Keeping fresh, youthful looking skin comes more from just a
bottle of anti-wrinkle cream at a department store. Think of a fresh cut apple turning brown in a
few minutes, your body oxidizes when exposed to stressors, pollutants, a crummy
diet, and too
much sun.
On the other hand, antioxidants can guard against aging,
like lemon juice on our cut apple, heart disease, cancer, and a whole host of
other conditions caused by stress. Food
comes in to play by slowing down the process along with a great skin care
routine.
New research shows that you might want to skip dessert a bit
more often.
A recent article in Elle, sheds light on advanced
glycation end products or AGEs.
Glycation is a process where glucose changes and mutates protein fibers,
most susceptible are in the skin, collagen and elastin. Basically, you’ll look like your grandma
sooner.
Now, scientists are learning that sugar is a subtle wrecking
ball on your body’s cells.
The process starts with eating; let’s say you’re cheating on
your diet with a donut. Your body breaks
it down into sugars, fats, and protein.
The blood sugar rises (formally known as blood glucose) and the blood
glucose will make cells a bit abnormal and create free radicals. A health care professional will tell you that
the body’s primary source of energy comes from carbohydrates so low- and
no-carbohydrates are no-nos.
Furthermore, glycation is a normal process but there are a
few things you can do to slow it down.
·
Eat more whole grains and avoid refined foods.
·
Dodge high fructose corn syrup.
·
Drink green tea, it breaks up the glycation
process.
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According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the main sources of
polyphenols are “fruits and plant-derived beverages such as fruit juices, tea,
coffee, and red wine. Vegetables, cereals, chocolate, and dry legumes also
contribute to the total polyphenol intake.”