Another thing to consider: Once glycation occurs, it can't be reversed. So, your best bet is to prevent glycation in the first place by eating a healthy diet that is low in sugar.
All fruits and veggies, as well as things like dark chocolate and tea, have powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from glycation. Specifically, blueberries, pomegranate and white tea are super antioxidants. Getting a regular supply of these in your diet helps to save your skin from the effects of AGEs.
A diet heavy in refined carbohydrates and added sugars can lead to collagen damage, ultimately causing sagging and deep wrinkles.
Healthy diets, low in refined sugar and high in things like beans, greens, fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains can put the brakes on glycation, reduce the production of AGEs in the bloodstream, and help to protect skin cells from damage.
"It takes about 3 to 4 months for people to see a big difference in their skin after cutting down. One of the huge things that sugar instigates is acne. It'll take about 3 to 4 months because changes in the skin usually reflect about 6 weeks after the changes are made.
Although reducing added sugar cannot reverse wrinkles, it can slow the skin aging process.
However, excessive sugar can break down this collagen, leading to premature ageing; this is particularly bad if you're older than 30. Your collagen production begins to reduce at this age and continues to decline; if you consume lots of sugar, it can further reduce the amount of collagen your skin receives.
A simple lifestyle change such as intermittent fasting, accompanied by skincare products that target the sugar damage to our complexion is essential in reversing the not-so-sweet effects sugar has on our skin. Sugar from our diets cling onto collagen and elastin – two essential proteins to keep our skin firm and plump.
What does Glycation look like? Glycation presents in the skin as cross-hatched lines and wrinkles. If you think of 'normal' wrinkles they are linear and generally parallel to each other in areas of facial movement. Lines created by Glycation cross over each other and are often seen over the cheeks and around the chin.
Glycation is a natural process. It usually starts at around age 20 and gradually intensifies. But there are some factors that can accelerate glycation like: Diets that are high in sugar.
Dr. Nigma Talib, a naturopath who works with celebrities, has popularized the term “Sugar Face” to describe the effects that excess sugar has on the skin. Supposedly, she can look at someone's face and determine if they have a sweet tooth by the appearance and the location of their blemishes and wrinkles.
Studies have shown that vitamin E has a good inhibitory effect on aging and glycation. It can resist lipid peroxidation, prevent the glycation of hemoglobin, and inhibit the formation of AGEs in vitro [49].
Skin is composed of collagen and elastin, which make our skin supple and soft. Sugar causes cross-linking of collagen, resulting in stiffening and loss of elasticity of our skin. The more sugar we have, the more our skin starts to suffer. Dr.
Berries, peaches, and apricots have low glycemic loads even when fully ripe. Pears should be eaten while still crisp. Tart-tasting apples, such as Golden Delicious, make good sugar blockers, but the sweeter varieties, such as Fuji and Honeycrisp, contain enough sugar to counteract their usefulness as sugar blockers.
If your insulin level falls too low overnight, your blood glucose rises. The reasons for the drop in insulin vary from person to person, but it most commonly occurs when your insulin secretion provide too little basal back up hence the glucose levels shoots up.
Starch blockers delay starch and sucrose absorption.
This medicine primarily helps lower your after-meal blood sugars. Starch blockers lowers your blood sugar by delaying how quickly starch and carbohydrate (CHO) are absorbed from your intestines.
You'll Age Slower
Stop eating sugar. This is especially true when it comes to your looks. If you want to look younger than your age, eat a nutrient-dense diet. Consuming a diet high in sugar makes your skin wrinkle faster.
You might be surprised to know that your face is not actually the part of your body that ages the fastest. It is, in fact, your breasts. A study, published by the journal Genome Biology has found that breast tissue is the part of the body that's most sensitive to the affects of ageing.