How Eating Sugar Can Affect Your Skin
Recently we’ve felt a little like we can hardly switch on the tv, open our internet browser or listen to the radio without hearing about the adverse effects of sugar. Yes, some of these reports are perhaps getting a little out of hand and indulging in the occasional macaroon isn’t going to end in doom and gloom but the general message is definitely a good one when it comes to your skin.
How does sugar effect the skin?
When sugar travels into the skin, its components cause nearby amino acids to form cross-links. These cross-links jam the repair mechanism and, over time, leave you with premature wrinkles. Not only that but when blood sugar goes up rapidly, sugar can attach itself to collagen in a process called “glycation.” This causes the skin to become stiff and inflexible. This loss of elasticity, also caused my too much sun exposure, is a fast track to visibly aged skin.
It’s not just about aging either, your body attempts to bring blood sugar levels down after spikes caused by excess sugar consumption by excreting a surge of hormones. All these hormones cause your skin sebum glands to go into hyper drive, producing excess oil in the skin.
Why can we do?
Start working to cut down the sugar in your diet. Remember it’s not just “incidental sugar” like chocolate, lollies and a teaspoon in our coffee that’s causing a problem. Take a look at the items in your pantry and your fridge and you’ll be shocked to discover just how much sugar you’re consuming. Cereals, snack foods, condiments and even low-fat dairy products are rife with sugar. When you’re doing your groceries, read the labels and aim for less than 6g of sugar per 100g of food/drink.
Sugar-Free Resources
Need some sugar-free inspiration? Check out these amazing sites:
How Much Sugar?
David Gillespie’s best-selling book ‘Sweet Poison’ was a big part of what got Australian’s thinking more about how much sugar they were consuming and the impact it was having on their health. His website ‘How Much Sugar?‘ is a great resource for anyone looking to give up sugar. It has printable guides showing which supermarket foods are safe for the sugar-free consumer and forums filled with advice from former sugar addicts.
Sarah Wilson’s Blog
Sarah Wilson has a dedicated ‘I Quit Sugar’ section of her blog and you’ll find plenty of tips and tricks as well as recipes and insights into a sugar free lifestyle. If you like how Sarah writes, check out her I Quit Sugar cookbook.
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