IS YOUR SWEET TOOTH RUINING YOUR SKINCARE GOALS?

Is sugar standing in the way of your skincare goals? Did you know that sugar can increase fine lines and wrinkles?  Sugar is the nasty culprit responsible for many health problems.  Today, sugar can be found in literally every food product and is becoming increasingly impossible to avoid.  Just stroll down your local supermarket aisle, and you'll see that sugar is in the majority of products that stock the shelves.

When I was a young, I had a terrible sweet tooth that often resulted in multiple visits to the dentist's office. As I've gotten older, I've adapted healthy dietary habits to help with sugar cravings.  I do not add any sweeteners to my tea. I use honey sparingly for medicinal and healing purposes only. Once in a blue moon I'll treat myself to some dark chocolate with 90-99% cocoa only.  I save desserts for special occasions like birthdays.  I avoid eating processed foods, as they mostly contain sugar.  I instinctively read all food labels, and stay away from foods with a high sugar content.

Some people might consider my behavior extreme.  But if they knew what sugar did to their bodies they'd change their relationship with this highly addictive substance, and reconsider taking a bite into that delicious cupcake. 

Sugar increases the effects of aging. Keeping your sugar consumption to a minimum can help you maintain youthful skin.   Digested sugar permanently attaches itself to the collagen in your skin and breaks it down through a process known as glycation.  Glycation increases fine lines, wrinkles, and worsens conditions such as acne and rosacea.  Continuous sugar consumption can result in insulin resistance, which can manifest as excessive hair growth (hirsutism) and dark patches on the neck or in body creases (known as acanthosis nigricans).

Successfully reducing your sugar intake may be hard.  But when you weigh in all the health benefits coupled with the fact about what sugar does to  the skin, then your efforts will pay off.