Can the science of autophagy boost your health?
Alittle-known scientific process is being hailed as the new way to lose weight, look younger and prolong life. Autophagy is a natural regeneration process that occurs at a cellular level in the body, reducing the likelihood of contracting some diseases as well as prolonging lifespan.
In 2016, Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize for his discoveries into the mechanisms of autophagy. These have led to a better understanding of diseases such as Parkinson’s and dementia.
Since then, drug companies and academics have raced to find drugs that will stimulate the process, and diet and wellness experts are jumping on the bandwagon claiming that the process can be induced naturally by fasting, high-intensity exercise and restricting carbohydrates.
So what do scientists say? “Certainly the evidence from experiments in mice suggest that would be the case,” said Dr David Rubinsztein, professor of molecular neurogenetics at the University of Cambridge and UK Dementia Research Institute.
“There are studies where they have switched on the process using genetic tools or drugs or fasting, and in those cases the animals tend to live longer and be in better overall shape.” However, he said it was not yet clear how that translated to humans.
“For example, in mice, you see the effects of fasting on the brain in 24 hours, and in some areas of their body, like the liver, much more quickly. Yet even though we know fasting is beneficial, we don’t know yet exactly how long humans would need to fast to see the benefits,” said Dr Rubinsztein.
That said, fasting does stimulate autophagy, he said, and its benefits had also been proven by other studies.
WHAT IS AUTOPHAGY?
The word autophagy comes from the Greek for “self ” and “phagein”, which means “to eat”
It is the process by which cells degrade and recycle their components
It provides fuel for energy and building blocks for cell renewal
After infection, autophagy can destroy bacteria and viruses
Cells use autophagy to get rid of damaged proteins and organelles, to counteract the negative effects of ageing on the body.
MUSCLE MASS
One new book, Glow 15 by Naomi Whittel - a self-styled “wellness explorer” - sets out a 15-day programme that includes 16-hour fasts three times a week, reducing protein on some days, eating carbohydrates later in the day and periods of high-intensity exercise.
“Switch this on,” he says
NERVE CELLS
Clearly, fasting to excess is not a good idea and anyone looking to make major changes to their diet or lifestyle should check with their GP first. BBC