We are always looking for ways to strengthen our resolve. We know our customers take their health journey seriously. But it’s tempting to throw the map out the window for delicious treats. That’s why when we hear news that gives us another reason to stick to our guns and stay the course, we share it with you!
While sugar is sweet on the tongue, it takes a toll on the aging process. It causes inflammation and harms your skin and brain.
“In essence, sugar acts like a slow poison when consumed in excess. It silently damages the structures that keep us young, our collagen, our vasculature, our metabolic systems and even our brain,” Daniel Tawfik, a molecular biologist and co-founder of Healthspan, a digital medical clinic in Santa Monica, CA. “Our physiology simply wasn’t designed to handle such a continuous influx of refined sugar, and it’s straining our systems in ways that accelerate the aging process.”
Eating sugar can cause the formation of harmful Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs). AGEs stiffen tissues, harm blood vessels, break down collagen and damage cell function in both the skin and brain. AGEs cause wrinkles and skin dullness. More seriously, they are linked to blood sugar concerns, kidney problems, heart health issues and Alzheimer’s.
“The occasional dessert or sweet treat isn’t going to age you overnight,” said registered dietitian nutritionist Grace Derocha, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “The concern lies in chronic overconsumption of added sugars, which are often hidden in processed foods, sweetened beverages and even some ‘health’ products.”
None of this advice is theoretical. A recent study at UC San Francisco found that people who ate a nutritious diet with little added sugar experienced slower cellular aging. The researchers looked at people’s epigenetic clocks to gauge their health and lifespan. The researchers found that a healthier diet correlated to younger-looking cells. However, added sugar harmed even the healthiest of diets. Every gram of sugar increased epigenetic aging.
“The diets we examined align with existing recommendations for preventing disease and promoting health, and they highlight the potency of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients in particular,” said Dr. Dorothy Chiu, the study’s first author. “From a lifestyle medicine standpoint, it is empowering to see how heeding these recommendations may promote a younger cellular age relative to chronological age.”
We are always looking for more reasons to stay away from the candy aisle. While an occasional treat can be fine, indulging frequently can derail your health goals. It can also harm healthy aging!
