I’ve talked about the fattening properties of sugar time and time again on this blog.
However, sugar has another VERY unwanted side-effect – it makes you look old before your time!
That’s according to Yahoo’s ‘Skin Guru’ Dr. Leslie Bauman.
I’m no expert in skin care, but I think the explanation is fairly easy to understand. She says…
“Sugar triggers a natural process called glycation, which is the same chemical reaction that turns meat brown when you cook it. The sugars bind with tissues to form harmful molecules, called advanced glycation end products (ironically known as AGEs), which damage elastin and collagen — two substances your skin needs to stay supple and elastic. AGEs also damage the kidneys, brain and other essential organs.”
So it would appear that a high-sugar intake damages elastin and collagen – that’s bad news.
It’s humorous, but also tragic, to watch television commercials marketed at women. One advert will sell the latest must-have skin cream to ‘Defy Aging‘. This is followed by an ad for the latest low-fat ice cream, low-fat cereal bar, low-fat chocolate bars (and on and on and on…..) – all LOADED with sugar.
Their message is clear: Keep your skin looking young with miracle creams, AND, easily control your weight with low-fat, and therefore healthy, products – yeah right!
The unsuspecting female population remains unaware that the 2 advertised products are actually working AGAINST each other.
Not that this only affects women. We live in a time where it’s OK for men to care about how they look, watch what they eat, and even use some cosmetic products if they wish. Aren’t we? It isn’t just me, is it? 😮 .
Anyway, Dr.Baumann goes on to say..
“And it’s not just the obvious culprits, like soda and candy, that cause damage; other foods with a high glycemic index, like white bread, pasta and potatoes also cause the formation of AGEs, because they are quickly converted to sugar in the bloodstream.”
I think the REAL message is this: get on a healthy diet that stabilizes your blood sugar – and do it as soon as possible! You’ll:
- Be leaner
- Have more energy
- Have a better lipid profile
- Stay looking younger for longer…
…to name but a few. If you don’t enjoy low-carb diets, a low Glycemic Load diet is what you need (the revised version of GLAD should be published here this week 🙂 ).
Stay Young & Healthy My Friends!
Your Bud,
Mark.
Note: Just to point out, I’m not against all low-fat products. I’m just against the ones that REPLACE fat with an abundance of sugar. A good example would be low-fat natural yogurt, which has hardly any extra carbs. This is useful at various times, like a cutting cycle.
Great post Mark, I’ve recently converted my parents to a low carb diet and set them the task of losing 2.5 stone by Christmas – it will be interesting to see if they look younger by then as well!
mark, i drink alot of dextrose before a workout, could this be a problem?
@Tristan. They’ll probably do it too. Hope you gave them plenty of recipes so they don’t get bored!
@Jason. As far as aging is concerned, (not that I’m an expert on it) I’m sure it’s the TOTAL simple sugars consumed per day over a period of many years that makes the difference.
Now, pre-workout dextrose won’t give you any edge in the gym – eat a meal. Possibly consume some caffeine, as I do, before you hit the gym.
Cheers,
Mark
How about alcohol, I was horrified after a little white wine had been left over night and the next day the bottom of the glass was covered in sugar crystals !
Great post!
Not to mention sugar weakens the immune system.
In adults, cell mediated immunity is significantly depressed after sugar ingestion (75 grams). A 100g portion of sugar can significantly reduce the capacity of white blood cells to engulf bacteria. Maximum immune suppression occurs one to two hours after ingestion and remains suppressed for up to five hours after feeding.”
In other words, drinking a Coke or eating a candy bar can partially knock out your immune system for up to 5 hours.
How about sugars found naturally in fruit – I eat at least two pieces of fruit a day, usually a banana in my morning shake and an apple round lunch time, maybe have some strawberries as desert with my dinner – are fruit sugars bad as in are they not low-glycemic index?
Hi Mark. Both my sons are following your MANS diet with good success and have been urging me to do so as well. While it is true that I have been lifting weights in the gym for 25 years (and have quite a bit of definition for a woman of my age, 54 btw), I am primarily an endurance athlete; at the moment, I am competing in triathlons & duathlons. So my question for you is how would you modify your program for the swimmer/biker/runner weight-lifter? I do not wish to add bulk but rather strength. Lean and strong runs fast! Would you recommend the GLAD diet over the MANS diet? We have had several good-natured argument/discussions on this topic at my house. I have essentially been following the principles of the GLAD diet without counting anything but they are pushing me to the MANS diet …. what do you say?