other stressors.
Check out my 14 Day Sugar Free Challenge if you want to tackle your sugar crush and feel amazing.
Comments