How Your Training is Fighting Off Disease and Helping You Live Longer
By Kike Yepes | CrossFit 1864
You’ve probably heard us talking about training for more than just looks. You’ve heard us say things like “stronger for life,” or “move well now so you can move well at 80.” But have you ever wondered what that actually means on a deeper, cellular level?
Let’s talk about something that most people have never even heard of: Advanced Glycation End Products, or AGEs. Sounds complicated, right? But trust me — it’s important, and by the end of this blog, you’ll understand why your time in the gym is doing way more than just helping you lose weight or get strong. It’s literally protecting your body from aging too fast and from chronic diseases like heart failure and diabetes.
🧃 So, what are AGEs?
AGEs are molecules that form in your body when sugar binds to proteins or fats. Imagine sugar working like a sticky glue. That glue latches onto important parts of your body — your blood vessels, your skin, your organs — and makes them stiff, inflamed, and dysfunctional. It’s like pouring syrup into a machine… eventually, it’s gonna jam.
AGEs build up naturally over time. But they skyrocket when:
You eat too much processed sugar or fried food
You’re sedentary
You have high blood sugar (especially in diabetes)
You’re under chronic stress or inflammation
💔 What do AGEs actually do to your body?
Too many AGEs can:
Stiffen your blood vessels → leading to high blood pressure and heart disease
Damage your heart muscle → increasing risk of heart failure
Disrupt your kidneys and eyes → common in people with diabetes
Break down collagen → causing joint pain and even premature aging of the skin
Cause chronic inflammation → which is behind nearly every disease out there
Long story short: AGEs = faster aging and higher risk of disease.
💥 The good news? You’re already fighting AGEs — every time you train.
Training at CrossFit 1864 isn’t just about how you look or how much you can lift. It’s about changing what’s happening inside your body — and that includes stopping AGEs in their tracks.
Here’s how your training helps:
🩸 1. It lowers your blood sugar (fast)
Every time you hit a WOD, your muscles are pulling sugar out of your bloodstream and using it for fuel. That means less sugar floating around = fewer AGEs getting made.
Even just a few sessions a week can dramatically improve blood sugar control — especially in those at risk of Type 2 Diabetes.
🔥 2. It crushes inflammation
High-intensity workouts (like what we do here) trigger an anti-inflammatory response in the body. That reduces the chronic inflammation that fuels AGE formation.
The result? You feel better, recover faster, and slow down age-related damage.
🧬 3. It activates your body's cleanup crew
Your body has built-in systems for cleaning out damaged cells and proteins. Training boosts those systems — kind of like a cellular spring cleaning.
Exercise increases antioxidant production, helping to neutralize the harmful effects of AGEs and stop them from causing damage to your heart and vessels.
🧠 4. It sharpens your brain and your future
AGEs don’t just affect the body — they also impact the brain. They’ve been linked to memory problems and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Regular physical training has been shown to protect brain health, improve memory, and even grow new brain cells. Wild, right?
💪 5. It improves heart and vessel health directly
One of the scariest things AGEs do is make your heart and blood vessels stiff. But strength and conditioning training — especially the way we mix cardio, weights, and movement — helps keep those tissues flexible, strong, and efficient.
You’re not just getting fitter. You’re reversing some of the damage that daily stress, poor diets, and aging can cause.
🧘 6. It builds resilience long-term
This is the biggest win.
Consistent training builds habits that protect you for decades. It changes how your body responds to stress, how it handles food, and how it repairs itself.
It lowers your risk for:
Heart attacks
Type 2 Diabetes
Stroke
High blood pressure
Dementia
And even cancer
Training at CrossFit 1864 is an investment in your future. A daily act of rebellion against the modern lifestyle that’s wrecking people’s health.
🥗 Bonus tip: Combine your training with better food
Want to double the impact?
Cut back on AGE-heavy foods like:
Deep fried stuff
Processed meats
Super sugary snacks
Overcooked or heavily grilled meats
Instead, eat more:
Fresh fruit and veggies
Lean protein
Whole grains
Water (yep, hydration matters too)
🧠 One last thought…
You don’t have to understand all the science. That’s our job.
What matters is this:
Every time you show up, you’re doing more than a workout — you’re fighting disease, extending your lifespan, and investing in your future health.
We’re here to help you train smart, train hard, and keep making progress.
Not just for now — but for your 60s, 70s, and beyond.
Let’s stay strong, move well, and age like legends.
