• Diet Soda or Water: Study Reveals Which Drink Is More Effective for Weight Loss

  Sugar-free soft drinks may be just as effective as plain water for weight loss, according to researchers at the University of Liverpool in the UK. Their conclusion is based on a two-year randomized trial involving nearly 500 people who were overweight or living with obesity...

• Women Are Breaking Their Ribs for ‘Tiny’ Waists: Extreme New Procedure Raises Medical Concerns

  The beauty industry has reached a point that would have seemed unimaginable only a few years ago: it is now possible to alter not only body fat, breasts or facial features, but the shape of the ribs themselves. A procedure known as rib remodelling involves deliberately damaging the lower ribs in an attempt to make the waist appear significantly narrower, The Independent reports...

• Kim Kardashian Is Hooked on a ‘Longevity Capsule,’ but Doctors Sound the Alarm

  Kim Kardashian is betting on more than just maintaining a perfect figure — she is now focusing on longevity as well. One of the star’s latest obsessions is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a treatment popular among celebrities and professional athletes. Doctors, however, warn that its ability to extend the lifespan of healthy people has yet to be proven, and that some devices can be dangerous, according to the New York Post...

• Your Smartphone Could Be Stealing Years of Your Life: Scientists Warn of the Consequences of Endless Scrolling

  Spending hours scrolling through social media may have far more serious consequences for health than previously thought. According to a major scientific review, excessive screen use is linked to millions of years of life lived with mental health disorders...

• Popular Weight-Loss Drugs Could Deprive the Brain of Energy, Expert Warns

  As GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, continue to surge in popularity, experts are warning that losing weight too quickly and severely restricting calorie intake could deprive the brain of essential energy and nutrients...

• Cheese Is Fine, but Go Easy on the Butter: Scientists Reveal Which Fatty Foods Are Actually Healthy

  For years, we were told that fatty foods were bad for us: people were advised to replace whole milk with skimmed milk, butter with spreads, and eat cheese as rarely as possible. But new research suggests the picture is more complicated...

• Just Two Spoonfuls a Day: Scientists Find an Unexpected Link Between Tomatoes and Memory

  A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has long been associated with better memory. Now, Spanish scientists have identified another potential link: ordinary tomatoes may influence brain function — and the key could be lycopene, a powerful antioxidant...

• Beauty with a Surprise: Scientists Find Microscopic Mites Under Eyelash Extensions

  Women who regularly get eyelash extensions may be highly likely to have microscopic mites living on their lashes, according to a new study cited by the Telegraph...

Age matters more than beauty — and scientists warn that the sweets we love can literally “caramelize” our internal organs, speeding up the aging process, reports the New York Post.

The culprit is a group of compounds known as Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). Simply put, these are proteins damaged by sugar, which trigger internal aging and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and even cancer.

“Sugar creates chemical ‘handcuffs’ that tangle proteins, block enzymes, trigger unhealthy biochemical processes in cells, and damage DNA,” explains Professor Panjash Kapahi.

Any type of sugar — fructose, glucose, table sugar, juices, cereals, sweetened drinks, and processed foods — can start glycation in muscles and organs.

What this means for your appearance and health:

• Externally: Collagen breakdown, wrinkles, and premature skin aging.
• Internally: Problems with joints, muscles, tendons, and cartilage; prolonged exposure may even harm brain function by damaging blood vessels. Studies show that just 10 days on a high-sugar diet can trigger these processes.

Fructose in fruit juices is especially dangerous: it enters the bloodstream quickly, spikes insulin levels, and accelerates glycation seven times faster than regular glucose. Whole fruits, however, are a different story — fiber slows sugar absorption, and vitamins and minerals combat AGEs.

Cooking methods also matter. High heat from frying or grilling produces pre-formed AGEs. The good news: slow simmering, boiling, and steaming with plenty of liquid reduce the risk. For example, steamed meat contains only a quarter of the AGEs compared to fried meat.

Bottom line: Excess sugar and high-heat cooking literally “caramelize” your body. But occasional indulgence — like enjoying fried chicken — can still be a pleasurable “price” for some wrinkles and faster aging.

Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram