Besides using anti-aging products, daily diet is also an important issue if you want to maintain a youthful, vibrant appearance.

‏Here are 5 foods that can speed up the aging process that you should avoid. Along with that are healthy alternatives that are good for your skin and overall health.‏

‏1. Fast food makes your skin age prematurely

‏Favorite fast foods such as fried chicken, french fries, hamburgers, etc. are the culprits that make you gain weight and age prematurely.

Foods fried in oil at high temperatures can generate free radicals that damage skin cells. Exposure to free radicals accelerates the aging process and can affect skin elasticity.‏

‏Moreover, fast foods are high in salt, consuming too much can draw water from the skin and lead to dehydration. This is the cause of wrinkled skin.‏

‏To build a healthy diet for your health and skin, you can swap French fries for baked sweet potatoes or fried sweet potatoes. Because sweet potatoes are rich in anti-aging copper, which helps promote collagen production.

Fast food can speed up skin aging.

2. Sugar

‏According to the American Academy of Dermatology, consuming too much sugar in your diet can accelerate the aging process.‏

‏Sugar is one of the causes of acne, hinders the production of collagen and elastin, causing sagging skin, wrinkles and early signs of aging. ‏

‏Therefore, you should limit your sugar intake as much as possible by staying away from soft drinks, cakes, candies, etc.

Sugar is one of the causes of acne and skin aging.

3. Processed foods

‏Sausages, smoked meats, ham, sausages, cold cuts… are all processed foods and are seasoned with many spices to preserve them for longer. These foods contain a lot of sodium, saturated fat and sulfites – ingredients that dehydrate the skin and cause inflammatory reactions that weaken the collagen layer. ‏

‏Not only that, consuming processed foods in the long term also causes many harmful effects on health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, stroke… ‏

‏To replace these unhealthy foods, you can choose protein sources from eggs, beans or lean meats such as chicken. These meats contain a lot of protein and amino acids necessary for the production of natural collagen in the body. ‏

‏4. Grilled food

‏Grilled food is one of the popular foods that cause premature aging, including cakes baked at high temperatures. In general, grilled food contains a lot of fat that can cause atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of stroke. ‏

‏Baked food contains a lot of sugar, which can cause diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay, etc. ‏

‏Meanwhile, grilling meat at high temperatures can change the ingredients in food, creating metabolites that can promote inflammatory reactions, increasing the risk of diseases such as arthritis, depression, Alzheimer’s and some cancers.

Grilled food is one of the popular foods that make you age prematurely.

5. Stimulant drinks

‏Alcohol, caffeine, soda, energy drinks… are drinks that can make you age quickly.‏

‏Alcohol can cause a variety of skin problems, including redness, eye bags, collagen loss and wrinkles. Drinking too much alcohol depletes nutrients, hydration and vitamin A levels in the body, which directly affects wrinkles. Because vitamin A is especially important for new cell growth and collagen production, ensuring skin elasticity and preventing wrinkles.‏

‏On the other hand, caffeine has a diuretic effect, which can cause dehydration. When the body does not have enough water, the skin stops eliminating toxins, making the skin prone to dryness, psoriasis and wrinkles.