Why sugar makes you look older

If watching your waistline and improving your overall health weren't good enough reasons to avoid sugar, we're here to let you in on a little-known secret: sugar makes you look older! Sugar accelerates the ageing process of your skin, which means that a lifetime of sugary food and drinks can leave you with an uneven, dull skin tone; loss of elasticity; and perhaps worst of all... lots of wrinkles. According to the British Journal of Dermatology, when you consume sugar, a natural process called “glycation” binds the sugar molecules to proteins in your skin and this forms Advanced Glycation End Products (AGPs). Glycation is a natural part of the ageing process, but eating sugar speeds it up. The proteins in collagen and elastin keep skin subtle and resilient, but during glycation they become brittle and dry. AGPs also inhibit the formation and function of new collagen fibers and elastin fibers. This is what causes sagging and wrinkles. This isn’t just a cosmetic issue either, because your body’s connective tissue is also made up of collagen and elastin. When you eat sugar, it damages your connective tissue, causing chronic inflammation. Glycation also makes skin more vulnerable to external assailants such as cigarette smoke, pollution and harmful UV rays. You are less sensitive to these when you are young, but aging accelerates rapidly from around the ages of 30 to 35. This is when the effects of a combination of a poor diet, too much sun, alcohol and stress become visible. Your body’s ability to repair damage to its cells diminishes significantly from this age, and is worsened by sugar-induced AGPs. Unfortunately, you can’t stop glycation in its tracks. Creams and lotion won't fix the problem either, because healthy looking skin comes from the inside out. The good news is that you can slow the glycation process down by eating a healthy, balanced diet that is low in sugar and high in anti-ageing vitamins. Explore how you can enjoy sweet treats and maintain a healthy skin by using Naturally Sweet Stevia or  Naturally Sweet Xylitol.