Living to 120 - A Special Report on How to Slow Ageing
In September 2023, the Economist produced a review of the current methods employed and researched to slow aging in humans. The series of articles spanned a variety of background and...
Cells play a variety of important roles in our body. They provide the blueprint for everything we are and everything we become. They can store and release oxygen, create energy, communicate with each other to maintain our health, and store the food we eat, later distributing the nutrients in that food throughout our body.
Over time, cells fatigue and become damaged. Old cellular matter that accumulates begins to degrade cell functionality. This can lead to a variety of health problems and age-related illnesses. Thankfully, our bodies have an answer for the cellular renewal process. It's called autophagy.
Simply put, autophagy is a life-supporting renewal mechanism that exists in every cell. The basic idea is that our cells clean and recycle cellular waste as byproduct natural cycles. While this cellular renewal process is active, our bodies are able to regenerate damaged and old cells. Through autophagy we can “detox” our cells and use the waste material as energy. Most importantly, through this process we are able to regenerate and rejuvenate our cells and potentially our entire body.
Autophagy is typically induced during situations of energy deficiency when the body needs more resources. Our cells switch from building mode to an equally important breakdown mode. This "breakdown" mode is an emergency and cleaning all-in-one program that solves the body's energy needs while using up unnecessary parts of our cells .
Unfortunately, a constant supply of food, especially in excess, coupled with a lack of physical activity sabotages the autophagy process. However, the revitalizing powers of autophagy can be actively triggered though spermidine supplementation, fasting, and exercise.
By making smart, healthy decisions to trigger autophagy, we have the power to take our health into our own hands.