By Faith Mudoga,
The foods we eat as we become older can have a big impact on our fitness, appearance, quality of life, and illness risk.
Aging is a process that nobody except kids enjoy. Even though it’s inevitable, you can choose to age gracefully and through the kind of food you eat you can slow down the process of aging.
According to an article published by the Boston Globe, research shows that eating ultra-processed foods can speed up the aging of your cells.
Much of this is due to ultra-processed foods often containing a high amount of hydrogenated oils, which are full of trans fats and can promote the chronic inflammation that hastens the breakdown (or aging) of your cells.
Factors like stress, sun and smoking contribute in speeding up aging but also some unhealthy foods listed below can facilitate it too;
Sugar
“Our skin is kept supple and smooth by collagen and elastin. When we eat sugar, the collagen molecules start to cross-link, which causes our skin to lose elasticity and become stiffer—leading to aged-looking skin, which we all want to avoid.” says Dermatologist Dr. Liv on her YouTube channel.
Advanced glycation end products are formed when sugar and protein react inside your body. This damages the collagen and elastin of the skin hence contributing to wrinkles and other signs of ageing.
Energy drinks
“Caffeine is like any other diuretic; it can make you excrete fluid, and deplete your body of moisture,” says Dr. Hirsch. And yes, that includes your skin: “Anything dehydrating can dehydrate your skin, making it look dull and aged.”
Deep fried foods
Free radicals are released when foods are cooked in high oils, and they harm your skin and cause it to lose suppleness more quickly.
According to an article medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, R.D., Nutrition, exposure to free radicals accelerates the aging process due to an action called cross-linking. Cross-linking affects DNA molecules and can weaken skin’s elasticity.
Processed foods
“Eating too much sugar and processed carbohydrates (like pasta, bread, and baked goods) can lead to damage in your skin’s collagen, which keeps your skin springy and resists wrinkles”, says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD.
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Fast foods
Fast food is high in Tran’s fatty acids, which induce artery blockages and fat storage in the body. Tran’s fats limit cell fluidity, strain the liver, and cause inflammation in the body, resulting in skin that is older, stiffer, and wrinkled.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can cause dry skin, flushing, dark circles, and a loss of suppleness in the short term. A range of skin disorders can be caused or aggravated by long-term alcohol intake and alcohol use disorder. Eliminating alcohol from one’s diet and lifestyle should assist to clean up the skin.
Spicy foods
Waldorf says spicy foods can dilate blood vessels in those who are rosacea-prone or going through menopause. “Those capillaries make the skin look less clear and youthful,” says Dr. Waldorf.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, avoiding spicy foods can keep rosacea sufferers looking young.
Carbohydrates or wheat products
Wheat speeds up the aging process of your body because it contains a compound called AGEs (Advanced glycation end-products).
Over consumption of wheat can lead to diabetes and cell damage because it spikes your blood sugar level and accelerates aging even more.
Salty foods
Excessive processed salt can age your body and skin faster. It is found in the most consumed food items like cheese, pepperoni, pizza, chips and crackers.
You will retain extra water as a result of the salt, making you puffy and bloated. Iodized salt, which is what you generally use to season your food, can aggravate your skin and create breakouts.
Dried fruits
They are loaded with sugars which tend to get stuck in your teeth hence forming bacteria. The sugar causes discoloration and eventually plaque and cavities if not removed. This can make you look older than you are.
Rice cakes
Rice cakes have a high glycemic index, which can cause blood sugar levels to surge. Increased blood sugar levels can create wrinkles by acting as an “aging accelerator.”
Margarine
Many people know consuming sugar is very unhealthy for an anti-aging skincare routine, but aren’t aware of the damaging effects of margarine. Robyn Newmark, skincare expert and founder & CEO of Newmark Beauty, explains why it’s best to avoid this food as well as sugar when caring for aging skin.
“Margarine is one food you should avoid if you want to prevent wrinkles and dry skin. While trans fats contribute to heart disease, they may also accelerate the skin’s aging process. Margarine can cause chronic inflammation, speeding up the formation of wrinkles,” says Newmark.
