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Autophagy

Even in a healthy human body, cells are constantly becoming damaged as a normal part of metabolic processes. However, as we age, experience stress, and deal with more and more free radical damage, our cells become damaged at an increased rate.

This is where autophagy comes in: It helps to clear damaged cells from the body, including senescent cells that serve no functional purpose but still linger inside tissues and organs. The reason it’s so important to remove senescent and damaged cells is because they can trigger inflammatory pathways and contribute to various diseases.

Research suggests that some of the most important autophagy benefits include:

• Providing cells with molecular building blocks and energy
• Recycling damaged proteins, organelles and aggregates
• Regulating functions of cells’ mitochondria, which help produce energy but can be damaged by oxidative stress
• Clearing damaged endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisomes
• Protecting the nervous system and encouraging growth of brain and nerve cells. Autophagy seems to improve cognitive function, brain structure and neuroplasticity.
• Supporting growth of heart cells and protecting against heart disease
• Enhancing the immune system by eliminating intracellular pathogens
• Defending against misfolded, toxic proteins that contribute to a number of amyloid diseases
• Protecting stability of DNA
• Preventing damage to healthy tissues and organs (known as necrosis)
• Potentially fighting cancer, neurodegenerative disease and other illnesses

Source

Side Note: Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2018 for his work on autophagy.

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Intermittent Fasting is supposed to trigger Autophagy.