Addition below: New analysis disputes the assumption in the headline.

Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are harmful compounds formed when sugars react with proteins or fats in a process called glycation. This happens naturally in the body over time but can also occur when food is cooked at high temperatures (like grilling, frying, or roasting).

Why Are AGEs Bad for You?
Accelerate Aging – AGEs cause proteins to become stiff and less functional, contributing to skin wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and organ aging.

Increase Inflammation – They trigger the immune system, leading to chronic inflammation, which is linked to diseases like arthritis and neurodegeneration.

Damage Blood Vessels & Heart – AGEs make blood vessels stiff and prone to plaque buildup, increasing the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

Harm the Brain – High AGE levels are associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s by promoting oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain.

Worsen Diabetes – Diabetics are particularly vulnerable because high blood sugar speeds up AGE formation, leading to complications like nerve damage and kidney disease.

How to Reduce AGEs in the Body?

Eat fresh, whole foods (instead of processed, fried, or grilled foods).

Cook with water-based methods (steaming, boiling, or slow-cooking instead of frying or roasting).

Increase antioxidants (berries, green tea, turmeric, and vitamin C help neutralize AGEs).

Exercise regularly (physical activity helps break down AGEs).

Limit sugar intake (especially high-fructose corn syrup, which forms AGEs rapidly).

Minimizing AGEs could be a smart move to slow aging and reduce disease risk! 🚀

But if they are bad, why are they so tasty?

The reason AGEs taste so good is because they contribute to the Maillard reaction, the same chemical process that gives browned and roasted foods their irresistible flavor, aroma, and texture.

Why Do AGEs Taste Good?

The Maillard Reaction 🍳🔥
When sugars react with proteins at high temperatures (like in grilling, roasting, or frying), they create complex flavors, aromas, and golden-brown colors.
This is why grilled steak, roasted coffee, and crispy bread crust taste amazing!

Evolutionary Preference 🧠👅
Our ancestors sought high-energy, nutrient-dense foods, and cooked food was easier to digest.
The Maillard reaction signals caloric richness and nutrient availability, so our brains associate it with reward and pleasure.

Fat-Sugar-Protein Combo 🍟🍫
AGEs are often found in foods high in fat, sugar, and protein—like fried chicken, caramelized onions, and toasted nuts.
These ingredients activate dopamine pathways, making them highly palatable.

The Trade-Off: Taste vs. Longevity
While AGEs make food more enjoyable, they also contribute to inflammation, aging, and chronic diseases. But you can balance flavor and health by:
✅ Cooking at lower temperatures (baking, steaming, slow-cooking)
✅ Adding acidity (lemon juice, vinegar) to slow AGE formation
✅ Pairing with antioxidants (turmeric, berries, green tea) to neutralize

AGE damage
So, the reason AGEs taste good is the same reason junk food is addictive—they hijack our taste preferences! But with some smart choices, you can enjoy delicious food without accelerating aging. 😉




4o

Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) and Chronic Kidney Disease: Does the Modern Diet AGE the Kidney?

There are many recent research and review articles about AGEs

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10298716

“Ageing is a composite process that involves numerous changes at the cellular, tissue, organ and whole-body levels. These changes result in decreased functioning of the organism and the development of certain conditions, which ultimately lead to an increased risk of death. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a family of compounds with a diverse chemical nature. They are the products of non-enzymatic reactions between reducing sugars and proteins, lipids or nucleic acids and are synthesised in high amounts in both physiological and pathological conditions. Accumulation of these molecules increases the level of damage to tissue/organs structures (immune elements, connective tissue, brain, pancreatic beta cells, nephrons, and muscles), which consequently triggers the development of age-related diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular and kidney disorders. Irrespective of the role of AGEs in the initiation or progression of chronic disorders, a reduction in their levels would certainly provide health benefits. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of AGEs in these areas. Moreover, we provide examples of lifestyle interventions, such as caloric restriction or physical activities, that may modulate AGE formation and accumulation and help to promote healthy ageing.’

Dietary glycation compounds – implications for human health

…Based on this systematic review, the SKLM concludes that there is at present no convincing evidence for a causal association between dietary intake of glycation compounds and adverse health effects.