Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s now a well-established fact that consumption of refined sugar can lead to a host of health problems, including an increased risk of developing obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Several studies have linked high sugar consumption to diseases such as depression, dementia, liver disease and even some types of cancer. But there is one thing that many people are not aware of – indiscriminate consumption of sugar can also make you age faster.
Dr. Neha Dubey, Consultant Medical & Cosmetic Dermatologist and MD, Meraki Skin Clinic, Gurugram says, “It is a bitter truth that consuming excess sugar, especially refined sugar, is linked to speeding up the aging process.”
Stress and sugar consumption – a vicious cycle
Dr Neha Dubey says that sugar has become very common in almost every packaged food item available these days. “Our modern stressful lifestyles increase sugar cravings. Processed foods containing sugar can lead to habit-forming behaviors in people, thus creating a vicious cycle because when we are stressed we have more cortisol in our bodies.” which is associated with a desire for more sugar.” she says,
How sugar consumption accelerates the aging process
So how does sugar make you age faster? As Dr. Dubey points out, we already know that collagen is one of the major components of the skin. “In addition to the many functions it performs for bone, joint, muscle and heart health, it strengthens the skin and provides it with structure, elasticity and hydration. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen.” This leads to drying of the skin and the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. This process is accelerated by the consumption of sugar,” explains the dermatologist.
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She says, “Glucose and fructose (sugars) link to amino acids present in collagen and elastin, thus covalently cross-linking the two collagen fibers rendering them incapable of repair. This leads to an advanced glycation end product or AGEs build up. These AGEs cause the collagen and elastin within the skin and other body tissues to become weak and brittle, causing wrinkles, loose skin and many other signs of ageing. Sugar also increases inflammation in the body which destroys collagen. and may further damage elastin fibers. The same effect has also been defined in vascular, renal, coronary and retinal tissues.” She suggests that the burden of glycation can be reduced through careful diet and lifestyle changes.