We’re all pretty well-educated on how bad the sun is for our skin and it’s normal to see the words “SPF” on our cosmetics and beauty products. But there is one more thing that is even more invisible that causes wrinkles: SUGAR.

While I don’t think it’s possible to rule out sugar from our diet completely, it’s probably a good idea to decrease our intake of it.

Here are three reasons to make you sit up and pay attention:

#1 Sugar in your blood combines with proteins to form harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). So these bad boys attack collagen and elastin — the stuff that makes your skin smooth and supple.

#2 AGEs transform collagen to be more fragile. When this happens, your skin looks and feels less plump.

#3 AGEs make your body’s anti-oxidant enzymes useless which then leaves your skin more vulnerable to sun damage — still a main cause for aging.

How do we move on from here – what’s life without a bit of sweetness?

+ The key is to cut down on the refined sugar (soda, sugar in your coffee, pre-packaged food, cereal) and hidden sweeteners. Look out for words like maltose, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, turbinado, juice concentrate.

+ Pay attention to how much sugar you are consuming daily. Each teaspoon of sugar is equal to 4g and the recommended daily dose of sugar for a woman over 40 is 10 teaspoons (160 calories). Sugar shouldn’t be more than 10 per cent of your daily calorie intake.

+ Go for natural sugar replacements like stevia since artificial sweeteners have their own set of problems.

+ Chug water instead of soda. Not only is it better for your skin but you will feel more alert, too, by keeping dehydration at bay.

+ Go sugar-less when you have your tea or coffee. I used to dump two teaspoons of sugar and half a glass of milk into my cuppa years ago. But when I started putting on the pounds and my energy levels plummeted, I switched to taking tea and coffee without sugar and I developed an appreciation for subtler flavours.

+ Vitamins B1 and B6 prevent AGEs from forming so try to pop a Vitamin B complex or multi-vitamin daily.

+ Stock up on more anti-oxidants in your body by eating high anti-oxidant fruit and veggies like red bell peppers, walnuts, and berries.

+ Look out for aminoguanidine and alistin in your beauty products as they block the formation of AGEs in your skin.

Photo: Daneli

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