Bad news. The coffee that’s been lately advertised on TV as having lots of potential health benefits can actually make you old.
Seriously? Whatever happened to the “coffee-is-rich-in-antioxidants-that-protect-your-cells-from-damage” claim?
Well, coffee does contain antiox
idants but it also has caffeine, which is still its most potent ingredient. The antioxidant in coffee is nothing compared to the antioxidants that you get from cranberries and red grapes. The reason why the media misleadingly advertises coffee as the number one source of antioxidants is only because it is the number one source of antioxidants in American diet, which actually just shows that most people opt to drink coffee than fruit juices. An unhealthy diet of more coffee and alcohol and less fats and vitamins can make us emaciated over time.
Ever wonder why you don’t feel thirsty after drinking coffee or alcohol? It’s because alcohol and caffeine act like diuretic that averts you from drinking water. If you are alcoholic or a heavy coffee drinker and you don’t drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, chances are your skin looks dry and washed out. If you can’t resist the urge to drink your favorite latte or beer, drink even more water to stay hydrated.
Aside from drinking coffee and alcohol, there are other habits that age you rapidly. Smoking and drug abuse actually top the list. Cigarettes contain nicotine that destroys your skin’s elastin and collagen, which results in the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and pucker lines around the mouth. The nicotine and other chemicals in cigarette and other abused drugs like marijuana and cocaine also go into your skin’s blood vessels and restrict the oxygen flow, starving the skin of the oxygen it needs to replenish. If you can’t stop smoking or snorting anyway, just embrace the dull and sallow skin. If you are a drug addict, multiply your age by two and that’s how you’ll actually look like… soonest.
Sleep deprivation is also a
factor. When you are not having enough sleep, it shows on your skin. Sleep deprivation robs the adequate time for cell turnover and regeneration. Not only will you look dried up after successive sleepless nights, you will also have break outs. The acne and oily skin are actually a result of stress that triggers the release of the hormone, cortisol. But wait, before jumping off to bed to pay your sleep deficit, remember not to always lie on one side or directly on your face. “Sleep wrinkles can form if you rest your head in the same position night after night for years,” says New York City dermatologist David E. Bank.
It’s healthy to be out in the sun. You get a mood boost and lots of vitamin D. However, too much sun exposure is harmful for your skin. The sun’ UV rays cause skin cancer. The sun’s rays can also break down collagen and elastin in the skin, which results in wrinkle formation. To have fun in the sun and still look young, wear a lot of sunscreen. Oh, it’s winter wonderland, you say? Apply a lot of sunscreen still. Even when it’s snowy and icy in your place, the sun is still present – its rays reflected off the snow and ice. You can get burned easily.
Optimism: The Fountain of Youth
Lastly, worrying
too much also make you look older than your age. Constant worrying and pessimism leads to stress, which then leads to the pumping of inflammation-causing toxins into the body, which finally leads to collagen breakdown. To counter-act the flow of stress hormones, notice the good in every situation and stop the negative self-talk. The process may take some time, especially if you are not a cheerful person by nature. But if you embrace optimism in your life, you will be amazed at the limitless supply of joy and peace of mind that continuously rejuvenate your aging body and spirit.
Live healthy and laugh a lot. You are a child of the universe.
