How Sugar Affects Our Skin
According to Google, “Eating sugar releases opioids and dopamine in our bodies. This is the link between added sugar and addictive behavior. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is a key part of the “reward circuit” associated with addictive behavior.”
Ok Google, we get it. Sugar is bad, and we shouldn’t be eating it.
I’m lucky to not be much of a sugar person. I prefer salty over sweet. Actually my 23andMe test suggested that I might prefer salty because I have more Neanderthal DNA than usual, lol (more on that in a later blog). Sadly, however sweet the sugar tastes going in, it ends up doing a lot of damage to our skin.
What sort of damage does sugar do to the skin? Here’s the breakdown, and it may have you thinking twice about that late-night candy bar before bed.
Stress on Skin
When sugar combines with fat proteins, it causes inflammation and causes your face to look puffy. Think about why people who drink a lot are always puffy in the face. That, along dehydration, is the reason why. Sugar also deactivates natural antioxidants in your body over time by breaking them down, which makes you more susceptible to environmental stressors and free radicals.
Weakened Elasticity
Since the sugar breaks down all the fat proteins, the skin gets thinner revealing the dreaded “saggy effect.” If sugar is a staple in your diet, you will definitely see premature signs of aging.
Acne
Sugar also can cause acne if you enjoy a high sugar diet. It releases through your pores and sweat glands and will cause your face to break out big time.
Sugar is hiding in flavored yogurts, pasta sauces, cereals, convenience foods, soft drinks, and so on. Be on the lookout for words like: sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, agave nectar, refiner’s syrup, brown rice syrup, barley malt, dextrin, dextrose, maltose, fructose, evaporated cane juice. Be sure to check labels often as the list of sweeteners goes on.
Here are some of my favorite sugar alternatives:
-Stevia
-Coconut Sugar
-Honey
-Agave
And here are some products I recommend to rehydrate and protect your skin after eating lots of sugar. Use some Hyaluronic Acid Serum and a heavy moisturizer like our Rosehip Hibiscus Cream to boost hydration and elasticity, and always include something with SPF, like our Daily Sunscreen Moisturizer, because other than sugar, the sun is the next worst thing for your skin.
XOXO,
Heather