Sweet Tooth - Aging Face

Did you know that sugar accelerates the skin's aging process? Say what? Yup, sugar's bad-boy reputation stands steady. Not only does it pack on the pounds and cause tooth decay, sugar is also being blamed for aging skin. Scientists have confirmed that a rise in blood sugar causes inflammation at the cellular level resulting in prematurely aging skin. This is a result of a natural process where sugar in the bloodstream sticks to proteins to form new damaging molecules called, advanced glycation end products, aka AGEs, (how appropriate). The more these proteins multiply, the more damage done. Their primary target is the destruction of the other good-guy proteins, collagen and elastin, the proteins responsible for youthful skin. Once collagen is damaged it becomes dry and brittle and much more vulnerable to sun damage. After the age of 35, the more sugar introduced to the bloodsteam, the more AGEs are created. Simply put . . . more sugar, more wrinkles.

Can this aging process be turned around? Fortunately, it is never too late. The body has an amazing ability to repair itself if given the proper tools. New collagen can be built up by minimizing sugar intake, supplementing the diet with at least 1 mg of Vitamins B1 And B6 and a chewable Vitamin C per day (powerful AGE inhibitors), wearing sunscreen every day, eating more fibre and anti-oxdiant rich foods (fruits, nuts, vegetables, green tea), and drinking lots of water.

Long story short, . . . watch your sugar intake because all it will do is make you feel moody, act hyper and add age to your appearance. The truth of it is . . . sugar is definitely a sticky business.

Valentines Day - For the Love of Chocolate

Knowing sweets are bad doesn't seem to stop us from cruising candy stands and sweet shops . . . some disciplined souls walking away forlorned, others indulging with careless abandon. Then, one bright sunny day, our hearts were lifted with the announcement that chocolate may actually be a good thing. Huh? Chocolate is good for our health? Upon hearing this most welcome news, chocolate sales tipped the scales. The sweet side of heaven opened and was filled with the satisfied and harmonic hum of yummm.

Now the dust has settled and we are left with the cold, dark facts. Not all chocolate is created equal. Not all chocolate is good for you. Milk chocolate, white chocolate and middle-of-the-road candy bars are still loaded with bad things like over processing,white sugar, fat and hydrogenated oil. Milk and chocolate don't mix well since the milk in milk chocolate, "may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate destroying the health benefits of the chocolate." Who knew? Dark chocolate, on the other hand, made with at least 70% pure cocoa powder does offer many notable health benefits. In fact, cocoa from the bean of the cacao plant offers a bountiful antioxidant effect that reduces inflammation (the cause of many diseases), lowers blood pressure, improves blood flow to the brain, helps muscles recuperate from exercise, improves the skin . . . and as if that wasn't enough . . . settles emotions and boosts your mood. Clearly, dark chocolate has earned its rightful place in the superfood category.

Long story short, remember this. Darker is better. Not wanting to rain on your Willy Wonka parade, nutritionists would like to remind you that while this good news tastes great, it is not a license to binge. One full bar of dark chocolate usually weighs in at 450-500 calories, and that quickly adds up. The recommendation? Savoring one beautiful, dark, velvety, luxurious piece of chocolate a day will go a long, long way. Enjoy the moment!