The College of Glycation with Dr. Paul Reynolds
The College of Glycation with Dr. Paul Reynolds explores how sugar impacts aging, health, and disease. Join Dr. Reynolds as he unpacks the science of glycation and AGEs through expert interviews, myth-busting insights, and practical takeaways. Whether you're a health professional or simply curious, this podcast brings clarity to the sticky world of sugar metabolism. New episodes weekly.
Episodes
Glycated LDL and Cardiovascular Health
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Professor Paul Reynolds challenges the decades-old story that heart disease risk is simply a matter of lowering your LDL cholesterol number. He explains how glycation — driven by glucose, fructose, and especially methylglyoxal — chemically modifies LDL particles, turning ordinary LDL into small, dense, sticky versions with defaced apoB that the liver ca
Leaky Gut Meets RAGE
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Professor Paul Reynolds reveals how glycation and leaky gut don’t just coexist — they actively multiply each other’s damage. A diet high in heat-generated advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) reshapes the gut microbiome, weakens the intestinal barrier, and allows bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to leak into the bloodstream in a state called metabol
Glycocalyx and the Role of Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Paul Reynolds flips the script on sugar. While glycation is usually portrayed as the villain that damages proteins, lipids, and DNA through advanced glycation end products, today he reveals a place where sugar is actually the hero: the glycocalyx. This dense, gel-like sugar coat covers nearly every cell in your body, with its most important version lini
Adipose Glycation and Fat Cell Hypertrophy
Podcast Episode Description:In this eye-opening episode of the College of Glycation, Professor Paul Reynolds explores adipose glycation — the hidden process where fat cells themselves become chemically modified by sugar, turning them into drivers of metabolic dysfunction. Far from being passive storage tanks, hypertrophic adipocytes generate their own glycating agents like methylglyoxal (MGO), act
GLP-1 Beyond Glucose
In this eye-opening episode of the College of Glycation, biomedical scientist and Professor of Cell Biology Paul Reynolds goes beyond the headlines on the blockbuster GLP-1 receptor agonists—semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound). While everyone talks about dramatic weight loss, Reynolds reveals what these drugs are actually doing at the cellular level: directly downreg
Autophagy and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores autophagy—one of the body’s most powerful yet underappreciated defenses against aging. Autophagy, the Nobel Prize-winning cellular “self-eating” process, allows cells to identify, package, and recycle damaged proteins, dysfunctional mitochondria, misfolded molecules, and glycated junk before they mature into advanced glycation
The Sugar Diet and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds takes a clear-eyed look at the viral “sugar diet” trend sweeping social media — where people are eating bowls of sugar, drinking large amounts of fruit juice and honey, and eliminating fat while claiming major improvements in energy, mood, and metabolism. He asks the question almost no one else is asking: what does this dietary pattern
Fermentation and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds reveals why traditional fermented foods—staples of every human culture for thousands of years—may be one of the most powerful, yet underused tools for lowering your glycation burden and resetting metabolic health. He explains how fermentation pre-digests sugars, delivers living microbes and bioactive compounds (lactic acid, acetic acid
Fasting and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology—explains how fasting is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools for resetting the glycation burden your body carries. He breaks down how the standard modern eating pattern of frequent, carbohydrate-rich meals drives near-constant glucose and insulin elevations that accelerate the formation of advanced
Glycation and Your Mouth as a Metabolic Canary
Your gums may be telling you something critical about your metabolic health. In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores the overlooked connection between gum disease, glycation, and systemic inflammation. He explains how Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) form and accumulate—and how periodontal disease doesn’t just result from metabolic dysfunction, but can activel
Glycation and Your Hormones
In this episode of the College of Glycation series, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores how advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) quietly disrupt the body’s hormonal systems. Moving beyond blood sugar alone, he explains how glycation damages key proteins involved in hormone production, transport, and signaling—affecting thyroid function, testosterone levels, insulin sensitivity, and fertility. Even when l
Fructose is a Glycation Accelerant
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores a major blind spot in metabolic health: fructose. While most discussions around sugar focus on glucose and blood sugar levels, this episode reveals why fructose may be even more damaging. Dr. Reynolds explains how fructose is metabolized almost entirely in the liver, bypassing key regulatory systems and driving fat production,
AGEs 101: The Basics of Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds introduces the foundational science of glycation—one of the most important and underrecognized processes driving aging and chronic disease. He explains how glucose, while essential for energy, can also react with proteins in the body through a non-enzymatic process that gradually leads to the formation of advanced glycation end-product
How Reversible is Glycation?
