(Foreword: This is the continuation of our response to Marietta 2021 on her concern on her aged looks.)

DEAR Marietta 2021,

Now, moving on...here are more reasons why.

Alcohol

Alcohol dehydrates you. And when you don’t have enough water, your skin dries, and wrinkles can set in.

Processed Meat

The sodium and chemical preservatives in your bacon, sausage, ham, and deli cuts, are smoked, cured, or salted can cause inflammation which can wear out your body down inside and out. Remember that too much can cause heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Fried foods

A nice long bath in boiling oil promotes free radicals, or unstable molecules that can damage other molecules in your cells and your skin will look more than your age.

Baked goods

Cookies, cakes and white bread are high in artery-clogging fat that can add to your weight and add years to your skin. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and tooth decay (among other things) are also adding up here. They can also cause inflammation which increases your chances of arthritis, depression, Alzheimer’s, and some cancers. So, beware.

Charred meats

Frying or grilling meat at high temps gets you advanced glycation end products, or AGEs. And high amounts of them cause inflammation that triggers heart disease and diabetes. So, beware of grilled meats that are charred, my dear. They not only make you look old, but, they can kill you slowly but surely, as well.

Oops... we are out of space again. Let us continue this next time. Until then again!

Dr. Fritz

(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She is the co-host of digital page of Superbalita. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.” For your questions, you may e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)