Autophagy: The Body's Cleanup Crew

Meet autophagy, your body's essential recycling system. Learn why it's crucial for a long healthspan and how you can activate this powerful process. The word "autophagy" literally means "self-eating," and it's one of the most important and fascinating processes in the body for promoting longevity. It is the body's natural system for cleaning out old, damaged cellular components—like misfolded proteins and dysfunctional mitochondria—and recycling them into new, usable parts. As we age, our autophagic processes become less efficient, leading to an accumulation of cellular "junk" that impairs function and drives aging. Interventions like fasting and certain supplements are powerful activators of autophagy, helping to restore this critical cleanup crew and rejuvenate cells from the inside out.