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Want to feel and look younger? Two doctors say ditching these three foods could be a good start.
Drs. Robert Love and Josh Helman recently highlighted three foods they say can accelerate aging and may even shorten your lifespan: salad dressings, fried foods, and processed meats like hot dogs.
Store-bought salad dressings, particularly creamy or fat-free varieties, often contain high amounts of added sugar. This sugar can contribute to glycation, a process that damages collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.
Dr. Helman also cautions against dressings high in omega-6 fatty acids, gluten, and heavily processed ingredients.
Fried foods are another culprit. They’re typically cooked in oils high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can promote inflammation throughout the body.
This inflammation is linked to various skin problems and serious health conditions like heart disease and cognitive decline. Dr.
Helman also notes that fried foods often contain acrylamide and other potentially harmful toxins.
Finally, hot dogs and other processed meats often contain nitrates and nitrites, preservatives linked to oxidative stress and an increased risk of chronic diseases. These meats are also high in saturated fat and sodium, further contributing to inflammation and its visible effects on the skin.
Dr. Helman points out that these meats contain nitrosamines, known carcinogens.