What is autophagy and how can you trigger it?

Cells are continually subject to becoming damaged as part of normal metabolic processes and as we age the rate of damage increases. This is where autophagy comes to the rescue as it helps to clear damaged cells from the body including senescent cells. The removal of senescent cells plays a vital role in longevity as they can no longer divide and become inflammatory to neighbouring cells.

 How does autophagy work?

 Autophagy is a process which allows the body to reuse cell parts. Over time parts of the cell become damaged and create litter within the cell. Autophagy cleans up these waste parts to create new building blocks to support repair and regeneration.

The word autophagy is a combination of two Greek words meaning to eat oneself.

“Autos” means self

“Phagomal” means to eat

 The waste components of cells are deposited in a part of the cell called lysosome. The lysosome breaks down cellular debris so that any reusable parts are released as raw materials to be re purposed. 

Why is autophagy important?

Autophagy has the ability to remove damaged cell components to make new building blocks.

The process destroys pathogens including bacteria and viruses.

It reduces inflammatory pathways which can contribute toward diseases. 

What are the benefits of autophagy?

• Helps to protect the stability of DNA
• Provides cells with the building blocks for cellular energy
• Recycles damaged components in the cells
• Helps to destroy viruses and bacteria in the cell
• Boosts the immune system
• Removes non-functioning parts of the cell
• Helps to protect the nervous system
• Helps to protect from the diseases associated with ageing
• Helps to increase healthspan ie the number of years living without disease

How to induce autophagy

Fasting and calorie restriction: Fasting deprives the body of nutrition, forcing cells into repurposing cell parts. It’s recommended that you fast for 24-48 hours to trigger autophagy, however it is recommended that you only do this under consultation of a medical practitioner. Similarly, calorie restriction can force cells into autophagy.

Exercise: Exercise triggers autophagy, it’s believed that intense exercise is most beneficial but currently there isn’t enough data to verify this. Exercise stimulates autophagy in metabolic regulation of muscles, the liver, pancreas and adipose tissues.

Ketone diet: Eating a high fat/protein diet while reducing carbs changes the way that the body uses fat for energy which in turn switches on the process of autophagy.

Supplements: Until now it was recommended that we should follow a restricted diet alongside rigorous exercise programme to gain the benefits of autophagy. However certain supplements can trigger the process to give you the same benefits that could only be achieved by following a very strict regime of diet and exercise. Specific ingredients including resveratrol, fisetin, pterostilbene, astragalus and quercetin promote the process of autophagy. These ingredients have the ability to stimulate a family of enzymes called sirtuins which actively promote the process autophagy

You will find all these ingredients in Regenerate, our longevity boosting formula.

Discover Regenerate