Lower your alcohol intake
First of all let me say there is no nutrient value in alcohol. In fact, alcohol can badly affect your nutrition levels by decreasing the oxygen in your body and disturb Vitamin A level, which is very important antioxidant for your skin and it is vital in the redevelopment of new cells.
Vitamin A is also extremely important in the making of collagen that we are all so desperately putting in our bodies by so many different ways i.e. food we consume or skin products we apply. So is over drinking really worth it??
When you have less collagen, you lose elasticity in your skin. We know collagen keeps your skin firm, elastic and youthful.
With age your skin loses collagen. By over drinking you essentially speed the aging process.
We are constantly exposed to other objects that speeds this process i.e. pollution, sun and smoke.
So stop over drinking if you want to look younger. Simple right!! M o d e r a t i o n!!!
Can drinking alcohol really speed up the aging process?
Well, bottom line yes, it can make you age faster by causing wrinkles. It can cause premature wrinkles, loss of collagen, elasticity, redness, dehydration and puffiness.
The key here is the amount and how often you drink that play a massive factor in your aging process. This is where some of us can get carried away. Moderation guys, you can do just about most things in MODERATION.
For those of you who are getting upset now, settle petal, good news, there are some recent studies that indicate that alcohol has some health benefits – when you drink in ……you got it MODERATION.
Studies have shown that moderate drinking can help to lower cholesterol and lower the risk of heart attack (as compared to non-drinkers, especially in older men). It can also help to lower the risk of diabetes by improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin and lower the risk of dementia.
So let’s take few minutes to really dig in as to How and Why drinking Alcohol plays huge factor in speeding our aging process apart from losing collagen.
Well, a little common sense here.
Dehydration
The Human body is almost 50% composed of water. Our skin needs a lot of water to perform its normal barrier protective function to appear heathy and lively. So Alcohol does the opposite, it dehydrates your skin and body. When your skin becomes very dry, it’s more likely to wrinkle and you can appear older than you look.
Blood Vessel Dilation
When you drink alcohol the blood vessels just beneath the surface of your skin dilate (stretches), causing redness or flushing. If you misuse alcohol, this outcome can become permanent, giving a very uneven, unhealthy-looking complexion.
Pre-Existing Skin Conditions
There are several dermatologic (skin) conditions that can be worsened by drinking alcohol including rosacea and psoriasis. These can flare-up these conditions making more difficult to treat. Remember our favourite word in this topic is….. Yes you got it Moderation.
So overall, by reducing alcohol intake will result in healthier skin and better appearance.
This is evidenced by a recent case study from the UK site Daily Mail, which involved a mother of two who normally drank five large glasses of wine weekly. She cut out alcohol completely for one month, which resulted in great improvement to her complexion.
A good rule of thumb is to have water or a non-alcoholic beverage in between drinks to keep you hydrated while enjoying your favourite beverage.
Have fun, and look after yourself.
Soraya x