This food makes you age twice as fast - and you eat it daily
Product that speeds up aging revealed (photo: Freepik)
Excess sugar is often linked to premature aging, but where is the truth, and where is the exaggeration, according to Ukrainian geneticist Oleksandr Koliada.
How sugar affects the body
The expert explains that excess sugar is immediately associated with several processes: the development of insulin resistance, weight gain, chronic fatigue, and changes in skin condition.
However, when it comes specifically to aging, another biochemical mechanism plays a key role – the process of glycation. This is a reaction in which sugar molecules in the blood begin to bind to proteins in the human body.
What glycation is and why it is dangerous
According to Oleksandr Koliada, glycation occurs when glucose or fructose molecules settle on protein structures – from hemoglobin to collagen.
As a result, these proteins begin to function poorly or completely lose their function. The biggest problem is that the body has almost no mechanisms to break down these compounds.
In fact, they accumulate in tissues and remain there as long as the protein itself lives.
Why the consequences may appear years later
A particularly illustrative example is collagen, one of the key proteins responsible for skin elasticity, the condition of blood vessels, and connective tissues. According to the geneticist, collagen can live in the body for about nine years.
This means that sugar molecules that bind to it during this period can remain in the tissue structure for years. This is why the consequences of excessive sugar consumption can appear long after dietary habits have changed.
How glycation accelerates aging
During glycation, so-called advanced glycation end products accumulate in the body – complex compounds that negatively affect various body systems.
They can worsen the condition of blood vessels and affect the function of the brain, bones, and many other tissues. Moreover, the body has special receptors that recognize these compounds.
When such receptors detect the accumulation of glycation products, biological mechanisms associated with accelerated cellular aging are triggered.
For this reason, according to experts, controlling sugar intake remains important not only for weight or blood glucose levels but also for long-term overall health.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