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores one of the most important questions in metabolic health: Is glycation reversible? While some damage—especially in long-lived tissues like collagen—can persist for decades, this episode reveals that the body is far from helpless. Dr. Reynolds breaks down the science of how glycation forms, why certain stages are more reversible
Hidden AGEs in Health Foods
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores a growing concern among health-conscious individuals: whether even “healthy” foods may be contributing to glycation and long-term metabolic damage. Prompted by real audience questions, he unpacks the science of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) with a focus on those introduced through diet, revealing that the true driver
Health Conditions Including Vertigo, MTHFR, and more
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores how glycation—long understood as a driver of aging and metabolic disease—may also underlie a range of specialized health conditions that often go unexplained. Moving beyond theory, he connects the biochemical process of advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation to real-world issues like frozen shoulder, vertigo, and MTHFR
Practical Glycation Busters and Supplements
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—shifts from explaining the science of glycation to exploring practical strategies for fighting it. Glycation and the buildup of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute to aging, inflammation, and many chronic diseases, but there are evidence-based ways to slow this process. Dr. Reynold
Keto & Carnivore Diets
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds examines one of the most debated questions in metabolic health: do ketogenic and carnivore diets worsen glycation—or help prevent it? Breaking down the biochemistry, he explains how glycation forms advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that drive inflammation, oxidative stress, and accelerated aging, and why chronically elevated blood
Reproductive System and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores how glycation impacts one of the most metabolically sensitive systems in the body: the reproductive system. From PCOS and ovarian dysfunction to erectile dysfunction and impaired nitric oxide signaling, this episode connects advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to hormonal imbalance, vascular damage, and chronic inflammation
Integument System Physiology and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology—dives into the integumentary system and explains why your skin is one of the most revealing indicators of metabolic health. Unlike internal organs you can’t see, the effects of glycation and chronic inflammation show up directly on your face, hands, and body. Dr. Reynolds breaks down how advanced glycation end
Sensory Organ Physiology and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—explores how glycation quietly damages two of the body’s most delicate and essential systems: the eyes and the ears. While most people associate diabetes-related damage with the heart or kidneys, this lecture shows how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) progressively harm the retina, lens, a
Nervous System Physiology and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—explores how glycation and metabolic dysfunction silently damage the nervous system. From neurons and myelin to the blood-brain barrier, Dr. Reynolds explains how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) disrupt electrical signaling, trigger inflammation through the AGE–RAGE pathway, impair mitoch
Musculoskeletal Physiology and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds, Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology, explores how glycation and chronic inflammation undermine the musculoskeletal system—one of the body’s most critical drivers of movement, strength, and metabolic health. Beginning with normal muscle and bone physiology, Dr. Reynolds explains why skeletal muscle serves as the body’s primary glu
Renal Physiology and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—dives into the kidneys, organs that quietly perform some of the most demanding work in the body. He begins by explaining how healthy kidneys filter massive volumes of blood, maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, regulate blood pressure, and preserve essential proteins through the highly specia
Liver Physiology and Glycation
In this episode of College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—explores the liver’s central role in metabolic health and reveals how glycation and chronic inflammation quietly disrupt its vital functions. As the body’s primary metabolic hub, the liver is uniquely exposed to high concentrations of glucose and fructose, making it especially vulnerable to the form
Blood and Immune System Physiology and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—explores the blood and immune system to reveal how glycation and chronic hyperglycemia disrupt immunity, oxygen delivery, and inflammation control. Moving beyond the idea of blood sugar as a passive biomarker, Dr. Reynolds explains how glycation actively alters hemoglobin, stiffens red blood cel
