Don't Eat That! 7 Foods and Drinks That Are Making You Look and Feel Older
You’ve heard the expression, “You are what you eat.” So could some of your go-to foods and [...]
You've heard the expression, "You are what you eat." So could some of your go-to foods and drinks actually be aging you faster? Ahem, wine. Okay, don't panic. Breath deeply and repeat after me: The cookie you ate on Tuesday is not responsible for that random gray hair you noticed this morning!
Before you plan your next meal, scroll through this list of foods and drinks that contribute to aging, bite by bite, and sip by sip.
1. Margarine
According to Shannon L. Szeles RD, a Clinical Dietitian at Michigan's Beaumont Hospital, this butter-alternative may contain artificial trans-fats which raise your LDL, or bad cholesterol, and lower your HDL, or goodcholesterol. And nothing ages you like an increased risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
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2. Pastries
Szeles says, "Doughnuts and other pastry treats are packed with sugar, not to mention trans-fats." Hello inflammation and wrinkles! Can you say, "So not worth it?"
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3. French Fries
As much as it pains us to admit, this fried favorite is also full of hydrogenated oils, which Szeles says can contribute to inflammation and the development of heart disease.
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4. Alcohol
Red wine can be your friend, in moderation. But excessive amounts may actually speed up the aging process (no!) and cause certain types of cancer like liver, breast and colorectal.
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5. Soft Drinks and Juices
Sure a soda offers a quick pick-me-up around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. But the beverage some parts of the country refer to as pop, is packed with sugar, and can make fitting into your skinny jeans more difficult, given its association with obesity. Drinking too many sugary beverages also puts you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
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6. White Bread
"Refined carbohydrates, like those found in white bread, are considered high glycemic foods, meaning they digest fast and raise blood sugars quickly. This can effect certain proteins in the body and skin which can lead to wrinkles and aging," Szeles explains.
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7. Smoked and Cured Meats
We hate to tell ya but bacon contain nitrates which have been shown to speed up the inflammatory process, and contribute to aging. So pass on the pork when you can.
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