Autophagy:A new way to keep you look young & live longer by keeping away cancer and diabetes

Videos including the hashtag #autophagy have amassed almost 35 million views, making them a top trend on TikTok.

Its popularity may be attributed to the fact that it has several features with two of the most talked-about diets: keto and intermittent fasting. However, not all information shared on social media platforms is necessarily reliable when it comes to this topic.

Some TikTokers, for instance, claim that fasting makes the body devour itself, which helps with weight loss, while others say it may tighten skin after weight loss.

Even while “autophagy” may be translated as “self-eating,” Dung Trinh, M.D., chief medical officer of the Healthy Brain Clinic in Long Beach, California, contends that this is an overly literal understanding of the word.

It’s a constant and normal part of the natural world. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it acts as “quality control for your cells” and the “cellular recycling system” of the body. Excessive trash in a cell is both a waste of space and a hindrance to its function. This technique increases cell efficiency by reusing cell fragments.

Overeating, lack of exercise, and frequent eating are just a few of the unhealthy habits that Dr. Trinh says might slow autophagy. Certain factors have been linked to the development of chronic illnesses as heart, kidney, and liver disease.

However, there are actions you may do that may improve your health and stimulate autophagy.

Autophagy:What Is It?

It is the process by which cells spontaneously recycle their own pieces, such as broken proteins or organelles, to create energy and maintain cellular homeostasis. The name “autophagy” comes from the Greek words “auto,” meaning “self,” and “phagy,” meaning “eating.”

It may be triggered by a wide variety of stresses, including food shortage, oxidative stress, and pathogen invasion. When it takes place, a double-membrane structure called an autophagosome combines with a lysosome, a cellular organelle that contains digestive enzymes, to absorb the damaged or unwanted cellular components. The lysosome then degrades the contents of the autophagosome, releasing amino acids and other metabolites that the cell may use to generate energy or synthesize new molecules.Cancer, neurological diseases, and metabolic issues have all been linked to autophagy that is either well regulated or dysregulated. Autophagy modification with food or drugs is being studied for its possible therapeutic uses.

Among the many methods available for boosting autophagy are:

1.Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting refers to a pattern of eating in which times of fasting are interspersed with periods of normal eating. It’s more of a strategy for meal preparation that maximizes health benefits than an actual diet.

While there are variations on intermittent fasting, the most common involves going without meals for 16–24 hours, followed by a normal eating schedule. To achieve a 16-hour fast, one can skip breakfast and eat solely between noon and 8 p.m.While not consuming glucose (from meals), the body shifts its primary energy source to stored fat, according to the idea underlying intermittent fasting. Ketosis is a process that may help lower the risk of diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity and facilitating weight loss.

It has also been shown that intermittent fasting may have positive effects on brain function, disease risk, and inflammation.

It’s important to remember that intermittent fasting isn’t appropriate for everyone, especially those with preexisting medical conditions or special dietary needs. To ensure the body obtains all the nutrients it needs, it is also important to eat healthily during the eating intervals.

2.Ketogenic diets

The goal of the low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet (or simply “keto diet”) is to put the body into a metabolic state termed ketosis. When in ketosis, the body uses ketones (derived from fat) as its primary energy source, rather than glucose (derived from carbohydrates).

Ketogenic dieters often consume meals that are high in fat and protein and low in carbohydrates. You may do this by decreasing your intake of sugary and starchy foods and increasing your consumption of healthy fats found in avocados, nuts, seeds, and oils. Meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, and vegetables that are not high in carbohydrates are all examples of traditional ketogenic fare.

The goal of the ketogenic diet is to induce ketosis as quickly as possible by restricting carbohydrate intake to under 50 grams per day. When in ketosis, the body utilizes fat for fuel instead of glucose, which may lead to weight reduction and other health benefits.

According to studies, those who follow a ketogenic diet see improvements in their weight, insulin sensitivity, and other health markers including blood pressure and glucose levels. It’s important to keep in mind that the ketogenic diet isn’t appropriate for everyone, particularly those with certain conditions or dietary preferences.Maintaining a very low-carbohydrate diet for an extended period of time may be challenging, and it’s possible that some individuals can have undesirable side effects including fatigue, headaches, and diarrhea. It is important to consult a medical professional before making any drastic changes to your diet.

3.Exercise

It may be boosted by a number of causes, one of which is physical activity. For starters, exercise increases the amount of energy the body needs, which might set off the autophagy process to help the body deal with the new load. Second, growth hormone and testosterone, both of which may stimulate it, have been shown to increase in response to exercise.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a powerful method of inducing autophagy. Increasing insulin sensitivity, decreasing inflammation, and aiding weight loss are all possible outcomes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT).It is important to remember that the specific methods by which exercise promotes autophagy are not yet fully known in order to properly appreciate the relationship between exercise and autophagy. However, regular exercise is essential for maintaining overall health and wellness, and it is associated with several health benefits.

Advantages of Increasing Autophagy

Boosting autophagy may have positive effects on health in many ways.

• It helps remove damaged or dysfunctional components of cells, which may accumulate over time and hasten aging.By boosting autophagy, it may be possible to delay aging.
• It is crucial for maintaining a healthy metabolism, and its dysregulation has been linked to metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Metabolic health may be improved by methods like exercise and intermittent fasting.
• It aids in the elimination of damaged or abnormal cells, including cancerous cells, hence decreasing the likelihood of developing cancer. Increasing autophagy may, therefore, help prevent or lessen the risk of cancer.
• Improved mental performance is a direct result of autophagy’s role in clearing the brain of the toxic proteins that might accumulate in those with neurodegenerative diseases. Boosting autophagy, therefore, has the potential to improve cognitive function and reduce the prevalence of certain diseases.
• More research is needed to fully understand the impact of boosting autophagy on human health, and certain treatments may have risks or bad effects. It is important to consult a healthcare practitioner before trying to promote autophagy by dietary, physical, or other therapies.

The danger of trying to make things better

While there may be health benefits to boosting it, there are also potential hazards and adverse effects to consider.

• Malnutrition may occur if calorie restriction or intermittent fasting is not done properly or under the direction of a healthcare expert.
• Negative side effects from medication: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, two therapies that target autophagy, may interact with other drugs and have harmful effects on the liver, eyes, and heart.
• It helps the immune system function normally by removing pathogens and other potentially harmful chemicals. However, boosting autophagy may lower immunity, making people more susceptible to infections.
• Although it has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, it does have a role in keeping the brain free of potentially toxic proteins.

Remember that boosting autophagy is a complex process that could not have the same effects for every individual or situation. The risks and side effects of attempting to promote autophagy by diet, exercise, or pharmacological therapy should be carefully considered, and a medical professional consulted, before taking any such action.