Do you want fresh and luminous skin? Ditch the sugar

Have you invested good money in expensive skincare products, yet feel like your skin still isn't looking luminous and gorgeous – like the packaging promised? The thing is, how your skin looks and feels is actually more of an inside job, and anything you apply on top of it simply isn't going to do anything for you unless you nourish it correctly. And do you know what your skin's number one enemy is? Apart from the sun and those dangerous rays, sugar actually plays complete havoc with your looks, causing wrinkles, uneven skin tone and premature skin ageing. Yikes. When we eat sugar, the sugar molecules bombard our cells like a ferocious hail storm, bonding with fats and proteins. The proteins then become misshapen and excrete exotoxins that disrupt cellular metabolism. Collagen (which is what makes our skin look smooth and plump) is a protein that’s particularly vulnerable to glycation. The damage this is doing manifests itself as wrinkles, lines and discoloration. Meaning, of course, that you can buy expensive creams by the bucket load, but they are not going to do anything for your face if you keep eating a diet high in sugar. The big problem? Sugar lurks in so many products we consume on a daily basis, so even if you are trying to avoid sweets and added sugar, chances are you are still getting a considerable amount of it every day. A common culprit is the sugars found in low-fat diet foods, breakfast cereals, fruit juice, in many types of bread and sauces including pasta, sweet chilli, balsamic vinegar and of course carbonated drinks and alcohol. Oh, and if you are prone to breakouts, be aware that sugar can also promote acne by elevating blood sugar levels. Raised blood sugar levels result in a cascade of hormonal effects, including increased androgens (acne-causing hormones) which can stimulate excess oil flow which can lead to clogged pores and breakouts.