Cardiovascular System Physiology and Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation podcast, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—dives into the science of glycation and its powerful role in accelerating skin aging. Glycation occurs when sugar molecules bind to proteins and fats, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that damage collagen and elastin. Through AGE crosslinking, inflammatory signaling via the
Metabolic and Endocrine System Physiology
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—kicks off a new physiology-focused series by exploring how glycation disrupts the metabolic and endocrine systems at the foundation of human health. Beginning with core concepts like insulin and glucagon signaling, fed versus fasted metabolism, and energy partitioning across liver, muscle, and a
Glycation and Renal Complications
Glycation doesn’t just alter blood sugar markers—it reshapes the kidneys in ways that silently drive disease. In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds breaks down how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in renal tissues, stiffen filtering membranes, damage podocytes, and trigger the inflammatory RAGE pathway that accelerates diabetic nephropathy. Drawing from de
Glycation and Yerbe Mate
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores how yerba mate—a traditional South American infusion rich in polyphenols, xanthines, and antioxidants—may offer powerful support against glycation and its wide-ranging metabolic consequences. By breaking down the science of AGEs, oxidative stress, and glucose dysregulation, Dr. Reynolds shows how yerba mate’s bioactive compoun
Glycation and Ketones
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds unpacks the powerful relationship between ketones and glycation, revealing how the body’s natural fat-derived fuel source can counteract one of the most damaging biochemical processes in modern health. He breaks down how glycation and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) drive inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and a
Glycation and Cancer
In this compelling episode of the College of Glycation podcast, Dr. Paul Reynolds unpacks the overlooked but powerful link between glycation—the sugar-driven chemical reaction happening inside all of us—and the development of cancer. Building on our ongoing exploration of AGEs, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction, Dr. Reynolds explains how chronically elevated blood sugar and the accumulat
Glycation and Food Publication
In this episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—dives into the cutting-edge science behind detecting advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in our food. Building on years of research and a landmark 2025 Molecules review by Hiroyuki Kataoka, Dr. Reynolds unpacks how scientists measure these sugar-protein compounds that quietly influence everyt
Glycation and Exercise
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—reveals how glycation quietly undermines muscle strength, recovery, and performance. By binding sugars to proteins in the body, glycation produces toxic compounds known as AGEs that stiffen muscle fibers, disrupt collagen, and trigger chronic inflammation. The result? Slower recovery, greater in
Glycation and Gut Integrity
In this episode of College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—explores how toxic advanced glycation end-products (TAGEs) compromise gut integrity at the cellular level. Drawing on new research from Takeda et al. (2025), Dr. Reynolds explains how these sugar-derived toxins disrupt tight junction proteins like ZO-1 and claudin-7, leading to increased intestinal
Glycation and Skin Aging
In this episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—dives into how sugar-driven molecular damage accelerates skin aging from the inside out. Through the lens of glycation, he explains how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) stiffen collagen and elastin, weaken skin structure, and ignite inflammation through the RAGE pathway. The result? Wrinkl
Glycation and Mental Health
In this thought-provoking episode of the College of Glycation podcast, Dr. Paul Reynolds unpacks the powerful and overlooked connection between glycation and mental health. He explores how sugar-driven molecular damage—through advanced glycation end products (AGEs)—can inflame the brain, disrupt neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, and worsen conditions such as depression, anxiety, and c
Glycation and Muscles
In this insightful episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds unpacks how sugar-driven molecular reactions silently erode your strength from the inside out. Glycation—the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs)—crosslinks muscle proteins, stiffens connective tissue, and disrupts insulin signaling, accelerating the loss of muscle mass and power known as sarcopenia.Drawing fr
Glycation and Lungs
