Salt And Sugar Can Make You Stay Young?

Sugar Illustration (Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Some time ago, the former drummer for the band Dewa19 Tyo Nugros had caught the public's attention because of his appearance that still looks fit and young like a man in his 30s, even though he is actually 52 years old.

In a short video circulating on social media, the musician whose real name is Setyo Nugroho tells that one of his youthful secrets is to reduce sodium-containing snacks, including salt.

Just like Tyo, the celebrity Wulan Guritno who is now 41 years old, looks beautiful and youthful with a fit and slim body when she appeared at a press conference for her latest big-screen film some time ago. The mother of three said the secret to her youth was reducing her sugar intake and having an active and healthy lifestyle.

Besides Tyo and Wulan, model and UN environmental ambassador Nadya Hutagalung who is now 47 years old, also has a physical condition that looks fit and has minimal wrinkles on her face. In fact, her appearance is not much different from when she was still active as a music show host several decades ago. Living an active and healthy life is the key, she says through posts on her social media accounts.

Far outside Indonesia, there is fashion designer Vera Wang who looks youthful as if fighting old age at 73 years. Her appearance is no less like a woman in her 30s.

In an interview with the BBC on International Women's Day, Wang said that the secret to her longevity is getting enough sleep, not being exposed to too much sun, and trying to be grateful and enjoy life. Wang admits that occasionally she still enjoys alcoholic drinks such as vodka and cocktails to relax her body after work.

There are lessons to be learned and emulated to be able to look young even though you are entering your old years. From these four public figures, we can learn that living a healthy life both physically and mentally is the key to having a youthful appearance, regardless of the accompanying genetic factors.

Sugar and salt

Tyo, who avoids sodium intake, and Wulan and Nadya, who reduce sugar intake, are easy examples for people to start efforts to stay young with the simplest lifestyle, namely reducing salt and sugar intake.

Even though the human body still needs sugar and salt, the amount must be in accordance with the dose needed by the body, not to be excessive, as said by the doctor of nutrition from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Dr. dr. Luciana B. Sutanto, MS, SpGK. in a telephone connection with ANTARA some time ago.

Luciana said that sugar or glucose as well as salt or sodium are naturally contained in the food we consume, including fruit, vegetables, shrimp, fish, and cheese, even though the amount contained is relatively small.

The nutritionist who is a member of the Indonesian Association of Clinical Nutrition Specialists (PDGKI) explained that the sodium contained in table salt, known chemically as sodium chloride, consists of 40 percent sodium or sodium and the remainder consists of chloride. Sodium has a function as an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance in the body so you don't become dehydrated.

But if the body consumes too much sodium, of course, health will be disturbed.

Excess salt intake can cause edema or swelling of certain body parts due to excess fluid buildup. Edema itself can occur in all parts of the body, from under the skin such as the arms, abdomen, legs, and vital organs such as the lungs.

This edema also causes an increase in blood volume due to excess water. When blood volume and pressure increase, the body experiences hypertension.

So, excess salt intake does not immediately make the body experience premature aging, but an unhealthy body condition certainly makes the body feel old which is synonymous with elderly people.

Meanwhile, excessive sugar intake can cause chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. It doesn't stop there, a scientific study conducted in 2022 in Brazil, proved that excess sugar intake can trigger premature aging of the skin such as wrinkles, sagging skin, and even damage to the skin's surface which causes acne.

Dermatologist Fredric Brandt, MD from New York, United States explained that excess sugar intake can damage the protein or collagen fibers that are responsible for maintaining skin firmness and elasticity. Once damaged, the elastic and springy collagen and elastin become dry and brittle, leading to wrinkles and sagging.

These aging effects start around age 35 and increase rapidly after that, according to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

When collagen becomes brittle, the body's natural antioxidant enzymes make us more susceptible to skin damage from sun exposure which is one of the main causes of skin aging.

Sunlight

The explanation above illustrates that Vera Wang's actions to avoid direct sunlight are natural, when she wants to maintain the health of her skin so that it stays young and fresh.

So what about those of us who still have to do outdoor activities and be exposed to the sun? It seems that for the climate and weather in Indonesia with the scorching sun all year round, the use of umbrellas and hats is not enough to protect the skin from the dangers of ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen, not just a hat and umbrella every day when planning to be outside. The sun shines dangerously all year round, even if it's cloudy or even overcast.

There are two types of sunlight that can damage the skin in different ways. UVB rays are responsible for sunburns while UVA rays can cause aging and trigger skin cancer.

According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, sun exposure can dry out and deplete collagen. As previously explained, it is collagen that keeps the skin smooth and firm. When collagen dries up, this sunlight makes blood vessels dilate, so the skin changes color to red and even brown which we then refer to as "burnt".

Manage stress

The last secret of eternal youth is a healthy heart and mind. As the old saying goes, "a happy heart is medicine", so when the mind and heart are healthy, the body will follow. There is a strong relationship between stress, body health conditions, and skin conditions, as stated in a study published by Inflammation & Allergy Drug Targets.

This research has confirmed that when a person experiences stress, the skin will be the first to respond in various ways. Starting from acne, eye bags, and dark spots, to the appearance of wrinkles. If a number of the skin problems above don't get better, it could be that the main cause of these skin problems is stress.

Psychiatrist Dr. Mohsin Wali told the Hindustan Times that two of the most common skin problems he sees young people face are premature aging and uneven skin tone. According to him, this is often a direct result of the inability to manage stress.

Whatever you apply to your skin or what you eat, will not benefit your body's health, especially your skin, if your mind and heart are not healthy and stress-free.