46. Autophagy

Full Scope Human Longevity

Summary

We have been taught to not skip meals, make carbohydrates the most abundant macronutrient we consume, and to snack throughout the day. Sadly, this all appears to be wrong. Fasting exists in many forms and growing evidence suggests it is essential to health. We are all spending way too much time fed and not enough time fasting. Want to stimulate autophagy? Then eat less, exercise more, and feel better!

Morbidity and Mortality

Obesity rates have more than tripled worldwide since 1975. Over 50% of people in the United States are now obese and 30% or more have metabolic syndrome. Houston, we have a problem!

Story

Jesus fed for 40 days in the desert during what we now call Lent. Islamic peoples celebrate Ramadan, a remembrance of Mohamad’s 1st revelation. During this holy month, Islamic people do not eat during the daylight hours. Buddhist monks fast during religious retreats and the Buddha did not eat food after lunch. For a time fasting fell out of favor, but it is coming back, and just in time.

Key Points

1. Autophagy is biological process that allows cells to recycle nutrients and get rid of harmful waste. It is essential for health and best stimulated through fasting.

2. By fasting and/or limiting carbohydrate intake, mammals enter ketosis. Ketosis is marked by the mobilization of stored fat for nutrition, the synthesis of glucose from glycerol and amino acids, as well as the usage of ketones for nutrition. Maintaining the body in a state of ketosis is beneficial for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

3. Metabolic syndrome is marked by obesity, hypertension, high bad cholesterols, low good cholesterols, high blood sugar, and high insulin levels. It predisposes individual to heart disease, cancer, and numerous other health problems. It is the great killer of our time.

4. Fasting and sleep are the best way to stimulate autophagy. Autophagy is essential to health, and we are increasingly understanding the link between autophagy and longevity.

References

- Yoshinori Ohsumi. What is Autophagy. Lecture. Molecular Frontiers Symposium, Tokyo. 2017.

- Chung KW, Chung HY. The Effects of Calorie Restriction on Autophagy: Role on Aging Intervention. Nutrients. 2019;

- Hwangbo DS, Lee HY, Abozaid LS, Min KJ. Mechanisms of Lifespan Regulation by Calorie Restriction and Intermittent Fasting in Model Organisms. Nutrients. 2020

- Ros M, Carrascosa JM. Current nutritional and pharmacological anti-aging interventions. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2020

- Wikipedia, Autophagy, Intermittant Fasting, ketosis

- Colman RJ, Anderson RM. Nonhuman primate calorie restriction. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011

- Gershuni VM, Yan SL, Medici V. Nutritional Ketosis for Weight Management and Reversal of Metabolic Syndrome. Curr Nutr Rep. 2018

- Moore JX, Chaudhary N, Akinyemiju T. Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence by Race/Ethnicity and Sex in the United States, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–2012. Prev Chronic Dis 2017