As we age, our cells collect damaged proteins and debris that hinder healthy and youthful cell activity. One of the body’s processes for clearing out these damaged cells is called autophagy. Autophagy is part of the metabolic process. It occurs when the body breaks down and consumes its own tissue to create new cells that will operate more efficiently.
It’s an important mechanism for mitochondrial health and optimizing our cells’ function. It’s our cellular recycling system and is a key to aging well. By clearing out toxic or damaged cells, our body begins to work better. We notice an improvement in brain health, cardiovascular function, weight loss, disease prevention, and support our overall longevity.
Here are few ways you can stimulate autophagy:
Intermittent Fasting One way to induce autophagy is to cycle between periods of eating and fasting. When we fast, it signals to our body that nutrients are scarce and cells activate the autophagy process. Aim for a 16-hour fasting window but maintain a minimum of 12 hours of fasting.
Exercise
Exercise induces proteins that are related to autophagy. Training regularly can improve autophagy-related markers.
Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation reduces our body’s autophagy abilities. Eating whole foods and avoiding foods with sugar and gluten can help keep inflammation at bay. BluMega and Essential D3/K2 have natural blood thinning effects and it is also an anti-inflammatory agent.
Spermidine Rich Foods
Spermidine stimulates autophagy. Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine, which helps cell growth, cell survival, and cell proliferation in a multitude of ways. Foods high in spermidine include grapefruit, broccoli, legumes, green tea, and more. When spermidine levels are low the body’s ability to break down cells that carry disease is hindered, which makes us susceptible to illness and accelerated aging.
