Now that it's warm out and the sun sets later, people are starting to break out the bbq grills. Well, here's a wet blanket for ya.

This class of toxins, called advanced glycation end products (AGEs), are absorbed into the body through the consumption of grilled, fried, or broiled animal products, such as meats and cheeses. AGEs, which are also produced when food products are sterilized and pasteurized, have been linked to inflammation, insulin resistance, diabetes, vascular and kidney disease, and Alzheimer's disease. ... Much to the researchers' surprise, the study also showed that AGE levels could be very high in young healthy people. In fact, high AGE levels found in some healthy adults in this study were on par with AGE levels observed in diabetic patients in their earlier studies. The fact that healthy adults had levels similar to those seen in diabetic patients may suggest that early and prolonged exposure to these substances in the diet could accelerate the onset of diseases. Dr. Vlassara notes that the availability and consumption of AGE-rich foods is high and correlates with rising rates of diabetes and heart disease.

"Excessive intake of fried, broiled, and grilled foods can overload the body's natural capacity to remove AGEs," Dr. Vlassara notes, "so they accumulate in our tissues, and take over the body's own built-in defenses, pushing them toward a state of inflammation. Over time, this can precipitate disease or early aging." Once AGEs enter the body, it becomes more difficult to get them out, especially as people age.

It wasn't bad enough that getting a greasy burger or ribs would clog your arteries and kill you that way. Now it's got to give you diabetes and Alzheimer's, too. Nice.

One way to lower your AGE intake? Steam, boil, and stew your food. Who would have thought the Irish and English would have something to teach us about cuisine?

Lucky for you, all i grill are non-animal products. You're so welcome.

To quote that classic song from Queen, "Who wants to live forever?"

Me.

Oh, come on now. "Don't fear the reaper."