I’m a plastic surgeon — this is one of the ‘most important factors’ that causes aging

Oxidative stress is one of the main drivers of aging, but diet can play a role in inhibiting or accelerating aging.

Experts have long linked our diets, especially those high in fat or carbohydrates, to increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals (the bad guys) and antioxidants (the good guys) in the body. In addition to neurological and respiratory diseases, it plays a role in a variety of chronic and degenerative diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

While oxidative stress is a natural process that occurs in all living organisms, we can take steps to reduce its effects, thereby mitigating the signs of aging.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please contact a qualified medical professional before undertaking any physical activity or making any changes in diet, medication, or lifestyle.

Experts say how to deal with oxidative stress

Dr. Cory S. Goldberg, a plastic and craniofacial surgeon and former head of the plastic surgery division at Trillium Health Partners, told us that overall, the North American lifestyle is “unhealthy and harmful.” Yahoo Canada. “With some basic principles and implementation, we can absolutely live better and longer.”

Oxidative stress “absolutely causes aging,” he said. “This may be one of the most important factors in aging.”

Anything that increases the number of free radicals in the body and triggers an imbalance can lead to oxidative stress. Pollution, stress, smoking, sun exposure and excessive alcohol consumption can all cause oxidative stress, but it is also heavily influenced by diet.

“The food we eat is probably the biggest and most important factor in poor health and poor skin,” says Goldberg, who is certified in functional medicine.

“There’s a direct relationship between your gut bacteria and your skin, and between your gut bacteria and your brain and your mental health and emotional health,” he said. “In fact, most (about 90 percent) of serotonin is produced in the gut, not in the brain.”

Imagine your body is like a power plant or production facility. Power plants produce energy, protein and substances that maintain body functions. It also produces waste as a byproduct of these processes, Goldberg explained. “Your body is constantly being cleaned [that waste]”.

However, “it takes energy and can do a lot of damage to you if it’s not completely cleaned up.”

Your diet, especially foods rich in antioxidants such as berries, kale, pecans, beans, and dark chocolate, is crucial because it can help you control oxidative stress.

“There is no one diet that fits everyone. There is no gospel in diet,” Goldberg said. “Principles are often the best things to follow, ultimately, everyone’s needs are different and what a person needs will change throughout their life.”

A good place to start is by eliminating or reducing your consumption of ultra-processed foods.

‘Every bite’ of ultra-processed food increases risk of death

Public health experts have long warned about the dangers of ultra-processed foods—foods that are highly processed and often contain additives—and a 2025 study confirmed a link between ultra-processed food consumption and all-cause mortality.

The study involving more than 240,000 people found that “every bite” of ultra-processed food increases your risk of premature death.

If someone drastically reduces their intake of ultra-processed foods, say from 60 percent of calories to 10 percent, there can be a “huge change” in the amount of inflammation in the body, Goldberg said.

How what you eat affects how quickly you age

Reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods not only reduces the risk of premature death and certain diseases, but can also significantly improve skin health and characteristics of premature aging, Goldberg said.

“There’s more to skin than just soft descriptors like ‘looking flat’ or ‘lacking shine,'” says Goldberg. “What’s actually happening is inflammation. If the bacteria in your gut are unhealthy bacteria, your skin will respond to the toxins they release.”

If you eat foods that “tend to spread unhealthy bacteria,” it can cause inflammation and skin conditions. Eczema, skin irritation and inflammation are “definitely worsened by an imbalance of gut bacteria.”

One of the easiest ways to improve your gut microbiome is to eat more fruits and vegetables and incorporate color into your diet. Goldberg suggests eating the rainbow as a great way to incorporate a more diverse range of nutrients into your daily routine.

Additionally, plastic surgeons recommend a supplement called Gurley SODinhe calls it “this Something” to manage oxidative stress.

GliSODin, an antioxidant enzyme containing superoxide dismutase [SOD]In biochemistry, Goldberg explains, it’s called the “king of enzymes.”

“It’s likely one of, if not the most important, enzymes our bodies produce because it allows us to control this oxidative stress.”

“There aren’t many ways to increase SOD levels,” but GliSODin is one of them.

“I give it to all my surgical patients,” he said. “I did a study on this thing ten years ago, using images to measure skin inflammation […] After three months of use, there was a statistically significant reduction in skin inflammation. “

Goldberg, who serves as a volunteer scientific advisor to the company, said taking the enzyme was a “no-brainer.”

“It’s been shown to have benefits in every organ system,” he said. “I think it should be put in the water.”

Although studies agree that “superoxide dismutase has therapeutic potential,” other experts warn that the enzyme is not easily absorbed into the bloodstream when taken orally and question the benefits of oral supplements.

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