Autophagy

Autophagy is the body’s way of cleaning out damaged cells, in order to regenerate newer, healthier cells.''Auto'' means self and “phagy” means eat. So the literal meaning of autophagy is “self-eating.” It’s also referred to as “self-devouring.” While that may sound like something you never want to happen to your body, it’s actually beneficial to your overall health. This is because autophagy is an evolutionary self-preservation mechanism through which the body can remove the dysfunctional cells and recycle parts of them toward cellular repair and cleaning. The purpose of autophagy is to remove debris and self-regulate back to optimal smooth function. It is recycling and cleaning at the same time, just like hitting a reset button to your body. Plus, it promotes survival and adaptation as a response to various stressors and toxins accumulated in our cells. At the cellular level, Prof.Yoshinori, Nobel Prize holder in 2016 says the benefits of autophagy include: 1.Removing toxic proteins from the cells that are attributed to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease 2.Recycling residual proteins providing energy and building blocks for cells that could still benefit from repair. 3.On a larger scale, it prompts regeneration and healthy cells. Autophagy is receiving a lot of attention for the role it may play in preventing or treating cancer, too. While all cancers start from some sort of defective cells, the body should recognize and remove those cells, often using autophagic processes. That’s why some researchers are looking at the possibility that autophagy may lower the risk of cancer. Remember that autophagy literally means “self-eating.” So, it makes sense that intermittent fasting and ketogenic diets are known to trigger autophagy. “Fasting is [the] most effective way to trigger autophagy,” explains Prof.Yoshinori, “Ketosis, a diet high in fat and low in carbs brings the same benefits of fasting without fasting, like a shortcut to induce the same beneficial metabolic changes,” he adds. “By not overwhelming the body with an external load, it gives the body a break to focus on its own health and repair.”In the keto diet, you get about 75 percent of your daily calories from fat, and 5 to 10 percent of your calories from carbs. This shift in calorie sources causes your body to shift its metabolic pathways. It will begin to use fat for fuel instead of the glucose that’s derived from carbohydrates. In the keto diet, you get about 75 percent of your daily calories from fat, and 5 to 10 percent of your calories from carbs. “Low glucose levels occur in both diets and are linked to low insulin and high glucagon levels,” explains Prof.Yoshinori. And glucagon level is the one that initiates autophagy. “When the body is low on sugar through fasting or ketosis, it brings the positive stress that wakes up the survival repairing mode,” he adds. However, you need to consult your doctor if you’re taking any medications, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or wish to become pregnant, or have a chronic condition, such as heart disease or diabetes. To share the video with others please click the link below: https://youtu.be/jqspuDpwjio #Autophay, #Autophagy fasting, #Intermittent fasting