Ace-Anti-Ageing

Ageless Ageing

Our holistic anti-ageing guru Jayney Goddard on why sugar is the sweetest killer of them all

Our holistic anti-ageing guru Jayney Goddard on why sugar is the sweetest killer of them all
Sugar in all its forms is one of the most insidious and destructive substances that we use today. Few know about the dangerous effect that sugar has on us – systemically – predisposing us to many chronic, degenerative diseases – and it greatly speeds up the ageing process.

To really grasp how sugar causes accelerated ageing and disease, we need to understand how proteins work in our bodies. These are formed from amino acids and are essential for life because they serve two vitally important roles: First, the creation and maintenance of collagen (approximately one third of your body’s total protein). Collagen is found in skin, muscles, organs and vascular structures and provides elasticity and cohesion to these structures. Second, proteins are functional and work as enzymes that enable all life-sustaining biochemical reactions to occur within your body.

Here’s where sugar comes in: sugar provides needed energy for your cells. When it is properly controlled, proteins and sugars can interact without causing damage to the body. However, when sugars are not properly regulated, they react and ‘cross-link’ with the protein in your body in a process called glycation. This interaction results in Advanced Glycation End products – or ‘AGEs’ for short. Research has demonstrated that AGEs are directly causative of – or implicated in – the development of many chronic diseases.

How do they develop?

The primary source of AGEs comes from food that we eat. They are formed when food containing sugars and proteins is browned during cooking. The secondary source of AGEs happens internally when we absorb carbohydrates, which are broken down into simple sugars. Normally, this process should provide you with energy that your body needs for all of its functions – nevertheless, a small portion of this sugar glycates to form AGEs.

How to protect yourself from AGEs

Here are some other ways that you can begin to reduce the formation of AGEs:

1. Stabilise your blood sugar levels

Follow a low carbohydrate diet with lots of vegetables – organic when possible (organic food won’t adjust your body’s formation of AGEs – but it will enable your body to function better under a lowered toxic load).

2. Eat vegetables and fruits raw, boiled or steamed

Don’t fry, roast, bake or grill – eating fruits and vegetables (ideally) raw or by cooking them in water or with steam prevents AGEs from forming.

3. Limit processed and browned foods

Food manufacturers use techniques like caramelisation and browning to improve the taste of their products. These techniques directly increase the number of AGEs.

4. Supplement with carnosine

Several studies have shown that carnosine can effectively inhibit the formation of AGEs. This is a naturally occurring compound consisting of the amino acids beta-alanine and L-histidine.

5. Supplement with pyridoxamine

Vitamin B6 has three forms: pyridoxal, pyridoxine and pyridoxamine. This last form has been clinically shown to be a natural inhibitor in the formation of AGEs.

66% of suger turns to saturated fat