4 Ways Sugar Ruins Your Looks
Are you a sweet tooth? If you are, you need to stop.
You can use all the best beauty products and exercise to clear up your skin and stay fit for the pro cheerleader tryouts but without giving up a sugary diet, you won't achieve the look you desire. Your diet affects your physical appearance more than you realize! You basically eat every day of your life and the consequences of your eating habits will show on your weight and skin - the two most obvious, noticeable aspects of yourself.
We know that quitting sugar is hard. Stress and sugar go together and impossible to not feel tempted to reach for that chocolate bar after you’ve had a prep class, an intense workout, or a bad day at the office. The consumption of sugar in the US alone has increased by over 30% over 3 decades, so as the number of people with skin irritation, wrinkles, weight issues, and more.
If you’re not so convinced of the negative effects of sugar addiction on your looks, read this article to find out.
1. Wrinkles
Have you heard of the term glycation? Glycation is the process in which glucose (dietary sugar) binds to the collagen in your skin. This bonding process causes breakage in the collagen column and releases advanced glycation end products, leading to sagging skin and wrinkles. Take note that the proteins found in your skin most susceptible to the process of glycation are the ones that give you a youthful complexion.
2. Skin Irritation
Sugar has a direct effect on your skin. The process that triggers acne production in your body is inflammation. Sugar contains inflammatory properties. Moreover, when your blood sugar level spikes because of eating sweets and refined carbohydrates, your insulin levels rise to bring back sugar into your cells. When insulin rises too high, your androgen (male) hormones get released and this causes you to produce sebum which leads to further skin inflammation, clogged pores, acne, and whiteheads.
3. Under Eye Circles
Your adrenal glands are responsible for your fight and flight response. They produce extra insulin to decrease the influx of sugar in your blood due to the high glycemic foods you eat. With repeated intake of dietary sugar combined with your daily stresses in life, the function of your adrenals gets compromised. Adrenal exhaustion due to repeated stress is manifested as under eye circles.
4. Weight Gain
Reducing your sugar intake can greatly impact your weight. While it is true that overconsumption of sugar can increase your fat stores unless you burn them through exercise, sugar spikes in your blood can cause an insulin surge. Once your insulin gets too high, your blood sugar levels drop too low and this makes you feel hungry again. Overall, an unstable blood sugar level as a result of your unhealthy sugar and carb cravings can destroy your satiety. You'll often feel hungry.
How To Counteract Sugar’s Effects On Your Skin And Weight
Fighting your sugar cravings is tough but with the right strategies, you can do it. Remember that your goal of making your dream team and becoming a professional cheerleader is bigger than your poor health habits. You can't let starchy foods, refined carbs, and sugar win while your looks suffer.
- Identify and avoid foods with high glycemic index (GI) - Foods that have a high glycemic index cause your blood sugar to spike. These foods include white bread, cornflakes, pretzels, waffles, and instant oatmeal. To satisfy your sweet tooth, choose low GI foods instead that help you feel full longer. These are grapefruit, cherries, apples, and peaches.
- Manage your stress - Since stress can be the culprit for your sugar cravings, learn to manage it. Learn what triggers your anxiety. Practice relaxation techniques like meditation and Qigong. Make time with the people you love. Get enough sleep.
- Drink lots of water - We often confuse thirst with hunger for the reason that thirst symptoms mimic those of hunger: Weakness, dizziness, and irritability. Make sure to bring a bottle of water with you during your cheer workouts or at work.
- Brush your teeth right after a meal - Some women would love to have a dessert after lunch or dinner. Here's an old trick to distance yourself from a craving: Brush your teeth! You wouldn't want to eat something sweet after that. Ingredients in your toothpaste suppress the receptors for sweet taste in your taste buds and this makes anything sweet less sweet or bitter.
Can you picture yourself dancing under the bright lights alongside gorgeous cheerleaders, cheering at professional-level sporting events?
If you would love to join a professional dance team audition but have no idea on how to get started, my book entitled “Professional Cheerleading Audition Secrets: How To Become an Arena Cheerleader for NFL®, NBA®, and Other Pro Cheer Teams” will guide you every step of the way.
I decided to write this book to help you discover reliable tips and advice on adopting the right mindset, maintaining your image, staying fit and beautiful, and more - based on my 20+ years of experience in the cheerleading industry.
Grab your own copy of my book by clicking the text or image below:
