AUTOPHAGY

Autophagy literally means “self-eating”. This natural bodily process helps us to get rid of old and damaged cells and create new healthy ones. A lack of autophagy is heavily linked to cancer, as the body does not remove those cancerous cells as it should. Autophagy can be activated by performing extended fasts (over 48 hours) or supplementing with ingredients such as spermidine.

The anti-ageing properties of autophagy appear to be its primary advantage. In fact, it’s best recognised as the body’s method of producing younger cells.

When our cells are under stress, autophagy levels increase to assist and protect us, lengthening our lifespan.

Additionally, autophagy can maintain the body’s functioning during times of deprivation by disassembling cells and repurposing them for essential functions.

Naturally, this requires energy and cannot go on indefinitely, but it provides us more time to acquire food.

The advantages of autophagy at the cellular level include:

  • Eliminating the harmful proteins from cells that are linked to neurodegenerative illnesses including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
  • Recycling leftover proteins promotes regeneration and healthy cells by giving energy and building blocks to cells that could still use extensive repair.
  • The potential role autophagy may play in preventing or treating cancer is also attracting a lot of attention. 

According to Keatley, “autophagy declines with age, which implies that cells that no longer function or may cause harm are permitted to grow, which is the MO of cancer cells.”

While all malignancies originate from damaged cells of some kind, the body should be able to identify and eliminate those cells, frequently through autophagic processes. Some scholars are considering the idea that autophagy may decrease the risk of cancer.

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