AGEs; STAYING OUT OF TOUCH. . .

This is where the most important question lies; how do you prevent yourself from AGEs?

The answer to that lies in two words, "STAY HEALTHY". . .

It is well-known that overeating and obesity can lead to insulin resistance, triggered by chronically elevated oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The body naturally rids itself of harmful AGE compounds, but it doesn’t eliminate them effectively when too many are ingested through food.

So how can you help yourself?

•  DIETARY INTERVENTIONS

Dietary interventions that reduce the consumption of foods high in AGEs, which are common in the standard Western diet, can be effective in helping prevent these metabolic disorders.

Dietitians recommend patients eat less sugar and fewer processed foods, and this is very important for patients who need to lower their AGE intake.

To reduce AGE consumption, eating foods that contain low AGE levels is key to decreasing the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

AGEs TOXICITY

Until recently, scientists thought AGEs were just normal byproducts of our metabolic system linked to sugar.

New studies show that AGEs are present in large quantities in most of the foods we eat today.

As new modes of food processing, applied by food industries, or popular methods of cooking expose food to dry-heat to make it safe, digestible and tasty, they also help raise AGEs to levels dangerous for the body.

Why do we consume foods that contain substances known to be toxic? It’s simple. AGEs are known to bring to raw nutrients those positive attributes we associate with our favourite meals. AGEs are responsible for the taste, appearance and the smell of foods we enjoy; the grilled burger and pizza and soft drinks and fried chicken; the bacon and corn chips and cookies.

AGEs are at work whenever cooked food attracts our attention, awakens our senses and encourages us to take yet another bite, even when we’re already full.

FACTORS THAT WORSEN AGEs

There are a number of factors that contribute to the development of Advanced Glycation End Products within the body. These factors include:

DIETARY FACTORS

As stated in AGEs, FOOD SUBSTANCES THAT ARE INVOLVED, dietary Advanced Glycation End Products (dAGEs) are present in some foods (particularly meat, also butter and so on).

Meats high in protein and fat are likely to form AGEs during cooking.

COOKING METHODS

Cooking methods that use high temperatures to brown or char foods, such as grilling, frying, roasting, baking, steaming, microwaving and broiling, have the largest impact on the amount of AGEs consumed.

AGEs, FOOD SUBSTANCES THAT ARE INVOLVED

In addition to AGEs that form within the body, AGEs also exist in foods.

Modern diets are largely heat-processed and as a result contain high levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Dietary advanced glycation end products (dAGEs) are known to contribute to increased oxidant stress and inflammation, which are linked to the recent epidemics of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

AGEs are naturally present in uncooked animal-derived foods, and cooking results in the formation of new AGEs within these foods. In particular, grilling, broiling, roasting, searing, and frying, propagate and accelerate new AGEs formation.

A wide variety of foods in modern diets are exposed to cooking or thermal processing for reasons of safety and convenience as well as to enhance flavor, color, and appearance.

AGEs, DAGEs, RAGEs; BEWARE!!!

The incidence of diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, is increasing at an alarming rate. Worldwide, about an estimated 221 million people had diabetes by 2010, and this increase is non-repentant.

When you go to the doctor, the first thing s/he diagnoses you with is hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), because it is still considered the principal cause of diabetes complications. But there're more serious culprits behind diabetes, of which most doctors aren't even aware of.

It's not your doctor's fault s/he doesn't know it, two things might be involved:

1. It was probably never mentioned to him in med school.
2. These culprits are products of recent studies, research and discoveries.

Doctors would normally warn you against health threateners such high-fat foods, salty foods, sugary foods, and so on - end of the story - but will hardly mention to you this word, AGEs.