Exploring Autophagy: Potential to Increase Life Span
The body has a method of eliminating harmful organisms and toxins known as detoxification.
This allows the cells, organs, and the immune system to work at their best.
That is not the only way the body heals itself.
It has been discovered that a process is essential for getting rid of damaged cells and repurposing their components into new ones to maintain equilibrium.
Detoxification and Autophagy slows with age and can be impacted by one’s lifestyle choices. Nevertheless, it is still an important process.
Autophagy: What is it?
The Greek term “autophagy” can be translated to “self-eating,” meaning that the body is carrying out a self-degradative action that gets rid of misfolded proteins, unhealthy cells, and disease-causing agents.
The cellular components of these are then reused to build new and healthy cells.
Moxley, an exercise physiologist and the director of applied sciences at Longevity Labs, explained to Healthnews that there is “a built-in cellular detoxification process that is found in all creatures.
This is why much of the research was done using fruit flies and mice before the studies were done with humans.”
Christian de Duve, a scientist from Belgium, was the individual who first used the term “lysosomes” in 1962 during his research on the digestive organelles of a cell.
Autophagy & The Novel Prize
This research was acknowledged with a Nobel Prize shared with two other scientists in 1974.
It wasn’t until Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Japanese cell biologist, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2016 for his discovery of mechanisms for autophagy, that autophagy became mainstream almost 40 years later.
Fasting, heat/sauna treatments, and various dietary supplements have been increasingly employed to increase autophagy and thereby, promote better health and greater lifespan.
It has been demonstrated that autophagy may be beneficial for the treatment of several illnesses such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. However, there is still much to be discovered in regards to a complete comprehension of autophagy.
What is the process of autophagy?
Moxley pointed out that autophagy is an ongoing process within the cell, so it is not simply a matter of turning it “on-and-off”. It is possible to either increase or decrease it depending on the circumstances, which we will look at in the subsequent section.
The body’s induction of autophagy is often sparked by a lack of nutrients or oxygen that it would normally use to generate energy. In this situation, the organism will look inward and start to break down aged and dysfunctional cells into their components to then build new cells.
Lifespan Expert Weighs In
David Sinclair, in his book “Lifespan,” explains autophagy as a process in which cells become more conservative, recycling older components to provide energy and lengthen their existence.
In the distant past when food was scarce, autophagy emerged as an essential mechanism to help our ancestors survive. This process enabled them to maintain an equilibrium in the body.
Research has revealed that autophagy prevents the accumulation of decrepit and aged cells that induce inflammation and reduce cell functionality. Consequently, it can be a potential treatment for illnesses that are connected to inflammation.
How can autophagy assist with the prolonging of life and contribute to one’s overall health?
It is becoming widely accepted that health and aging in a healthy way commence on a cellular level. If your cells and mitochondria perform optimally, then your organs will work efficiently, and thus, your entire body will be in an optimal condition.
Your daily habits such as eating, exercising, and sleeping can either have a positive or negative effect on your cells and the amount of inflammation in your body. Autophagy, which activates the body’s survival mechanism, can help to fix errors and potentially reduce the effects of aging.
More on Autophagy
Autophagy has been linked to anti-aging as it is known to activate the anti-aging gene (Sirtuin 1), reduce the production of reactive oxygen species and inflammation, aid in cell repair, and increase the production of brain-protective substances.
Moxley explained that autophagy has been found to be beneficial for numerous ailments, and that this is likely due to its ability to reduce inflammation.
According to research from Harvard Health, chronic inflammation is at the root of numerous preventable modern diseases.
Autophagy Decreases Inflammation
He noted that an increase in autophagy is usually met with a decrease in inflammation, and that currently 67 proteins related to autophagy have been discovered.
He went on to explain that the more autophagy is increased, the more inflammation is suppressed. He furthermore pointed out that “inflammaging” is a phenomenon in which inflammation accelerates the aging process.
