There are a lot of factors that contribute to aging poorly and the foods we eat are a part of that. While there are some factors that you can not control, eating the right foods can go a long way to prevent premature aging. Premature aging is not just cosmetic and can leave you vulnerable to chronic diseases like diabetes, heart conditions and cancer. Thankfully, there are a lot of food choices that can help keep diseases at bay and prevent aging.
Where foods like fruits and vegetables help you maintain a healthy life, there are certain foods that can speed up the aging process considerably. If you’d like to know which foods to avoid to prevent premature aging read on.
5 Foods That Can Speed Up The Aging Process
1. Margarine
Yes, the alleged healthy cousin of Butter can actually be a prime cause of premature aging. While Butter is packed with saturated fat content, Margarine has a lot of trans fats that can raise the risk of chronic diseases. In addition, Margarine can also lead to dehydration. Chronic dehydration is a prime cause of wrinkles and dry skin. You should definitely consider staying away from Margarine and stay hydrated with these healthy beverage options.
Margarine also contains a high level of omega-6 fatty acids. Too much of these fatty acids can lead to inflammation among other things. Adding Cloves to your diet can help with inflammation. However, it is best to avoid this food altogether if you want to prevent premature aging.
2. Energy Drinks
Energy drinks are high in sugar, caffeine, sodium, and acid. This potent mix can lead to a myriad of health issues. Not only can these drinks damage your teeth and contribute to dehydration, but they can also lead to raised blood sugar levels and decrease your brain’s agility!
So next time you need a jolt of energy, get some sleep rather than chugging down these energy drinks. Sleep is irreplaceable and sleep deprivation can lead to a lot of bad decision making that only reduces your productivity.
3. Sugary Treats
Sugar in any form is an enemy of healthy aging. Sugar is the biggest contributor to obesity, inflammation and tooth decay. To top it off, Sugar is highly addictive and can set your body up for a whole lot of chronic diseases. Even when not directly ingesting Sugar in the form of candies or desserts, we are being subjected to this addictive ingredient through our baked goods and sodas.
Overindulgence of sugar can lead to a lot of chronic diseases like diabetes as well as cancer.
4. Alcohol
This one is a no-brainer. Drinking alcohol is not only directly linked to premature aging, but it can also rob your body of Vitamin A which is responsible for the process of cell renewal and turnover. Overindulging in alcohol can cause free radical damage in your body, especially if the alcoholic drinks also contain sugar.
Stay away from drinks with a lot of sugar and opt instead for wine, champagne, or mixed drinks with soda water and lime. It is good to keep the alcohol binging to a minimum, hydrate and also detox after a night out of drinking. Here are 11 detox drinks you can make at home to limit the damage.
5. Preserved Meats
While preserved food is bad in any case, preserved meats just might have it worse. According to WHO researches, around 21% of bowel cancer can be attributed to eating processed or red meat. They create free radicals that lead to oxidation damage of cells and DNA. In addition, it also causes rapid skin aging.
Avoid bacon, hot dogs, and sausages in favor of lean, organic meats. Opt for minimally processed foods if you want to delay premature aging.
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