In this episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds uncovers how glycation—the sugar-driven process behind advanced glycation end products (AGEs)—silently damages the lungs. From stiffened collagen and reduced elasticity to chronic inflammation fueled by RAGE signaling, glycation plays a hidden but powerful role in conditions like COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, and even lingering pos
Glycation and Liver
In this episode of the College of Glycation series, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—reveals how sugar’s toxic fingerprints reshape the liver and fuel a silent epidemic: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its aggressive cousin, NASH. Glycation and its byproducts, known as AGEs, act like molecular graffiti—damaging proteins, inflaming tissues, and driving fibros
Glycation and Sleep
In this episode of the College of Glycation series, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—reveals the overlooked but critical connection between glycation and sleep. Far from being a passive state, sleep is when the brain and body perform vital repair work, yet advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can sabotage this process. From disrupting melatonin production and circadian
Glycation and Fertility
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—reveals how glycation, the sugar-driven process that creates AGEs (advanced glycation end products), undermines human fertility. From sperm DNA damage and declining egg quality to impaired endometrial receptivity and placental dysfunction, glycation silently sabotages reproduction in both men an
Endogenous vs. Exogenous Glycation
In this episode of the College of Glycation series, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores how sugar-driven damage in the form of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accelerates brain aging and contributes to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, and other mental health challenges. He breaks down the science of glycation and insulin resistance, showing how they disrupt brain function, fuel inflammation, an
Glycation and Polymyalgia Rheumatica
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—explores the surprising biochemical connection between glycation and Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), a painful inflammatory disorder that limits movement and quality of life. He explains how advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) can stiffen collagen, alter fascia, and transform the interstitial f
Glycation, Mitochondria, and Energy Metabolism
In this eye-opening episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—unpacks the hidden connection between glycation, mitochondrial damage, and declining cellular energy. He explains how sugar-driven advanced glycation end products (AGEs) sabotage the mitochondria—the body’s energy factories—by damaging key proteins, increasing oxidative stress, and c
Glycation and Metabolic Syndrome
In this episode of the College of Glycation podcast, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Biomedical Scientist—uncovers how a single biochemical process, glycation, can set off a chain reaction leading to metabolic syndrome. From stiffened arteries and distorted cholesterol to insulin resistance and mitochondrial damage, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) quietly but powerfully driv
Glycation and Immune Dysfunction
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds, Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology, dives into the powerful yet underrecognized link between glycation and immune dysfunction. Learn how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) sabotage immune defenses by impairing macrophages, weakening antibodies, and triggering chronic inflammation through the AGE-RAGE pathway. Dr. Reynolds un
Glycation and Eye Health
In this episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds uncovers how sugar chemistry may be quietly compromising your vision. From cataracts and macular degeneration to diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, glycation and its toxic byproducts—advanced glycation end products (AGEs)—wreak havoc on the delicate structures of the eye. With clarity and depth, Dr. Reynolds explains how long-lived eye
Glycation and Allergies
In this episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores a surprising connection between sugar chemistry and your allergies. Building on previous discussions about glycation’s role in chronic disease, he dives into how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can damage epithelial barriers, activate inflammatory pathways, and turbocharge allergic responses—from seasonal sneezing to as
Glycation and Bone Health: Osteoporosis and Beyond
In this episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores the hidden impact of glycation on bone health—revealing how sugar-driven molecular damage weakens the very foundation of our bodies. Building on previous episodes, Dr. Reynolds explains how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) stiffen collagen, disrupt bone remodeling, and accelerate the progression of osteoporosis and osteo
Glycation and Cancer
