Autophagy

About 37 trillion cells are said to be dwelling in a healthy human body. Most of these cells are old, which gets unhealthy after a certain period. In such a scenario, it is important for your body to get rid of the old and dangerous cells and replace them with new healthy cells. This aim is achieved through the process of autophagy.

This post deals with all of the important information about autophagy and why it is important for a human body.

What is Autophagy?

Autophagy is an essential body mechanism through which old and dysfunctional cells are removed from the bloodstream. As a result, your immune systems get stronger and improve their ability to warding off diseases and several conditions. To speed up autophagy in your body, you should adopt a ketogenic diet in your daily eating habits, and intermittent fasting can aid autophagy.

Why is Autophagy Necessary?

The cells can reside in your body for a very long time. The longer these cells are in your body, the more worn-out and damaged they become. Cells can become highly inefficient due to age and the damage sustained over a long period of time.

Thus, our body is used to perform autophagy in which the old and damaged cells eat and destroy themselves. A damaged cell can be destroyed completely or sometimes, and just the damaged part is eliminated during the process. As a result, fresh and healthy cells remain in your body, which can boost immunity.

Types of Autophagy

There are three types of autophagy:

1. Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy (CMA)
2. Micro autophagy
3. Macro autophagy

Benefits of Autophagy

1. It reduces the chances of cell death by eliminating only the damaged part and preventing the death of the rest of the cell.
2. According to a study by Science Translational Medicine, autophagy can boost your cardiac health. Cell recycling is helpful in promoting a healthier heart.
3. It can enhance your metabolic efficiency by a huge margin. As a result, your body will become more active, energetic, and can lose weight quickly.
4. It is a fact that autophagy is considered harmful to cancer patients. However, if you do not have cancer, autophagy can play a vital role in preventing the growth of cancerous cells in your body through a strong immune system and steady production of healthy cells.
5. Everyone wishes to have healthy and fresh skin. As new and healthy cells are produced through autophagy, you can expect your skin to look youthful and rejuvenated through cell renewal.
6. Cognitive function is significantly improved through the production of healthy brain cells and increased nerve cells growth experience during fasting and autophagy.
7. Autophagy, coupled with intermittent fasting, can provide numerous benefits for your digestive system.
8. A better immunity is the primary benefit of autophagy. It reduces the chances of getting diseases and infections.
9. Muscle cells and tissues are repaired, and inflammation is reduced.
10. As there are a lot of benefits of autophagy, it is also associated with prolonging one’s life. Molecules and Cells published research that stated autophagy could play a vital role in achieving longevity.