Is Your Diet Aging You?

Yes, what you put on your plate might be affecting what you see in the mirror. But how?

“Poor-quality foods, like trans fats, cause inflammation — and aging is basically a chronic inflammatory state,” says Timothy Harlan, MD. He is assistant professor of medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine. “Can you look older because you’re eating crap? Absolutely.”

For example, eating too much sugar and processed carbohydrates (like pasta, bread, and baked goods) can lead to damage in your skin’s collagen, which is what keeps your skin springy and resists wrinkles, says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD. She is a nutrition policy consultant for the California Center for Public Health Advocacy

What’s more, these inflammatory things called AGEs – advanced glycation end-products – put your overall health on the line. They are tied to diseases like heart disease and diabetes, she says.

Other foods. like fruits and vegetables, are good for your skin. Here’s what you might want to cut back on and what you should eat more of.

Read the full article at http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/living-well-in-retirement-13/your-diet-aging-you?ecd=wnl_day_120613&ctr=wnl-day-120613_hdln_1&mb=

Source:  by Gina Shaw for WebMD on December 6, 2013