It’s time to face facts. Sugar is bad news –especially for your skin!
When you consume sugar, your body develops molecules called AGEs (AKA advanced glycation end products) and put simply, the more sweet stuff you eat, the more of these that develop. AGEs are nasty little buggers that damage the production of proteins, including collagen – which is essentially what keeps skin smooth and supple.
Sugar causes wrinkles, dark circles and saggy skin… need we say more?
When you consume sugar, it effectively attaches to proteins in your bloodstream through a process called glycation. These newly formed AGEs attack any surrounding proteins and because collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, it is targeted.
These troublemaking AGEs contribute to the ageing process by hardening collagen and elastin and also by slowing down any future production. This leaves your skin brittle, thin and more prone to wrinkles, lines and sagging. Yikes!
Sugar also exacerbates acne and rosacea.
The sweet stuff also has a super high glycaemic index (GI), meaning it’s absorbed into the bloodstream quickly. Studies have found that this response can trigger hormonal fluctuations which have an impact on the severity of acne. The process of glycation has also been linked to a higher incidence of pimples.
The inflammation that sugar causes within the body can also have an effect on rosacea, a skin condition categorised by small red bumps that typically appear on the face. Blood sugar spikes – which are usually caused by the consumption of refined sugars and carbohydrates – are highly inflammatory for rosacea sufferers and can trigger symptoms.
Quit sugar and stop the ageing process….
We asked IQS expert, Sean Allison, who specialises in Chinese medicine, to explain the relationship between sugar and the skin.
“Chinese medicine has a long history of observing how too much ‘sweet’ food can promote an imbalance in the body, leading to many kinds of illness, including skin complaints. In Chinese medicine the skin is understood to be an extension of the lungs. The lungs provide nourishment to the skin through their function of dispersing Qi (AKA the “vital life force”) and distributing fluids to the skin. The lungs also regulate the opening and closing of the pores and sweating. The lungs share a strong relationship with the digestive system in Chinese medicine and skin complaints are just one of many signs that excessive sugar consumption could be harming your health and of course your skin.”
While we sadly don’t have a magic trick to stop ageing (sorry!), cutting sugar out of your daily diet certainly helps! By making this one simple change, you can help halt the accelerated ageing associated with sugar.
Sign up to our 8-Week Program by December 7 and you’ll receive $50 off your total shop at Nourished Life – the home of toxin-free shopping!
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