We love sugar. It’s in almost everything we eat and drink. The average American consumes 17 teaspoons of sugar every day…that’s 57 pounds of added sugar a year!  (BTW – did you know that the American Heart Association recommends 6 tsps for women and 9 tsps for men?) And yes, we’ve all heard how bad it is for our overall health, but it probably doesn’t affect the skin, right? Wrong!

Have you ever noticed that after a binge of your favorite sugary treats – your skin looks tired the next day? One look in the mirror and all you can see is how that pint of ice cream gave your skin a work out while you were sleeping. What is it about sugar that is so bad for our skin on top of everything else?

Sugar is an inflammatory food so it causes inflammation in the body which can worsen skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.  But if you’re worried about aging skin – you definitely want to avoid excess sugar – especially the processed kind! It’s all because of Glycation.

Essentially, Glycation is the toxic process that happens when your body processes sugar. The sugar molecules in your system bombard the body’s cells and glue themselves to fats and proteins. This produces advanced glycation end products commonly referred to as AGEs (how appropriate!) AGEs cause protein fibers to become stiff, brittle and even malformed. 

The proteins in skin most prone to Glycation are the same ones that make your skin look youthful and radiant - Collagen and Elastin. When they bond with sugar molecules, they become discolored, weak, and less supple. What does that mean for your skin? You guessed it - wrinkles, sagginess, and dullness. Those evil AGEs also makes your skin more vulnerable to environmental assailants such as UV light and cigarette smoke. 

So being aware of your sugar intake IS important! You don’t need to completely eliminate sugar but be aware of it and where it’s coming from. For healthy skin – it’s the processed sugars and simple carbs we want to avoid. Don’t worry so much about the sugars found naturally in fruits and vegetables – they add nutrients to our diet and are easier for the body to process.  

Another way to combat the effects of Glycation is adding Glotrition Super Beauty Elixir to your routine. Not only does it help restore and protect collagen – there’s no sugar! It’s made with Stevia so it tastes great without adding any extra toxic sugar to your diet. It’s a win/win – a tasty drink that feeds your skin from the inside out, leaving your skin nourished and ready to fight another day!  

Get yours here.