“You are what you eat,” they always say, believe it or not but it’s true. Without consulting a doctor, most people know it when they eat the wrong foods and can easily tell when they suffer food allergies.
Weight gain, wrinkles, skin damage and an increased aging process, are few results of unhealthy eating habits.
“If one night before bed you’re eating a lot of processed foods that is high in sodium and trans fat, your skin will look bad the next morning,” Deborah Malkoff-Cohen, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, says.
Other factors also play a role but not as much as what goes into your body.
“What you eat affects your skin—for better or worse,” says Ariel Ostad [Managing Director, and member of the American Academy of Dermatology].
These Are Few Examples Of Foods That Accelerates The Aging Process:
SALT:
Salt is a necessity for tasty meals but it’s a also a killer. Nutrition experts say salt drains the body of water and leads to general body weakness.
Salt exposes one to the risk of kidney disease, high blood pressure and is known to interfere with bone metabolism.
NON-ORGANIC MILK:
Non-organic milk is said to contain growth hormones and other inflamatory substances that can cause acne by clogging pores on the skin. Apart from a risk of skin breakouts, Malkoff adds that dairy products can “mess with a person’s hormone levels, too”.
SUGAR:
Sugar-filled diet is a delight for most people, no doubts about that, but it’s one of the fastest routes in the aging process.
Health experts reveal that having excess sugar in the blood stream can lead to an inflexible or stiff skin.
“Diet Myths Busted; Food Facts Not Nutrition Fiction,” a book written by Ann A. Rosenstein says, “losing this elastic resilience of young skin will give the skin deep wrinkles and make it look old.”
“Sugar sticks to your teeth, encouraging bacteria, decay, and discoloration,” says Brian Kantor, a cosmetic dentist who practices in New York City.
TRANS FAT/WHOLE WHEAT:
The fear of heart disease is the beginning of wisdom. “Trans fats promote inflammation,” says Dr. Ostad. Just like sugar, excess trans fats make the skin look inflexible, apart from the fact that it contracts blood vessels and stiffen arteries.
“This is why type 2 diabetics many times appear that they have not aged well and look older than their real age. But this age-increasing effect is not just limited to diabetics,” according to Mike Geary [a certified Nutrition Specialist].
ENERGY DRINKS:
Energy drinks taste good and can give one a youthful feeling, but they make a mess of your teeth by leaving stains behind. Nutritionists confirm energy drinks are very bad for the enamel.
They are also proven to be acidic. However, a word of advice for those addicted to sweet drink say you should use a straw if you want to be on the safer side.
“The less contact with your teeth, the better,” says Kantor.
COFFEE:
Coffee works the same way as salt. It dehydrates the body, causes fatigue, damages the teeth, and accelerates one’s aging process.
“Acidic beverages can create microscopic pores on the surface of the enamel, causing erosion overtime,” says McAndrew.
The warning comes with an advice which says you should follow up with water, after drinking coffee. “Water has a neutral pH, which washes away the acid,” the expert added
Other foods which aid faster aging process include: Magarine, Candy, Alcohol, White Wine, Processed Meat, Spicy Food, Red Meat, Lemonade, Black Tea, to name just a few.
For every type of food we eat, there’s a biochemical reaction which occurs in the body that either fights aging or makes us grow older than our ages. A regular intake of the wrong foods can increase the aging process or make one look 5-10 years younger.
Mike Geary explains: “Three of the processes that go on inside your body that have a MAJOR impact on your rate of aging are called “glycation”, “inflammation“, and “oxidation”.
“When we talk about aging, we’re not just talking about wrinkles on your skin or how thick your hair is… we’re also talking about factors that you can’t see, such as how well your organs function, and whether your joints are degrading.”
Now that we know what’s good for our health, you’ve been advised to watch how and what you eat everyday. Yes, it pays not to take one’s life for granted.
Indeed, energy drinks like monster and red bull are dangerous. They have been implicated in some health emergencies. Nuts, olives and seafood are among the good foods but your picture does not say so. Lemons in all forms are good and so, too, spices. For example hot pepper aids in blood circulation and weight loss. You are right about sugar, salt, candy, margarine and alcohol. They are detrimental to the health.