When it comes time to eat, most people are glad to come and eat what is in front of them.
While some of it may be healthy and good, some of it may not. Some foods can cause you to age faster. Aging faster may not be the only problem, though, because some foods can cause inflammation – which can make your body more susceptible to disease.
Even though many harmful foods may taste good, they are nevertheless making you age faster. Eating many of these foods affects the body in different ways, and the results are not going to be seen right away.
When you are older, though, do not be surprised that your face and body have aged faster than others your age. Not everyone will be affected at the same rate.
These are some of the more common foods that age you faster.
Fried Foods
Many fast food places offer fried foods of some kind or other. Fried foods increase the amount of free radicals in your body, which increases the amount of damage to your cells. It also reduces your body’s ability to eliminate toxins.
This can lead to problems such as acne, wrinkles, and skin damage. Fried foods also have a lot of salt in them, which can lead to dehydration.
Sugary Foods
Eating a lot of sugar and sweets promotes acne and speeds up aging. A product called advanced glycation end products (AGEs) form when protein or fat are combined with sugar in your bloodstream. They develop from eating foods that are cooked at high temperatures.
They accumulate if your body cannot process them fast enough. Higher levels of AGEs can lead to the development of heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure, premature aging, and Alzheimer’s.
People of all sizes and ages can have problems with AGEs, but they do tend to build up as you grow older. The process is accelerated when combined with sunlight. People with diabetes are at a risk of having higher levels of AGEs.
Sugar comes in many forms, but one of the worst may be high fructose corn syrup. This kind of sugar interacts with your body’s anabolic response – which helps your body make collagen and elastin and keeps your skin looking young and healthy.
Coffee and Soda
America’s favorite drinks often contain large amounts of sugar. Sodas typically contain nine teaspoons of sugar per can. Coffees have the amount of sugar you put in them – unless you buy specialty coffees.
Both drinks contain caffeine, which can lead to dehydration. Having less water in your body increases the dryness of your skin, which makes it looking dull.
Salty Foods
Foods with a lot of salt will also speed up the aging process. While you do need some salt to maintain the levels of fluids in your body, too much is harmful. Excessive amounts of salt can raise your risk level of heart attack and stroke.
It can also lead to the shortening of your telomeres, which help protect your chromosomes – but their length also helps determine your longevity.
Processed Meats
Meats that have been processed, such as bacon, sausage, cold cuts, and hot dogs, can harm your skin. Besides being high in salt, they all can cause inflammation by dehydrating the skin and loosening collagen. This causes it to age faster.
Healthy eating enables you to avoid the problems that the above unhealthy foods can cause. Sticking to a diet that reflects that of the Mediterranean diet can help you stay looking young and healthy longer.
In order to ensure healthy eating, make up healthy meal plans for the week and go shopping only for the items on the list.
