Oxidants, Sugar and Processed Foods Effect on Wrinkles

Did you know free radicals are everywhere?  Do you know what a radical is?  I'm not talking about some renegade person rather something occurring naturally ...everywhere.  Sun exposure, exercising, chemicals, smoke are just examples of how you can be exposed to radicals.  Free radicals are molecules or atoms that lost one of its electrons and is unstable since losing it's other pair.  Sounds like my oldest if she doesn't have chocolate nearby.  Due to the instability nature of these atoms and molecules, they seek out a partner by attacking you thus increasing the instability in your body. 

Anti-oxidants, nutrients that protect your body from these free radicals or oxidation, are easily obtained and have been proven to slow the aging process along with many other disease states.  Studies have found that by eating eight to 10 servings a day of a fiber rich diet with fruits and vegetables is the best defense.  Foods such as brocolli, spinach, colorful berries, beans, tea, garlic, nuts, salmon are just examples of healthy foods that do your body good.

Another good tip is to avoid processed and refined sugars and foods.  The chemicals contained in these foods prematurely age skin.  Sugar, when consumed, reaches your bloodstream in a process called glycation and attaches to the proteins forming new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs).  The more sugar you consume, the more AGEs are developed.  AGEs accumulate and promote further breakdown of collagen and elastin thus advanced wrinkles and sagginess.

As always, the cure is to eat healthier, avoid refined and processed foods, exercise, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and laugh!  Get rid of the stress and laugh and find out what Jacyln Smith does as she never ages or has lots of air brush artist following her around.