locking Cellular Renewal: The Power of Autophagy

Autophagy, pronounced "aw-TAH-fuh-jee", is a natural process that occurs within cells to break down and recycle old or damaged parts. But what exactly does it do, and how can you trigger it?

What is Autophagy?

Autophagy is a cellular process that helps maintain cellular homeostasis by:

- Breaking down and removing damaged organelles, proteins, and other substances from a cell's cytoplasm (cell recycling)

- Balancing energy sources when a cell is stressed or starved (energy balance)

- Removing junk from cells, allowing them to function properly (cell quality control)

- Helping cells survive by removing damaged parts and recycling them for new cell parts (cell survival)

How Does Autophagy Work?

The process of autophagy involves:

1. A semicircular membrane called a phagophore forms around the cell parts to be recycled.

2. The phagophore closes to form an autophagosome.

3. The autophagosome fuses with a lysosome, which contains digestive enzymes.

4. The lysosome breaks down the contents of the autophagosome.

5. The resulting molecules are released back into the cytosol for recycling.

How to Trigger Autophagy

You can trigger autophagy through:

- Fasting

- Calorie restriction

- Exercising

- Following a ketogenic diet

Potential Health Benefits

Autophagy may help prevent or limit the development of diseases like:

- Cancer

- Type 2 diabetes

- Alzheimer's disease

My Personal Experience

I fast every Monday, regularly. I also cleanse my body once a year at a Naturopathy center for 10 days, with 2 days of water fasting and 7 days of fruit fasting. It helps in removing toxic stuff from my body and leaves me feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Share your thoughts on autophagy and its benefits in the comments below!

By,

Pooja Dadhich

Manish Mevada