糖化終產物（advanced glycation end-products，
What Are AGEs?
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 favorite 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. How many of us would consider eating these same foods raw? But before you think of thanking AGEs for all the pleasure they have given you over the years, consider this:
More than any other single dietary component, AGEs are now found to be linked to more diseases and health problems, including diabetes, heart and kidney disease, but also dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, arthritis, osteoporosis, skin aging, poor wound healing, and periodontal disease.
Why are AGEs toxic?
1. AGEs are oxidants. They corrode our body the same way rust damages metal in a machine if it’s allowed to build up. Oxidation depletes our natural reserves of anti-oxidants, which are the “good guys”. Anti-oxidants are the substances that can neutralize the corrosive effects of AGEs, but only up to a point.
2. The body reacts to AGEs the same way it fights an infection, except that its capacity is limited. Our native defenses normally eliminate AGE toxins by mobilizing a low level of generalized inflammation, which is our body’s normal reaction to ”irritants”, such as bacteria. For example, a person with an infection – an “irritant” to the body – may experience a rise in body temperature – a “fever”, which indicates inflammation, but this will go away soon. Food AGEs, like bacteria, can also trigger inflammation but this time – since they come in often – it may not go away soon, and over time it can erode our self-defenses, as AGEs pile up in the body, like junk. And they continue to cause more oxidation (rusting) and inflammation (low “fever”), which may not become noticed for many years.
At worst, if inflammation is prolonged it will slowly damage every organ in the body – Most chronic diseases are associated with inflammation and high levels of AGEs. At best, AGEs speed up our body’s and mind’s aging
3. Animal fats are easily oxidized by AGEs. When this happens, AGE-lipids from our food tend to stick to our arteries and cause blockage, high blood pressure or heart trouble. Or they settle in our waistline as AGE-fat, causing inflammation, obesity, insulin resistance. Insulin resistance occurs when insulin, a vital hormone, becomes less effective at lowering blood sugar and its levels become abnormally high. Excessive body weight is closely associated with this condition, frequently leading to diabetes.
4. AGEs also can cause proteins to stick together. With years, AGE-proteins become rigid. This is one reason why joints, muscles and tendons become stiff and inflexible over time. This is why blood vessels become thick and inelastic, a condition we call “hardening of the arteries”, which leads to high blood pressure and heart disease.e
AGEs and Aging
That AGEs are an enemy of youthfulness has been known for many years. Everyone ages, but AGEs accelerates the normal process of aging. They cause imperceptible tissue oxidation and inflammation that slowly damages our cells and tissues.
AGEs generate small molecules (reactive oxygen species or ROS) that cause oxidation and tissue damage (just like rust on metal). At the same time, ROSpromote the formation of more AGEs and this sets up a vicious cycle, which, as AGEs build up, slows down organ function. The endpoint? Faster aging.
Also, AGEs build chemical bridges between proteins – a reason why older joints and tendons become thicker and less elastic and skin more wrinkled – they also affect all types of connective tissue throughout the body. The result? You name it! Hardened arteries (causing high blood pressure or heart disease), cataracts of the eyes (blocking vision), and damaged kidneys.
Researchers have already proved that AGEs cause aging by using different AGE inhibitors. They showed that blocking the formation of AGEs or reducing their levels in experimental animals prevents or slows down aging. These include aminoguanidine, alagebrium, pyridoxamine,benfotiamine and others. Some of these drugs are in now clinical trials.
However, once AGEs accumulate, there is no easy way to reverse the process. Until new drugs become available, preventing AGE accumulation is the most sensible thing one can do to avoid aging fast. The AGE-less Way has now been extensively studied in experimental animals. The program prevented AGE accumulation and clearly delayed aging of the heart and of the kidneys. Most telling: the AGE-less mice lived a longer and healthier life than mice fed the standard diet. In healthy persons, a brief period of The AGE-less Way decreased levels of AGEs and improved inflammation and indicators of vascular function.
So, we too have a choice: to age faster or AGE-less.
Skin
If AGEs are elevated in the blood —due to diabetes or a high AGE-rich diet — then you are also bound to have high AGEs in your skin. There is little doubt that AGEs are a major reason that skin loses its youthful appearance and feels dry or becomes wrinkled over the years. Worse yet, AGEs make it harder for a wound to heal. It makes wounds easier to become infected, or to form unseemly scars in the healing process. Diabetes makes all of this even harder. But studies showed the AGE-less Way diet to improve all phases of wound healing in diabetic animals to a remarkable effect. The AGE-less Way is not a panacea and it is not likely to work miracles. It works from the inside out: your skin will reflect just this.
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