Rapid skin aging may be caused by "glycation"! 6 major benefits of cutting sugar you must know

"Do you often hear descriptions like 'always looking tired, poor complexion' or 'pale skin, increasingly obvious wrinkles'? Skin aging is a normal physiological phenomenon that everyone faces. While we don't need to be overly anxious or resistant, some bad lifestyle habits can not only exacerbate skin aging but also have negative effects on various aspects of our health. For example, many people cannot resist desserts, which can easily lead to excessive sugar intake, accelerating skin aging and triggering glycation. What is glycation? What are the phenomena of glycation? Glycation refers to the chemical reaction between sugar molecules (such as glucose) and proteins or structural proteins like collagen in our body. This process also occurs in our skin, where a series of intermediate products are formed and transformed, ultimately resulting in advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which may have adverse effects on the appearance and health of the skin. The impact of glycation on our skin manifests as common aging phenomena, such as yellowish skin, increased wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and the appearance of spots. If you have the following habits, you should pay more attention to whether glycation has already begun to occur. What are common high-sugar foods? Here are some common high-sugar foods, calculated based on how many grams of sugar are contained in every 100 grams. Candies and chocolates: Chocolate bars: about 60-70 g Gummy candies (like gummy bears): about 60-80 g Chocolate-filled candies: about 60-70 g Sugary beverages (per 100 milliliters): Bubble tea: about 40-60 g Canned soda: about 10-12 g Juice drinks: about 10-15 g Energy drinks: about 11-15 g Cakes and ice creams: Chocolate cake: about 30-50 g Ice cream: about 20-30 g Cookies: about 20-40 g The benefits of reducing sugar are numerous, not just good for the skin? Having discussed the effects of sugar on the body, it's also important to understand the benefits of reducing sugar, which can motivate you to join the sugar-reduction movement! What if I really can't give up sweets/drinks? Feeling anxious if you don't have a cup of bubble tea for a day, or feeling unable to work without sweets due to stress... these are the voices of many dessert lovers. Indeed, it is almost impossible to quit sugar immediately; some people may even experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, emotional instability, and insomnia. Therefore, if you usually drink many cups of beverages or eat many desserts a day, you don't have to force yourself to stop all at once. Gradually reducing your intake can help your body adapt better and change habits without you even realizing it. Reducing sugar is difficult; these little tips can help you: Replace desserts with fruits: Although many fruits in Taiwan are high in sugar and excessive consumption is not good for the body, they can be used to replace refined sugar in the early stages, as they are at least relatively healthier. Gradually switch to lower-sugar fruits, such as cherry tomatoes and guavas. How to reduce sugary drinks: If you enjoy having toppings, you can first reduce the frequency. For example, if you used to drink every day, you can switch to every other day. Then gradually reduce the sugar content, from full sugar to half sugar, to low sugar, and finally to no sugar. You can also slowly decrease the frequency of drinking beverages based on your comfort level. Good alternatives for drinks: Sugar-free sparkling water, sugar-free tea, and sugar-free coffee are all excellent choices. Slow down the effects of aging by changing daily habits In addition to dietary adjustments, there are also some relatively easy daily habits that can subtly change the condition and appearance of your skin. Therefore, whether or not you have issues with glycation, you can check if you have achieved these habits. Choose natural plant-based skincare When discussing skin health and anti-aging, choosing natural plant-based skincare products is a very effective method. Plant stem cells are widely recognized ingredients that significantly promote skin repair and maintain youthfulness. These ingredients can usually be found in high-quality skincare products, such as the 'Healing Blue Time Peptide Repair Micro-Guide Essence.' The Healing Blue Time Peptide Repair Micro-Guide Essence contains stem cells from sea fennel, a resilient plant that grows along coastlines. It is rich in powerful antioxidants and essential nutrients, which have significant effects in resisting glycation and delaying aging. One bottle of essence contains up to 60 million stem cells, which help strengthen the skin barrier and enhance the skin's resistance to environmental stress, thereby slowing down the formation of spots, fine lines, and wrinkles, making the skin look younger and healthier. Let us start today by caring for our skin in a wiser way, welcoming a more radiant and confident self!"