Autophagy comes from the Greek word auto means self and Phagy means eating. So it literally means self-eating.
Autophagy is the body’s own mechanism of getting rid of all broken down cells(membranes, organless, and protein) and replacing them with new cells. This process is essential for your overall health.
The purpose of Autophagy is to remove debris and self-regulate back to optimal smooth functioning of organs.
In the modern world we really go hungry for a long period to regulate Autophagy we are continuously eating and binging upon somethings and we are also not expending that many calories to create a deficit. Creating an energy deficit triggers autophagy. Without an energy deficit, you remain in feed mode and never come on fasting mode to create autophagy.
This was not the case with ancestors they were not sitting around the cubicle and waiting for a paycheck and with that money getting groceries. They were continuously stressing for meal and working hard to get it. This was the reason they were not diagnosed with diseases like heart conditions and cancers because they were continuously burning off cells from there bodies through autophagy.
What Activates Autophagy
Fasting – Autophagy is created by creating a deficit of energy that deficit s can be created by fasting. You can follow the principle of intermittent fasting where you fast for 16 hours and eating time is 8 hours. By this technique you are restricting meals from your daily routines and creating a window for autophagy. In intermittent fasting is maint done to reduce weight but through Autophagy, you want to improve the overall health of yours.
Keto – Keto Diet also promotes Autophagy as in the Keto diet you are reducing the amount of carbs you consume and replacing them with fats in your diet. Keto diet comprises 70% of fats, 25%of protein and the remaining 5 % of carbs. Low carb diet forces our body to use fat as a fuel instead of the usual glucose. When your body fat is high and is present in your body burn fat first for energy and converts into fatty acids this process is known as ketosis. When your body is burning fat you also reach to stage of Autophagy.
Train Regularly – When you exercise regularly you expend energy you are creating a calorie deficit and you can activate autophagy.
Drink Coffee – Coffee improves your metabolism with improved metabolism you burn more calories while working out and also while resting and you activate autophagy.
Benefits of Autophagy
Antiageing principle – Through Autophagy you can roll back a few years as you are replacing old burn out cells with new cells. Autophagy.
Removes Cancerous cells – Autophagy can stop establishment of cancerous cells from settling in as autophagy burns worn-out cells first that are malfunctioned.
Heart Diseases – Autophagy plays an important role in improving heart health.
Diabetes – By activating autophagy through fasting or through working out you are reducing the chances of obesity. Autophagy enables the progression of obesity to diabetes via pancreatic beta-cell degradation and insulin resistance.
Lose weight – the main objective of activating autophagy might be improving overall health it also helps you to lose weight you are on intermittent fasting and working out to activate autophagy.
Alzheimer’s disease – Early-stage Alzheimer’s disease is linked to deficits in autophagy.
Providing energy – It provides energy and building blocks for cells that could still benefit from repair.