I like sugar. And, if you’re both honest and non-anorexic, let’s face it, you like sugar too. The good news is that a little sugar may keep you looking younger longer. According to a 2005 study by Beisswenger, patients on the low-sugar Atkins Diet tend to double their rates of advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) formation, so that twice as much glucosepane deposits on their collagen. Essentially this means that low-sugar diets cause your collagen to become hardened, not like the flexible and supple collagen of your youth.
Why does this occur? It is believed that the low-sugar state of the body, ketosis, doubles the presence of a compound called methylglyoxal in the body. Two times the methylglyoxal, in turn, react with Amadori products in the body, forming twice the AGE products than normal – hence, up to two times the aged collagen. (For more on advanced glycation endproducts, click here.)
Unfortunately, the other extreme – excess sugar – also ages you. Excess sugar enters the bloodstream, goes through the Maillard pathway, and contributes to the ultimate formation of hardened collagen as well. So while avoiding sugar to the point of ketosis ages you, you can’t binge and expect a youthful face, either.
With the recent finding that you tend to look younger past age 40 if you weigh more, the question arises: Are we literally dieting away our youth? Was Mom really right – do we really need everything in moderation? Let me know what you think! 🙂