Could sugar damage be silently fueling cancer? In this powerful episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds unpacks how a little-known process called glycation might be creating the perfect storm for tumors to grow and spread.You’ll learn how high blood sugar and insulin resistance do more than affect diabetes—they can generate toxic molecules called AGEs (advanced glycation end product
Glycation and Gut Health with Dr. Paul Reynolds
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds dives into the often-overlooked link between sugar damage and gut health. Glycation—through its toxic byproducts known as AGEs—doesn’t just age your arteries or brain; it also wreaks havoc on your digestive system. Dr. Reynolds unpacks how AGEs contribute to leaky gut, microbiome imbalance, and inflammatory bowel conditions like IBD, w
Glycation and Kidney Health: From Damage to Dialysis
In this powerful episode of the College of Glycation podcast, Dr. Paul Reynolds takes listeners deep into the hidden world of glycation and its devastating impact on kidney health. Building on previous episodes, Dr. Reynolds explains how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) silently damage the kidneys—compromising filtration, triggering chronic inflammation, and accelerating the march toward chr
Dietary Glycation: How Food Choices Impact AGE Formation
In this episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores how your everyday food choices contribute to the formation of harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). From grilling and frying to processed snacks and sugary drinks, modern diets are fueling inflammation, oxidative stress, and chronic disease through both endogenous and exogenous glycation pathways.Dr.
Glycation and Diabetes: A Vicious Cycle
In this episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds turns the spotlight on the destructive interplay between glycation and diabetes, revealing how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accelerate complications like neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy. He explains how elevated blood sugar levels fuel AGE formation, setting off a chain reaction of tissue damage, inflammation, and ox
Glycation and Skin Aging
In this eye-opening episode of the College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds—Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology—takes a deep dive into how advanced glycation end products (AGEs) silently sabotage your skin and connective tissues as you age. Building on the fundamentals of glycation, Dr. Reynolds explains how sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin, locking them into stiff, unrepairable st
Cardiovascular Health and Glycation
In this episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds explores the damaging impact of glycation and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on cardiovascular health. He explains how these sugar-derived molecules stiffen arteries, trigger inflammation, and contribute to conditions like hypertension, atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart failure. Backed by decades of peer-reviewed research, Dr.
Cognitive Decline and Glycation
What if the foods we eat are quietly sabotaging our brain health? In this episode of The College of Glycation, Professor Paul Reynolds takes us deep into the science of glycation and its overlooked role in cognitive decline. From Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to anxiety and depression, we explore how sugar-damaged proteins—known as AGEs—wreak havoc on the brain’s delicate chemistry.You’ll hear the l
Oxidative Stress 101
In this episode of The College of Glycation, Dr. Paul Reynolds introduces listeners to the foundational science behind oxidative stress—a hidden but powerful force behind aging and chronic disease. He breaks down how reactive oxygen species (ROS), the byproducts of energy metabolism, can damage cells when left unchecked, leading to a cascade of health issues including cardiovascular disease, diabe
Inflammation 101
Inflammation: it’s the reason your ankle swells after a sprain and a hidden engine behind heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. In this foundational episode of The College of Glycation, Professor Paul Reynolds walks us through the science of inflammation—what it is, how it works, and why it’s both essential and potentially destructive.You’ll learn the difference between acute and chronic infla
Glycation 101: The Sticky Mess of Sugar and Why It Matters
In this episode of College of Glycation, Professor Paul Reynolds dives into the science of glycation—a surprisingly important process where sugar molecules bind to proteins and fats in the body, creating compounds called AGEs that can accelerate aging and disease. Starting with the basics, Reynolds unpacks how glycation happens, why it matters for your cells, and what role sugar and processed food
Welcome to the College of Glycation!
In this premiere episode, Dr. Paul Reynolds introduces The College of Glycation—a podcast dedicated to exploring how sugar and glycation impact aging, health, and chronic disease. You'll learn what glycation is, why it matters, and how this overlooked biological process connects the dots between metabolism, inflammation, and long-term wellness. Whether you're a health professional or just
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