Ugh. The fact that I’m starting a post with the word “ugh” should tell you how I feel about this subject. It pains me to write this, but unfortunately, we Chickies who want to have younger- ooking skin need to hear the truth. If you want to look younger, you must quit sugar.
In the words of one of my favorite actors, Jack Nicholson, in the movie, A Few Good Men: “You can’t handle the truth.” And he’s right. I can’t handle this truth.
Growing up in a Cuban household, we always had dessert after dinner. It usually consisted of canned guava with cream cheese, canned coconut with cream cheese, or stewed peaches with cream cheese. I know, it sounds gross. But seriously? Don’t knock it till you try it. There is nothing like a good old hunk of guava with a side hunk of cream cheese. Nothing. I feel almost sorry for you if you haven’t tried these delicacies. I’ve linked a picture of it here in case you think I kid you. And on the weekends, we’d have pastelitos or Cuban pastries.
Before you implement the no-sugar policy, you have to come to Miami and have a pastelito. Put it on your bucket list, people, you will thank me. It’s okay if you backslide for this one thing. It’s so good, guilt won’t stand a chance. Your guilt will say, ” Honey, if I were an actual human, I’d eat it too.”
But life is not fair. At a certain point, I realized those pastelitos were keeping me from having the body I so rightly deserved. So I gave them up along with all those delicious desserts.
I still have sugar on occasion, but now when I do, I enjoy it so much more. Because it’s forbidden. You know, like a secret lover you can only get away to see every once in a while (I’m guessing).
Now, it’s one thing to know that sugar is bad for our bodies, but it can also accelerate the signs of aging.
It’s a process called Glycation.
What is Glycation?
When we eat too many sugary or high-glycemic foods—these sugars react with proteins in an abnormal way, producing harmful molecules called Advanced Glycation Endproducts (or AGEs).
Glycation affects the way collagen and elastic fibers are supposed to function.
Remember, collagen is what gives your skin structure and keeping it plump and youthful. Elastin is what keeps your skin bouncy.
When collagen and elastin get damaged your skin wrinkles and sags.
Go back and read that again. And again.
The British Journal of Dermatology reported that after the age of 35, glycation increases and continues to do so as we get older (of course it does). Sun exposure also accelerates this (source)
In another study, researchers tested the blood sugar levels in about 600 participants between the ages of 50 and 70. Then they showed pictures of the participants to another group of people who had never seen them before and were asked to guess the ages of the participants. Those with higher blood sugar levels were rated as older than those with lower levels. (source)
And…to make matters worse, you can’t reverse the damage that sugar causes your skin. (source)
Also, remember that many foods, like white bread, white rice, white potatoes, and pasta, which are the foods high on the glycemic index, have the same effect as sugar in your body. So it’s not just cake you need to avoid.
Choose foods on the lower end of the glycemic index (here) —they don’t cause the damage that sugar and starches do.
Look, I’m not going to tell you to ditch the sugar altogether. Life is to be enjoyed and you have to find balance. That said if you want to look young (and I’m assuming you’re here because you do), and get or stay fit and healthy, certain foods need to be avoided most of the time. It’s hard. It’s really hard. But your younger-looking, tight jeans-wearing and sexy top wearing future you will be so so thankful.
Let me know if this was helpful in the comments below.
xoxo