The term autophagy is really unknown to many. However, for those who have tried different methods of weight loss, they may have come across autophagy. In essence, this is a process in which the body cleans cells to get rid of damaged ones and create new ones.
Let’s say it’s a way to purge the body of waste. It’s through microscopic vesicles known as autophagosomes that the body absorbs everything that is no longer useful to discard it. These vesicles move throughout the cell’s interior and capture damaged cells to convert them into energy or essential molecules.
“This process occurs constantly, at a low intensity but sufficient to keep our cells in optimal conditions. Until it renews all its content over time,” says Guillermo Mariño, professor at the Department of Functional Biology at the University of Oviedo.
What is the function of autophagy?
We already know that this is a natural process to clean the body, but exactly what is it for? It is in the midst of fasting when autophagy becomes present. Due to the lack of energy or food, cells increase their autophagy, that is, their ability to supply the demand for nutrients, energy, and essential elements.
To fast or not to fast
Some nutrition experts relate intermittent fasting to autophagy as a process that can help reset cells. Additionally, positive effects are attributed to the cellular mechanism since it is a process in which cells consume parts that are biologically waste. However, intermittent fasting to induce autophagy is not recommended.
For now, it is not proven that this process helps with weight loss. The journal Nutrients found some benefits of fasting for inducing autophagy in May 2019. Apart from that study, no further evidence of the effectiveness of fasting has been found.
Another method to find health balance
We know that for many people, fasting becomes the quickest diet to lose weight, but this is not necessarily healthy. The body needs food, and the key is to create a balanced diet with what the body really needs.
No one should resort to fasting to improve their health. Instead of that method, we invite you to develop your intuitive eating. In this process, you will be able to understand what your body needs and what may possibly harm it.
The ultimate goal is to develop our intuitive eating for the benefit of our health. Eliminate prejudices and ideas associated with food and evolve towards a perception strong enough to define what you are going to eat without harming your health.