Some people are on the quest to obtain the fountain of youth, trying every cream and technique to look younger. But as it turns out, simply indulging in certain behaviors might be adding years to your appearance.
According to website Eat This, Not That!, scientific studies show some everyday habits that seem harmless may actually lead to aging.
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1. Drinking soda
A study from the University of California—San Francisco found that knocking back sugary soda is associated with cell aging. More specifically, the study found that telomeres – the protective units of DNA that cap the ends of chromosomes in cells – were shorter in the white blood cells of survey participants who reported drinking more soda.
How does that affect aging? The length of telomeres has previously been associated with human lifespan. Short telomeres also have been associated with the development of chronic diseases of aging, including heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer.
2. Eating sugary foods
Much like drinking sugary sodas, eating anything with an excessive amount of sugar can lead to premature aging -- especially when it comes to your skin. A study from the Clinical Dermatology journal found that sugar binds to amino acids in collagen and elastin, which are responsible for warding off wrinkles and fine lines. The process, known as glycation, is accelerated when sugar is elevated, which leads to skin aging.
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3. Drinking too much alcohol
Scientists say drinking alcohol, which dehydrates skin and causes inflammation, is one of the fastest routes to looking older. A study in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found that heavy alcohol use, more than eight drinks in a week, was associated with increased upper facial lines, under-eye puffiness, lines around the mouth, midface volume loss and broken capillaries.
4. Not getting enough sleep
Sleep deprivation has been linked to a whole host of issues, from high blood pressure and diabetes to anxiety and weight gain. A study published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology shows a lack of Z's can also make you look older. The study found that those with quality sleep experienced 30% better skin-barrier recovery and significantly lower skin aging than those who had poor sleep. Good sleepers also reported a significantly better perception of their appearance and physical attractiveness compared with poor sleepers.
5. Smoking
Right alongside alcohol use, smoking is notorious for aging your skin. A study in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery compared skin changes between identical twins, one a nonsmoker and the other who smoked at least five years or longer. It found that the smoking twin was more likely to have drooping eyelids, undereye bags, malar bags, lines from the edge of the nose to the mouth's outer corners, upper lip wrinkles and jowls.
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6. Getting too much sun
The sun is your skin's worst enemy when it comes to aging. Harvard University says ultraviolet radiation causes burning and long-term changes in the skin's structure. Researchers say 95% of the UV radiation reaching our skin is UVA light, which is primarily responsible for chronic effects such as photoaging, wrinkling and age spots.
7. Stressing out
Too much stress can not only affect your health and immune system, but it can cause aging beyond your years. A study in the Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care journal found that chronic stress can shorten telomeres (remember, from the soda?). Shorter telomeres are linked to a lower life expectancy and early onset of many age-associated health problems.