A natural process called glycation is the culprit. With glycation, sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called “advanced glycation end products,” or AGEs. (How appropriate!) The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop. The more AGEs you develop, the more they damage adjacent proteins in a domino-like fashion, according to Fredric Brandt, a dermatologist and author of “10 Minutes/10 Years: Your Definitive Guide to a Beautiful and Youthful Appearance” (Free Press, $24).
Besides damaging collagen, a high-sugar diet also affects the type of collagen you have — another factor in how resistant skin is to wrinkling. The most abundant collagen types in the skin are I, II and III, with type III being the most stable and long-lasting. Glycation turns type III collagen into type I, which is more fragile, making the skin look and feel less supple. It also leaves you more vulnerable to sun damage. Diabetics can have up to 50 times the number of AGEs in their skin than non-diabetics. Another good reason to cut out sugar and eat your veggies.
If your sweet tooth does kick in, you may want to reach for some fresh watermelon. Besides being loaded with fiber and nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, B6 and potassium, new findings suggest that watermelon may help in lowering blood pressure. Researchers at Florida State University found that two amino acids found in watermelon, L-citrulline and L-arginine, had powerful heart-protecting effects, able to help keep blood pressure at a healthy level.
The researchers found that the amino acids led to improved arterial function, which resulted in lowered aortic blood pressure in every single one of the participants.
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