Vegetarians are at Risk of Premature Aging due to lack of Carnosine in the Diet Return to Homepage

Scientific studies have shown that vegetarians in particular have low levels of Carnosine in their bodies. Vegetarians are also lacking in vitamin B12, which makes vegetarians prone to suffering anemia (a lack of energy). Glycation is a mechanism that stops cells in the body from maintaining their elasticity. Meat happens to be high in Carnosine, a proven anti-glycation nutrient.

A paper recently published in the journal Mechanisms of Aging and Development in October 2005 titled, “Glycation, ageing and carnosine: Are carnivorous diets beneficial?” showed that vegetarians live shorter lives than usual because their diets are deficient in Carnosine.Carnosine is critical to preventing lethal glycation reactions in the body. {1}

What is Glycation?

Glycation is when glucose binds to the body’s proteins, altering them and making them non-functional. One of the major signs of glycation is wrinked skin. Simply put, think of an old rubber band that loses its elasticity, this is much like the elasticity in our body's cells.

If the vegetarians diet is high in Junk Food, or lack of vital nutrients, glycation will cause destruction in the persons arteries, resulting in a loss of elasticity, hypertension, and atherosclerosis.Glycation is also responsible for cataracts, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.

These are really the signs of general aging in the body. There are 2 major scientific published studies proving that vegetarians have higher levels of advanced glycation in their blood compared to those who eat meat.{2} {3} This is because an exclusively vegetarian diet would lack carnosine, nature’s most potent anti-glycating agent.

Excess meat eating is also bad for health as numerous scientific studies have proven , however, you can have the best of both worlds.By being vegetarian and getting the proper doses of Carnosine in your diet, you have more energy and avoid premature aging.

{1}. Hipkiss AR. Glycation, ageing and carnosine: Are carnivorous diets beneficial? Mech Ageing Dev. 2005 Oct;126(10):1034-9.

{2}. Krajcovicova-Kudlackova M, Sebekova K, Schinzel R, Klvanova J. Advanced glycation end products and nutrition. Physiol Res. 2002;51(3):313-6.

{3}. Sebekova K, Krajcovicova-Kudlackova M, Schinzel R, et al. Plasma levels of advanced glycation end products in healthy, long-term vegetarians and subjects on a western mixed diet. Eur J Nutr. 2001 Dec;40(6):275-81.