Understanding the Critical Stages That Lead to Autophagy When on Intermittent Fasting
If you have been around for quite some time, you have probably seen the word autophagy and Intermittent fasting being used interchangeably. If the current statistics are anything to go by, no doubt, Intermittent fasting, which leads to autophagy, is a revolutionary way not just to lose weight but get rid of so many diseases. This is because autophagy promotes new cell regeneration by encouraging the degrading and recycling of dead cells. Thus, intermittent fasting is not all about weight loss or a way to lose fat fast while maintaining lean muscle mass. It is a very healthy lifestyle that has been informed by the study of human evolution and general human body metabolism. Through intermittent fasting, the body becomes self-protective and very efficient than it is used to.
There are several stages of intermittent fasting, which all lead to autophagy and a renewed mind, body, and soul. Check this, when in a well-fed state, the individual cells in the human body are often in a “growth” mode. The body Insulins signals and communicate cells to grow, synthesize, and multiply as well as break down all active proteins. Autophagy is the second stage of intermittent fasting, which is preceded by ketosis and heavy ketosis, then followed by the growth hormone in the third position, insulin reduction, and ultimately stem cell rejuvenation. Keep in mind when the cells turn on the cellular growth and multiplication genes when you are on a fed state, they, in the process, turn the genes off. These are the genes that are related to stress resistance, fat metabolism, and cell damage repair.
During a fasted state, things are completely different. The body naturally responds to what it views as environmental stress i.e., lack of food. It thus changes the expression of genes that are responsible for protecting you from environmental stress. During a fasted state, ketones are produced, which act as deacetylase inhibitors and which in the process turn on the genes that are related to damage repair and antioxidant processes. The body enters into a state of ketosis by the 12th hour of fasting. This is a metabolic state that kick starts the process of breaking down and burning fat cells.
By the 18th hour, the body switches into fat-burning fully and has started generating significant ketones and can actually measure the levels of ketones in the blood. By the 24th hour of a fasted state, the cells are increasingly recycled, and the old components are broken down to promote new cell regeneration in the process known as autophagy. Autophagy is a very important process that promotes both tissue and cellular rejuvenation, and this is where even misfolded proteins are removed. It is also important to highlight the refeeding stage, which plays a very critical role in the whole intermittent fasting and autophagy processes. Breaking the fast with a well-balanced, nutritious meal is equally as important as the actual fasting process. This is because it improves tissues and cell functioning that underwent the cleaning process during autophagy.