What is autophagy? Benefits

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  1. What is autophagy
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What is autophagy

A form of cellular cleansing, autophagy is necessary for the proper functioning of the body.

The term "autophagy", coined by Nobel Prize winner Christian de Duve, comes from the Greek auto (car) and phagein (eat). Therefore, it literally means "to eat oneself".

What is autophagy

Photo Narupon Promvichai in Pixabay

Autophagy is a form of cellular cleansing: it is a regular and orderly process of decomposition and recycling of cellular components when the energy necessary for their survival has become insufficient.

When all the defective or diseased cellular components have been removed, the body can begin the process of renewal. New cells and tissues are generated to replace those that have been destroyed. This is how the body renews itself.

The cells of the body are comparable to those of cars, with more and more parts that need to be replaced as they age.

Over time, it is also necessary to replace the sub-cellular parts, and then when the cell becomes too old to justify repair, it is destroyed to make way for a new healthy cell.

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a process that occurs in the cell when it reaches a certain age and leads it to commit suicide. However, when only certain cellular components need to be replaced, autophagy is triggered.

Over time, undesirable cellular components accumulate when autophagic processes are not regularly activated. This promotes the development of certain diseases such as cancer.

It should be noted that high levels of glucose, insulin and protein can prevent autophagy. Conversely, fasting or resistance activates it.

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