Autophagy

Autophagy

Metabolism is preordered with a whole range of different influences, starting from epigenetic (what we consume and overall environmental influence), to genetic level but what seems like the most influential point is actually our mind. Depending on our mood, we will get a signal about what to consume. Ideally, our nervous system gathers signals from every body part and calculates what it needs (how many vitamins, proteins, carbs, etc). When in balance and well organized, our mind can function in perfect communication with every body part and require particular food to nourish the whole system. What could negatively impact this relation?

Before everything, social impact will intervene with our decision on what to consume. If available, we will take the easy path, the shortest and simplest choice to make-consume some high-sugar food because it is there, because it is cheap and because it will satisfy our senses. After a while, there comes another signal, mixed with the previous one, and once again, we reach any easy choice-always the wrong one. With time, we lose the ability to recognize what our body really needs, and finally, the system must be restarted.

There are ways to restart a body system: returning to real food, nothing industrial, and autophagy. Another term is intermitted fasting. Actually, this is not a new thing. We have done it from the beginning of humankind. Starvation because of the lack of food, long travels for various reasons, and religious reasons. These days, around the world Christians practice fasting, connected with incoming Easter. Cleaning our body and mind was always simple like that-avoiding any food for some time, or at least, some “heavy” (industrial) food.

While in this period, no matter for which reason, the body activates autophagy. This is a normal cellular mechanism to clean intruders, some metabolite products (extra fat), and even to remove some unfunctional cells. If we allow our body to rest and enter a phase of autophagy for some time, the benefits are many. Below is a shortlist of benefits that will lead our system to equilibrium once again.

—cellular homeostasis (balance)

-longer life - this was proved with an experiment on animals,

-elimination of intruders, metabolite products, waste which can damage cells and later organs,

-resting for our system,

-inflammation reduction,

-better adaptation to stress,

-improve will and overall mood (by improving neural paths and setting hormone balance).

Equilibrium or a balance is difficult to reach and almost every living act is our effort to reach this point: what we consume, how much we communicate with others and what type of relations we have, what feeds our soul, and which activities our body prefers.