We all enter the world in the same position: curled up, soft, flexible, and protected — the fetal position. Interestingly, many of us leave the world the same way — curled forward, stiff, and fragile. Therefore, if flexion will eventually mean death, then maintaining extension for as long as possible means life.
This circular journey of posture says a lot about how the human body ages. But there’s something deeper happening beneath the surface. As we age, our tissues undergo a process that is both natural and, in some ways, preventable. It's called glycation, and it’s literally cooking us from the inside out.
What Is Glycation?
Glycation is a chemical reaction where sugar molecules bind to proteins like collagen and elastin — the stuff that makes up our connective tissue. This binding creates Advanced Glycation End-products (aptly called AGEs), which cause tissues to stiffen, darken, and lose their youthful bounce.
Think of it like cooking meat. Raw meat is soft, pale, and flexible. Cook it, and it becomes stiff, dry, and brown. That’s glycation in action — and it’s happening inside your body right now.
From White to Brown: How Our Tissues “Cook” Over Time
When we’re born, our connective tissues are white, hydrated, elastic, and full of life. Over time, due to:
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High sugar intake
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Oxidative stress
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Inflammation
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Sedentary living
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And natural aging
...those same tissues begin to dehydrate, stiffen, and darken. The youthful white becomes the aged brown.
This isn’t just about how you feel — it’s about how you function. Tight joints, limited mobility, decreased flexibility, chronic aches — all signs that your tissues are slowly “cooking.”
The Posture Connection
From a biomechanical perspective, the fetal position is one of safety and conservation. In infancy, it’s how we grow. In aging, it's how we collapse. Postural collapse — stooped shoulders, forward head, curled spine — isn’t just cosmetic. It’s a reflection of neuromuscular decline, tissue dehydration, and fascial densification.
And what’s one of the best ways to keep your tissues mobile, hydrated, and elastic?
Movement.
Alignment.
Chiropractic care.
How Chiropractic Helps "Uncook" You
As chiropractors, we focus on restoring and maintaining the mobility and integrity of your spine, nervous system and all connective tissues throughout your body. Here's how chiropractic can help slow the cooking process:
Restores spinal motion → preventing adhesions and joint decay
Improves circulation → bringing nutrients and hydration to tissues
Stimulates fascia and connective tissue → keeping it pliable and functional
Reduces inflammation and stress → two major glycation drivers
Promotes upright posture → pulling you out of that end-stage fetal position
Consistent care doesn’t just help with back pain — it keeps you moving, aging better, and living with vitality.
Aging Is Inevitable. Decay Is Optional.
We can’t stop the clock — but we can influence how we move through time. By making smart choices with nutrition, hydration, movement, and chiropractic care, you can resist the curl, the cook, and the collapse.
Your body wants to stay upright, open, and strong. Let’s help it do just that.
