Introduction
As we age, our bodies naturally start to show signs of wear and tear. But did you know that some of your eating habits could be accelerating the aging process? Dietitians have identified five eating habits that can make you look and feel older than you really are. In this article, we’ll discuss what these habits are and how to avoid them. We’ll also provide some tips on how to make healthier food choices that will help you look and feel your best. So, if you’re looking to stay young and vibrant, read on to learn more about the five eating habits that are aging you faster.
5 Eating Habits That Are Aging You Faster, Say Dietitians
If you want to stay looking and feeling young, it’s important to pay attention to your diet. Eating the wrong foods can cause your body to age faster than it should, according to dietitians. Here are five eating habits that can make you look and feel older than you are.
1. Eating Too Much Sugar
Eating too much sugar can cause wrinkles and age spots, according to dietitians. Sugar molecules attach to proteins in the body, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs). These AGEs damage collagen and elastin, which are responsible for keeping skin firm and elastic. To avoid this, limit your intake of added sugars, such as those found in candy, soda, and baked goods.
2. Not Eating Enough Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants, which help protect the body from free radical damage. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells and lead to premature aging. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help protect your body from this damage and keep you looking and feeling young.
3. Eating Too Much Processed Food
Processed foods are often high in sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats, which can cause inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation can lead to wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of aging. To avoid this, limit your intake of processed foods and opt for fresh, whole foods instead.
4. Not Eating Enough Protein
Protein is essential for maintaining healthy skin, hair, and nails. Without enough protein, your body can’t produce enough collagen and elastin, which are responsible for keeping skin firm and elastic. To ensure you’re getting enough protein, include lean meats, fish, eggs, and legumes in your diet.
5. Not Drinking Enough Water
Staying hydrated is essential for keeping your skin looking and feeling young. Dehydration can cause wrinkles and dryness, so make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day. Aim for eight glasses a day to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
By following these tips, you can keep your body looking and feeling young. Eating a balanced diet and avoiding unhealthy habits can help you stay looking and feeling your best for years to come.
Aging is an inevitable factor of life. One day we are wrinkle-free and jumping around pain-free, and somewhere along the way, our skin can start not looking as youthful and our knees can start creaking when we go for a simple jog.
There are no surefire ways to prevent aging, but there are some things you may be doing that are accelerating the aging process, whether you know it or not.
If you are one who embraces the aging process and you look at wrinkles and looser skin as a badge of honor or a sign of a life well-lived, then more power to you. But if you are of the school of thought that you need to take steps to fight father time and do your part to maintain a youthful appearance, healthy joints, and even a longer life, read on to learn five eating habits that are aging you faster, according to registered dietitians, and for more on how to eat healthy, don’t miss The #1 Best Juice to Drink Every Day, Says Science.
“Not eating enough protein can age a person faster,” explains Anya Rosen, MS, RDN, LD, adding that dietary protein helps maintain lean body mass. As such, loss of muscle as we age, also known as sarcopenia, “contributes to injuries and chronic illness.”
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Sure, eating sweets and treats is totally delish. But overindulging in sugar can play a role in aging you faster.
“Eating a diet high in sugar can age you faster,” registered dietitian Kathryn Piper, RDN, LD explains. She adds that this eating habit can “cause elevated blood glucose levels, which can stimulate the production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).”
Piper shares that these AGEs cause “collagen damage,” which can increase fine lines and wrinkles. “Sun exposure accelerates this process and adds to an individual’s signs of aging.”
Fiber is important for keeping bowel movements regular and promoting satiety. And according to Jeanette Kimszal, RDN, NLC, not eating adequate fiber “may increase aging.” She shares that fiber “is associated with lower disease risk and eating it has been tied to improvements in inflammation and gut health as well.” These factors “have been associated with longevity.”
She also adds that “fiber intake itself has been high among individuals who have aged successfully.”
Eating bacon, sausage, and lunch meats may taste great, but eating them frequently won’t do your body any favors in the aging department. The World Health Organization has classified processed meats as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning that eating these foods is linked to an increased cancer risk.
And since many of these foods are loaded with sodium, eating them in excess may be linked to cellular aging.
Sweet potatoes, carrots, and winter squash all contain beta carotene, a carotenoid that offers some unique health benefits.
Carotenoids, like beta carotene, accumulate in our outermost skin layer and act as a protective barrier to ultraviolet radiation. Eating foods with beta carotene help improve skin aging by supporting skin elasticity and hydration, ultimately reducing the development of wrinkles and age spots. Data also shows that including adequate amounts of beta carotene in your diet may help protect the skin from UV ray damage.
Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC