When eating food, one often thinks about how it will affect their blood sugar levels or their weight. It is quite rare that one will stop to think, “Will this food age me?”
WebMD provides 6 examples of solid and liquid foods that will speed up your ageing process.
Caffeine
This diuretic drug stimulates your brain and your need to urinate. It also causes dehydration, stopping your skin from releasing toxins due to the lack of water.
The backup unfortunately makes you more prone to dry skin, psoriasis, and wrinkles.
Margarine
Most kinds of margarine, specifically the solid ones, have trans fats which raise your ‘bad’ cholesterol, lower your ‘good’ cholesterol and create inflammation throughout your body.
Inflammation is linked to two conditions – heart disease and stroke – which can give people an aged appearance.
Spicy and fried foods
Although loved by many, spicy foods swell up and even break your blood vessels, leading to purple marks on the face. The heat also raises your body temperature, causing you to sweat to cool back down. When the sweat mixes with the bacteria found in your skin, it may cause breakouts and blotches.
Foods fried in oil, such as your slap chips or mozzarella sticks, promote free radicals or unstable molecules that damage other molecules in your cells, adding years to your skin.
Alcohol, cooldrinks and energy drinks
The dehydrating effects of alcohol heavily impact your skin, which is 63% water. Even if you drink a big glass of water after consuming alcoholic beverages, it will first hydrate your other organs before your skin. When you don’t get enough water, your skin looks and feels dry, unable to defend itself against wrinkles.
Regarding fizzy and energy drinks, consuming these beverages quickly ages the cells in your tissues. Combined with the bacteria found in your mouth, the high amounts of sugar in these drinks form acid that wears down your tooth enamel and causes decay.
Processed meats
If this isn’t a sign, put that slice of pepperoni pizza down!
Other processed foods you can also avoid are bacon, sausage, ham and deli cuts. These meats are smoked, cured or salted so that they can last longer.
The sodium and chemical preservatives found in these delicious meats cause inflammation that can wear your body down inside and out.
Baked goods
Biscuits and cakes at your local bakery are high in artery-clogging fats. Baked goods can also cause inflammation. The more inflammation you have, the higher the risk of conditions and ailments. For example, you may get arthritis or even Alzheimer’s disease.
Also see: Foods to help fight depression
