Role of intermittent fasting and autophagy in healthy lifestyle.

Intermittent fasting, 16 hours fasting window and 8 hours eating window stimulate autophagy. Autophagy also known as chaperone-mediated autophagy is the process by which proteins damaged by free radicals are removed from the cell. This helps with overall cell longevity, increases insulin sensitivity and improves mitochondrial function.

The 16 hour fasting window was defined according to the most effective interval of time for a minimum of 10 consecutive meals within a 24-hour period. For each individual, the Intermittent Fasting effect on autophagy was evaluated from week 3 to week 8. A variety of biomarkers were assessed over this period including serum insulin, glucose, and triglycerides as well as liver and skeletal muscle lipid content

During fasting, autophagy increases, as a result of a longer starvation period and satiety signals. In addition to an increase in autophagy and lifespan extension, fasting also improves glucose homeostasis by normalizing blood glucose levels, preventing insulin resistance and hyperglycemia.

Intermittent fasting is a diet intervention that can play a role in cancer prevention and treatment. Intermittent fasting includes all types of eating patterns such as 16-hour overnight fasting and 8-hour eating windows. When autophagy is stimulated during food restriction, it stimulates cell death pathways and leads to apoptosis or survival, which can lead to tumor regression or killing fasted cancer cells.

Intermittent fasting is a very popular way to lose weight. It's actually a regimen that was originally bred from the science of autophagy. This means it stimulates cellular regeneration and helps repair damage due to oxidative stress, which is what we've been told causes aging in our cells.

Intermittent fasting improves autophagy, increases mitochondrial function and reduces oxidative stress.

In fact, the autophagy process constitutes one of the mechanisms through which intermittent fasting regains metabolic homeostasis, reinforces anti-oxidative status and improves insulin sensitivity. Autophagy induction is also able to reduce oxidative stress and promote glucose tolerance.