Just about everyone knows that sugar is not good for our general health, but it is not common knowledge that, along with household chemicals and environmental toxins, it plays a very specific role in aging of the skin. Good natural skin care requires a good cleansing program, a shielding lotion that protects against chemicals and toxins, and a good diet – one that does not include sugar.

The primary drawback with sugar as it relates to the skin is the effect it has on collagen. Collagen is the primary connective tissue protein in our bodies, and the strength and elasticity of our skin depends on it. As the collagen in our bodies deteriorates, we get wrinkles and our skin starts to age. The dermis, the layer of skin immediately below the outer layer (the epidermis), consists of collagen, elastin and fibre. While the condition of the surface of the skin is important, it is the dermis that gives it substance and resilience. Glucose, the form of sugar in our body, attaches to collagen protein causing it to become stiff and inflexible – which gives us stiff, sagging, inflexible skin.

Alpha lipoic acid, an antioxidant which prevents the attachment of sugar to protein, can sometimes help prevent or even reverse this process. So, ensure your natural skin care routine contains plenty of alpha lipoic acid if you eat sugar. It’s available as a dietary supplement, but can also be found in various foods such as organ meats (kidney, liver and heart), in vegetables such as broccoli and spinach and, in small amounts, tomatoes, peas and Brussels sprouts.

Of course, the best solution is to cut down on sugar – remember that deterioration and aging of the skin indicates that the same processes are taking place throughout the body, and a healthy body is one of the more important elements of natural skin care.