Learn about AGEs and what foods contain them in this article. Finally, try these healthy replacements and regain control over your skin’s vibrant and vivacious look.
What Are AGEs and How Do They Affect the Body?
AGEs (advanced glycation end products) are compounds that form when proteins or fats combine with sugars. Normally, our body has protective mechanisms that help it flush out AGEs in no time, but there are certain foods that contain so much of them that it becomes very difficult for our body to get rid of them in time, especially if you’re consuming them regularly.
When that happens, AGEs start wreaking havoc in the human body by creating oxidative stress, which makes our tissues age faster by breaking down collagen, which is essential to maintain our skin’s firmness.
Apart from that, AGEs have been associated with worsening different degenerative conditions: diabetes, kidney disease, atherosclerosis and even Alzheimer’s.
Keep in mind that it is not necessary to completely cut out foods high in AGEs to combat oxidative stress because, as we mentioned, our bodies know how to deal with them. It is frequent over-consumption that causes skin aging and other negative symptoms.
Do keep an eye on how much of these 11 foods you eat and make sure to eat them in moderation, or even better, replace them with a healthier alternative.
1. Swap White Bread For Sprouted Bread
Apart from containing a lot of AGEs, white bread or any pastry made of white flour is high on the glycemic index, which has been shown to cause inflammation in the body.
A healthy alternative to white bread is any bread made of whole grains or sprouted bread, as it is rich in antioxidants, whose job is to clear out AGEs from the body. These kinds of bread also usually contain much less sugar, so they will not create as many AGEs to begin with.
