9 types of food that make you age faster
You know that the food you eat affects everything from your waistline to your mood. New research suggests your diet may also play a role in how you age.
Several studies have explored the link between common dietary habits and the aging process.
For example, the Mediterranean diet has been shown to slow aging, and foods rich in antioxidants and nutrients like vitamin E and choline (nuts, eggs, and fish) have been shown to protect cognitive health. But what about foods that have the opposite effect?
"High amounts of sugar, fat, salt, preservatives... and other chemical compounds that cause inflammatory responses can negatively impact our DNA, leading to aging," says Dr. Raelene Brooks of the University of Phoenix (USA).
Here are 9 types of food that can make you age faster:
Caffeine
According toFortuneThose who drink more than six cups of coffee a day tend to have smaller brain volume and a 53% higher risk of dementia compared to those who drink coffee less frequently.
Consuming too much caffeine can also make you age faster. (Image: Times of India)
Some studies have even found that every 100mg of caffeine (equivalent to about one cup of coffee) is associated with 2.4 years of accelerated aging.
Caffeine is a diuretic; it stimulates your brain and your need to urinate. This can lead to dehydration. When you don't have enough water, your skin stops releasing toxins. This buildup makes you more prone to dry skin and wrinkles.
But you may not need to give up your morning cup of coffee entirely. There are many other studies that point to the benefits of coffee. In fact, moderate amounts of coffee have been linked to a variety of health benefits, from improved muscle strength to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
However, you don't need to worry about having a cup of coffee in the morning. Photo: Tú Anh
Some studies have even found that people who drink 1.5 to 3.5 cups of coffee per day have a 21% lower chance of dying during the study period compared to those who do not drink coffee.
Spicy food
Adding too many spices to your food may put you at a higher risk of developing dementia.
Researchers tracked a group of older adults in China for 15 years and found that those who regularly consumed more than 50 grams (about 1/4 cup) of chili peppers per day had lower cognitive scores than those who ate less spicy food.
That doesn't mean you should give up chili sauce, chili peppers, and curry powder, but rather opt for fresh spices instead of processed ones. The combination of preservatives and sodium (in some packaged condiments and spicy sauces) can affect the brain.
Consuming too much salt not only harms your heart but also makes you age faster. Photo: Shutterstock
Sodium
It's no secret that sodium is bad for your heart. In many people, excess sodium in the diet raises blood pressure. High blood pressure is linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and age-related chronic illnesses.
A diet high in sodium, defined by one study as more than 12,000 milligrams (or 2.1 teaspoons) per day, is associated with lower cognitive function and a 330% increased risk of cognitive decline.
Artificial sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners are man-made chemicals designed to trick the brain into thinking it's consuming sugar but without the calories.
You might want to skip diet soda. Drinking one can of diet soda a day has been linked to an increased risk of dementia, and consuming more artificial sweeteners has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.
In reality, this link is tenuous because other risk factors may be involved, including diets high in red and processed meats and ultra-processed foods.
Margarine
According toWebMDYour skin is the largest organ in your body, and everything you eat affects it. Most margarines, especially the solid kind, contain trans fats.
They increase "bad" cholesterol, decrease "good" cholesterol, and cause inflammation throughout your body. Inflammation is linked to heart disease and stroke, two conditions that can make you look older.
Alcohol
If you've ever experienced a dry mouth the morning after a night of drinking, you know that alcohol dehydrates you. This greatly impacts your skin, as your skin is 63% water. Even if you drink a large glass of water, it will hydrate all your other organs before hydrating your skin.
When you don't provide enough water, your skin will look and feel dry, and unable to protect itself from wrinkles.
Processed meat
Sausages, bacon... often contain a lot of salt. (Illustrative photo: Tú Anh)
Processed meats, such as bacon, sausages, ham, and cold cuts, are smoked and salted so they can last longer without spoiling. That's why they're both delicious and dangerous. Sodium and inflammatory chemical preservatives can weaken your body both inside and out.
Fried food
Soaking in boiling oil promotes the growth of free radicals, or unstable molecules that damage other molecules in cells and cause your skin to age. You can also find free radicals in other fried foods such as french fries, corn chips, and mozzarella cheese sticks.
Grilled food
Baked goods like cookies and cakes are high in fat that clogs arteries and causes weight gain. They also don't cut down on sugar, which, if consumed in excess, can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, and tooth decay (among other things).
Inflammation is another reason to skip that ice cream. The more inflammation you have, the higher your risk of developing arthritis, depression, Alzheimer's disease, and some cancers.
