Content
- Autophagy: what is it?
- Mechanism of action
- How to start the autophagy process
- The role of autophagy in maintaining youthfulness
- Mega Pro Age Programme
Autophagy is a vital process during which the body's cells remove any unnecessary or damaged components. Researchers have linked autophagy to a number of health benefits. They also believe that we can trigger the autophagy process ourselves, for example, by following certain dietary patterns.
Autophagy: What is it?
Translated from the Greek, "autophagy" means "self-eating" and is a process by which the body cleanses itself of damaged cells and toxins.
The human body contains trillions of cells. Over time, various dead organelles, damaged proteins and oxidized particles accumulate in our tissues and interfere with the normal functioning of the body. This accelerates the aging process and age-related diseases.
Since many of our cells, like those in the brain, must function throughout our lives, the body has developed a unique way to get rid of defective particles and protect itself from disease - namely through autophagy. This cell regeneration mechanism is essential for general health. Dysfunction of autophagy has been linked to neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease.
Autophagy destroys dysfunctional or foreign components in the cell, which are then recycled for other purposes. This process regulates the balance of protein composition in the cell, prevents the accumulation of toxic waste products, maintains the function of cell organelles, and removes invading pathogens.
The importance of autophagy was confirmed in 2016 when Japanese scientist Yoshinori Osumi received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of the mechanisms of autophagy.
Mechanism of action
Автофагията е процес, при който клетките създават “кош за боклук” (автофагозома), който събира ненужните компоненти и ги доставя в “центъра за рециклиране” на клетката (лизозома), където те се разграждат и могат да бъдат преработени в нови компоненти.
The process is usually triggered by a lack of nutrients in the cell. Insulin is thought to inhibit autophagy, while glucagon can activate this process. After a meal, a person's body produces insulin, and fasting triggers the release of the hormone glucagon as the blood sugar level begins to drop. Glucagon signals the body to use the glycogen in the liver to raise the blood sugar level.
After the activation of autophagy, the process proceeds in four stages:
- SequestrationA: At this stage, two membranes (called phagophores) elongate and envelop the cytoplasm and organelles that will later disintegrate. This double membrane becomes an organelle known as the autophagosome.
- Transport to the lysosomeA: Autophagosomes cannot bind directly to lysosomes, so they first fuse with an intermediate structure called the endosome. The autophagosome that fuses with the endosome is now called the amphisome and can easily fuse with the lysosome.
- DecayA: After fusion with the amphisome, the lysosome releases enzymes (hydrolases) that degrade the materials in the original autophagosome. This structure full of degraded cellular materials becomes the autolysosome or autophagolysosome.
- Use of decay productsA: This happens after all the cellular materials are broken down to amino acids. After being exported from the autolysosome into the cell fluid, the amino acids can be reused.
All processes of autophagy are important for maintaining homeostasis in the body. They help recycle cellular components, prevent the accumulation of toxic substances, and maintain energy levels in cells.
Autophagy is very important for the health of cells and the overall functioning of the body, playing a key role in cell regeneration and protection against disease.
How to trigger the autophagy process?
There are several ways to activate the process of autophagy in the body. This helps purify cells, reduce inflammation and keep the body in great shape.
1. Fasting or calorie restriction
Fasting or restricting caloric intake is considered one of the mechanisms triggering autophagy. Calorie restriction and long pauses between meals cause stress to the body. Cells receive less energy than they need to function properly. In response to this stress, autophagy causes the body's cells to purge and recycle unneeded or damaged parts. This process can be triggered not only by pure fasting, but also by so-called intermittent fasting, in which food is taken, for example, three times a day for 8 hours, and the body rests from digestive processes for the remaining 16 hours.
2. Exercise
Physical exercise also exposes cells to stress. When people exercise, the components of their cells become damaged and inflamed. The authors of the research papers explain that cells respond to this problem through autophagy. This means that people can use exercise to trigger the body's self-cleaning process. There is evidence that exercise enhances autophagy in human skeletal muscles.
3. Curcumin
Curcumin is a natural chemical compound in turmeric that stimulates the process of autophagy. Animal studies have shown that curcumin can activate autophagy, helping to purify cells and protect them from damage. This makes it a potential ally in the fight against various diseases, including diabetic cardiomyopathy and cognitive impairment associated with chemotherapy.
The role of autophagy in maintaining youthfulness
Когато клетката функционира нормално, автофагията работи във “фонов режим”, като помага за рециклирането на износените клетъчни компоненти. Но ако клетката бъде подложена на стрес (недостиг на хранителни вещества или енергия, дисфункционални компоненти или нахлуване на микроби), автофагията се активира.
Activation of autophagy counteracts the age-related accumulation of damaged cellular components and increases the metabolic efficiency of cells. They thus become more resilient, helping to counteract the aging process. In particular, autophagy can be activated to remove dysfunctional mitochondria that produce multiple cell-damaging active oxygen species (AOX).
Researchers suggest that these processes are important in preventing several conditions:
1. Mental disorders
Postmortem studies of the brains of people with depression and schizophrenia have found deficits in major autophagy pathways.
2. Neurodegeneration
Many neurodegenerative disorders arise due to the accumulation of malformed proteins in and around neurons. This leads to gradual death of brain cells and loss of mental abilities. Autophagy eliminates these proteins, helping with Huntington's, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia.
3. Infectious diseases
Autophagy helps fight infectious diseases by directly removing microbes from cells (xenophagy), removing toxins created by infections, and modulating the immune response to infections. Infectious microorganisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus group A, viruses such as HIV and protozoa are removed by autophagy.
4. Inflammation
Autophagy may increase or decrease inflammatory responses. In the former case, it activates the immune response, and in the latter, it reduces the inflammation induced by the immune response by cleansing the cell of antigens.
5. Autophagy and cancer
In 2019, a study was conducted on the relationship between autophagy and cancer. It was discovered that autophagy can help stop the development of cancer cells.
Our personal programme MEGA PRO AGE
Artlife is a company that has developed a unique program for healthy nutritional support called "Mega Pro Age". For more than five years, we have been using the latest advances in biology and technology to create products that help cells function optimally.
The programme is based on the results of research into the molecular mechanisms that contribute to human life extension. Stimulation of autophagy, mitochondrial and metabolic correction to maintain health and performance - all this is united by the philosophy of Mega Pro Age.
What are the benefits of the programme Mega Pro Age
1. Life extension
- Increasing tissue sensitivity to insulinA: Improving insulin sensitivity helps use glucose more efficiently and prevents diabetes.
- Lowering blood pressure and heart rateA: It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and improves overall heart health.
- Prevention of inflammatory diseasesA: Reducing inflammation helps prevent chronic disease and improves overall health.
- Stimulating the immune systemA: Strengthening the immune system increases protection against infection and disease.
- Renewal of blood cells, increasing the proportion of white blood cellsA: Blood cell regeneration improves immune defense and supports vital functions.
2. Improving quality of life
- Improved memory, vitality, burst of energyA: Increased cognitive function and energy levels contribute to a more active and productive life.
- Improved mood, stamina, stress resistanceA: Maintaining mental health and resilience increases resilience to daily challenges.
- Sexual activityA: Maintaining sexual activity is an important aspect of overall health and well-being.
3. Energy and beauty
- Beauty and youthful skinA: Maintaining healthy and youthful skin improves self-confidence and appearance.
- Support for a healthy body weightA: Weight management helps prevent obesity and related diseases.
- The joy of active movementA: An active lifestyle improves physical fitness and mental well-being, providing the joy of movement and life.