A research paper released in Nature recently shed light on the cognitive advantages of autophagy.
This investigation concluded that autophagy is instrumental in raising BDNF signaling, which helps keep cognitive efficiency and encourages neuroplasticity.
What could potentially impede the process of autophagy?
Autophagy can be impeded by certain elements, which can be listed as follows
Overeating
Frequent snacking
Being inactive
Techniques for boosting autophagy
Caloric limitation and abstaining from food
Intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating has been found to induce Sirtuin 1 gene (Sirt1) activation, which encourages autophagy.
By depriving the body of protein and carbohydrates, mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling is disrupted, a process which has been linked to a stimulation of autophagy, according to a research article published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
It’s critical to include cycling in your routine. To promote the body’s “housekeeping” system,
it’s essential to provide it with healthy fats, proteins, and fiber to reactivate the mTOR pathway and create new cells.
You can allow your body to cleanse during fasting, and then rebuild when you eat. Moxley suggests beginning with a 6-hour feeding/18-hour fasting or 8-hour feeding/16-hour fasting schedule.
Using Dietary Supplements
The use of dietary supplements is becoming increasingly popular as people seek to improve their health, wellness, and overall quality of life.
These products are available in a variety of forms, including pills, capsules, and powders, and can provide an array of benefits.
Supplements can provide essential vitamins and minerals that may be lacking in a person’s diet, as well as offer additional nutrients for improved health and immunity.
Furthermore, taking supplements can help to reduce the risk of certain diseases and provide overall support for healthy living.
Two medications, metformin and rapamycin, are often prescribed to inhibit mTOR activity and thereby stimulate autophagy.
A natural polyamine, spermidine, has been identified as promoting autophagy.
A study recently conducted showed that dietary supplementation of this molecule increased life expectancy and reversed the detrimental effects of aging on the heart in mice by stimulating autophagy.
Keeping Fit Through Exercise
Physical activity is an essential part of living a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise is a great way to stay in shape, improve physical and mental health, and reduce stress. Taking part in regular exercise can help prevent or reduce the severity of a variety of health conditions and improve overall wellbeing.
It’s important to find an activity that suits your individual needs and goals.
Moxley encourages people to engage in exercise for reasons other than just weight loss.
He explains that this activity can help to promote autophagy, reduce inflammation, generate healthier mitochondrial integrity, and increase AMPK.
As a bonus, weight loss and improved body composition will be side effects of these activities.
A diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates can result in ketosis
Investigations have revealed a favorable connection between ketogenic approaches and autophagy activation in addition to enhanced vascular health.
An individual can get into a state of ketosis through fasting or by consuming a diet composed of high fat, minimal carbohydrate, and moderate amounts of protein.
Utilizing Heat as Therapy
Using heat as a form of therapy has been found to be useful in many ways. It has been used to help with pain relief, improve circulation, and reduce muscle tension, among other things.
Heat therapy can be beneficial for those suffering from arthritis, sports injuries, or chronic pain. It can be done with hot packs, hot baths, or even infrared light.
Research detailed in the Journal of Applied Physiology concluded that the results from animal and cell culture experiments have demonstrated a potential benefit from heat therapy in terms of autophagy.
However, further inquiry is required to ascertain if sauna use has the same effect on humans.
The CDC declared on January 18, 2023 that counties in states with an adult obesity prevalence of more than 40% are qualified to apply for a grant.
Furthermore, they have made new funding available.
Frequency Assessment Optimization & Autophagy
Frequency assessment and optimization can be done using the Premier Health Technology from Solex AO Scan.
The AO Scan helps move the body toward homeostasis which move the body in such a way to better facilitate detoxification, and ultimately autophagy.
“AO Scan Technology should serve as a foundational protocol when it com to all things heath & wellness.” says AO Scan Expert & Trainer, Paige Maurer Wheeler,
We would love to share with you why we consider this to be one of the top longevity hacks.
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