We become what we put in our bodies – holds especially true when it comes to our food habits. All of us are satisfactorily aware of the fact that fruits and green vegetables are the healthiest food options available to us. Meanwhile, it is also important to remember that eating unhealthy foods like processed foods, sugar, fast food, junk food once in a while is completely alright.
A moderate diet that strikes just the right balance between the healthy and unhealthy options keeps your body healthy, your tongue satisfied and your soul happy. No one can deny a good ice cream or another dessert once in a while, right? And, you must not feel guilty for getting that extra helping of rice, or some extra spoonful of your favorite food. We only live once! So, we might as well savor all the delicacies once in a while.
Food and Age: A Fine Balance to Strike
Again, it is important to not forget that all bodies are unique. Hence, eating only green leafy vegetables and not processed foods would affect one body in a way and it may not have the same impact on another person’s body. Our bodies and diet are influenced by a myriad of factors including genetics, lifestyle, and culture.
As we age, our bodies slowly lose their stamina and strength, hence rendering us unhealthy. And, did you know that there are foods that make you age faster. Yes, there are specific foods that we enjoy so much but these foods that cause wrinkles and fast-forward aging can be easily avoided.
When it comes to the aging process and the bad effects on your skin, there are two causes. The first one is the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun (don’t forget to wear your sunscreen inside your home too!) and the other is advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs are produced in your body once the existing protein and fat start combining with sugar. Taking a healthy diet may help you in preventing the formation of a large number of AGEs in your body.
Foods That Make You Age Faster
Don’t get panicky looking at the list below. Just remember that eating these foods in small portions, once in a while, mindfully won’t cause much harm. It is recommended that if you eat any of these foods mentioned below in the list, it will be better for you if you cut out a few portions from your diet – and replace them with other foods that reverse wrinkles and help you stay young and healthy for long.
1. French fries
All of us love French fries a little way too much, right? They help you in satisfying all your cravings. French fries fall into the category of fried foods, the same category as your favorite bag of chips. Foods fried in oil at high-temperature release free radicals in the body that causes skin damage and increases the rate of aging by affecting the DNA molecules that can weaken the elasticity of the skin.
2. White Bread
White food falls into the category of refined carbs, another category of food that causes wrinkles. Refined carbs have a higher glycemic index that leads to inflammation in your body. Inflammation accelerates the process of aging. Refined carbs also lead to the production of AGEs in your body when mixed with sugar which is related to chronic diseases like diabetes and heart conditions.
3. White Sugar
If there is any unhealthy food that all of us are aware of, it is sugar! As mentioned above, sugar in the body births AGEs, hence sugary dishes come under the category of food that makes you age faster. Doughnuts, ice cream, pancakes, waffles all are very high in sugar content and hence must be avoided. Sugar has also been linked as one of the major causes of skin conditions like acne and eczema.
4. Margarine
Many people are of the belief that margarine is a better substitute for butter but experts suggest otherwise. Margarine is high in partially hydrogenated oils which makes it worse than moderate amounts of butter. These partially hydrogenated oils present in margarine are trans-fatty acids that make the skin more prone to the effects of ultraviolet radiation of the sun which leads to damage in the collagen content and elasticity of the skin.
5. Processed Meats
Among the foods that cause wrinkles, processed meats take a bigger seat. Processed meats like hot dogs, pepperoni, bacon, sausage are high in salts and saturated fats. These processed meats are preserved with nitrates and sulfites to increase their shelf life. These chemicals have a very harmful effect on the skin that leads to dehydration of the skin and weakening of the collagen because of the causation of inflammation.
6. Dairy
There are mixed opinions about dairy and debates if it is really one of the foods that cause wrinkles. For some dairy causes oxidative stress that leads to acceleration of the aging cycle, sometimes even leading to premature aging whereas for other dairy products it does not affect their skin at all.
7. Caffeine
Most of us find it difficult to start our day without a cup of coffee. However, an excess amount of caffeine in our diet interferes with our sleep cycle. A poor sleep cycle is linked to the disturbed circadian rhythm that causes a variety of lifestyle problems which inadvertently affect the aging process and faster wrinkle formation.
8. Alcohol
Vitamin A is one of the vital constitutes of your skin to keep it looking young and healthy. High intake of alcohol decreases the content of vitamin A in the body and also leads to a decrease in the levels of hydration and other nutrients. It causes a wide range of skin problems starting from redness, puffiness, collagen weakening, etc.
Foods that Reverse Wrinkles
The above-mentioned foods when taken in moderation do not cause harm in the long run. However, if you’d like to have a cleaner and healthier diet it is recommended to include the following foods in your diet that are the foods that reverse wrinkles.
Foods that Reverse Wrinkles- Replace French fries with sweet potato fries.
- In place of white bread, eat brown bread or other sprouted loaves of bread that are rich in antioxidants and have a beneficial impact on the skin.
- Substitute sugar with fruits like blueberries, papayas and when craving more grab some dark chocolate.
- Rather than having margarine use avocado or olive oil that are again very rich in antioxidants.
- Sticking with leaner meats like turkey or chicken would do you better than having processed meats.
- Dairy provides calcium which is required for healthy skin. There are other sources of calcium too like green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, almonds, etc.
- Take soda, caffeine, and alcohol in moderation. Mindful consumption of these beverages would keep your skin healthy and would also satiate your cravings.
Ultimately remember that a balanced diet is the best option for you if you want to reverse wrinkles!
Also Read: 6 Tips That’ll Help You Look Young
