What is Glycation?

These days we all know that consuming excess sugar is bad for our overall health. But did you know that processed high glycemic foods can lead to wrinkles and premature aging? Glycation is the process in which sugar molecules bind to proteins and fats in our body leaving them ridged, inflexible, and easily damaged. These are known as advanced glycation endpoints (AGEs). One of these proteins that sugar loves to attach itself to is the collagen in our skin. And as any good glowgetter at EB Skin knows, collagen is a key ingredient in healthy, youthful-looking skin. In addition, glycation leads to oxidation, free radicals, and inflammation in our skin, as well as the rest of the body, accelerating the entire aging process.

Now that I have you rattled, it is important to accept that the glycation process is a natural form of aging and is impossible to avoid entirely. However, our lifestyle choices do influence the extent of glycation throughout the body and in the skin. While there is no perfect diet, consuming one that largely consists of whole foods in their natural state, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains, can help to slow down the development and processes of glycation in the body. In contrast, a diet consisting mostly of processed foods with added sugars can accelerate the rate of glycation.

Another thing to consider in terms of diet and lifestyle is the way in which your food is cooked. The preparation of meats by methods such as smoking, grilling, barbecuing, and broiling creates advanced glycation endproducts within the meat that then contribute to glycation in the body once consumed.

Other positive lifestyle choices that can help reign in the threat of glycation include smart sun protection, getting an adequate amount of sleep, regular exercise, increasing antioxidants and fiber in the diet, consuming alcohol in moderation, and not smoking.

We can also work to slow down the glycation process in the skin with the use of various topical preparations. Like your diet, your skincare regimen should be rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, Vitamin E, resveratrol, and silymarin. At EB Skin we recommend that individuals concerned about premature skin aging incorporate the Alumience A.G.E. serum by Alumier MD into their morning regimen. This antioxidant-rich formulation reduces the visible signs of aging caused by free radicals, pollution, and advanced glycation end products. The serum also uniquely contains the ingredient carnosine, a naturally occurring dipeptide, combined with Vitamin E and Silymarin that together decrease the formation of AGEs.

So while we cannot halt the glycation process in its entirety, we can make smart lifestyle choices to reduce the amount of glycation that our cells will endure. Join EB Skin on Saturday April 29th LIVE on Instagram at 10:00 AM for an expert panel discussion about how our lifestyle affects our skin's aging processes. Then stop by the studio for a tour of our most popular wrinkle fighting treatments and skincare from 12:00 to 2:00. Open house attendees will receive a free sunscreen product while supplies last! Click here to learn more