Is the Food I'm Eating Making Me Look Old? Discovering the Dangers of Glycation
When we bite into our delectable treats we don’t think about the effects they have on our skin. A closer look at our modern diet, however, calls for us to reconsider our cravings for all things sweet! A natural process called glycation occurs when the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins and fat. And glycation is not only formed as a result of sugar intake, it’s also from food fried at high heats in oil or on the crispy edges of grilled cuisine. The glycation process forms harmful molecules in our blood called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Overeating and obesity are known for causing serious health issues, but AGEs also have a powerful effect on your skin and metabolic health—regardless of weight.
AGEs accumulate naturally as we age. Thankfully, our bodies are designed to eliminate these damaging molecules, but the modern diet can put the levels of AGEs at such high levels our bodies cannot keep up with the elimination process. Through the study of diabetics, scientists have discovered that high levels of glucose in the blood means higher levels of AGEs. This accelerates the aging process and contributes to many other health issues like:
· Type 2 diabetes
· Heart disease
· Hypertension
· Lipid problems
· Fatty Liver Disease
· Cancer
· Dementia
Now that we have discovered the dangers of glycation, what can be done to reduce their damage? First, a few tips on how to reduce AGEs by improving eating habits. Naturopathic Doctor, Ann Wigmore said, “The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”
1. Eliminate sugar as much as possible: Is that donut really worth new wrinkles? Choose a piece of fruit or high anti-oxidant berries instead.
2. Choose low-glycemic foods: It is not just sweets that increase blood sugar. White bread, white potatoes, and processed foods spike levels. Low glycemic foods take more time to break down, helping to stabilize blood sugar levels, and keeping you satisfied. Choose nuts, seeds, lean meats, eggs, fresh veggies and fruit.
3. Watch the searing and frying: barbequing and meats fried in oil produce AGEs in the them even before you eat it!
4. Reduce your alcohol intake: Researchers have found that alcohol enhances glycation stress.
Dermaviduals also has some wonderful products your clients can apply topically to help heal the damage AGEs cause: outstanding liposomes and nanoparticles:
1. Grape Seed Extract
2. CM-Glucan Complex
3. Anti-Wrinkle Serum
4. Vitamin E Nanoparticles
Mix these in our dermaviduals base gel or the appropriate base cream and you have a wonderful, customized serum or cream.
No one wants to speed up the aging process by taxing our bodies with an overload of sugar and meats cooked in damaging ways. As hard as it is, resisting temptation is a must. Considering what we eat and how it is cooked can lower the AGEs we produce, slowing down the aging process. Dermaviduals’ customizable serums and creams can do the rest by giving your client’s skin the nutrients it needs to heal, resulting in a bright and youthful glow.
References: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/advanced-glycation-end-products#section1, https://www.annmariegianni.com/glycation-and-skin/