A-G-E

Advanced glycation end products or A-G-E is a major cause of aging. There is a scientific explanation of what happens in our bodies that causes AGE, but in easy terms it just means that a sugar molecule attaches to a protein without an enzyme. Now that may not sound like a bad thing, but it causes the proteins (the building blocks) to lose their effectiveness and that results in the aging of our skin, organs and every other part of the body.

Causes

There are several things that cause AGE. The first, obviously, is sugar. Eating too much sugar and foods that convert rapidly to sugar are the first culprits. But that's not the only food source of AGEs.

How food is cooked also can cause AGEs to form. Women's Health Magazine featured an article on AGEs in May of 2008. They stated that "AGEs form when dry, high heat causes sugar and fat to break down into protein molecules that shrivel up and turn brown or black." Basically, that means when we grill, roast or fry foods we're adding AGEs to our body. Even microwaving uses dry heat.

So does that mean we give up roasted potatoes and throw out the grill? Not necessarily. Eating seared or grilled foods occasionally shouldn't be a problem, but the more you eat it, the more AGEs you add to your body and the quicker you'll age.

Alternatives

If you want to reduce the amount of A-G-E in your body you'll need to make some changes in your cooking techniques. Think moist heat. Steaming, poaching, blanching, braising are all methods that use lots of water. Stews and soups are also excellent choices.

Want to grill but reduce the amount of AGE? Try marinades. Soak your meat for an hour or so in liquid and herbs before grilling or broiling. One study (Journal of Food Science) suggests that the antioxidants in the herbs (particularly rosemary) may block AGE formation.

One book that talks a lot about AGE is Nicholas Perricone's Ageless Face, Ageless Mind. It includes lots of tips to reduce your intake of AGEs as well as recipes and cooking techniques.

A-G-E occurs naturally in our bodies, but we don't need to help it along by what we eat. Make some simple changes and you can reduce AGE, stay younger looking and help your organs last longer too.