Autophagy - the key to regeneration and health
There has been a lot of talk recently about the beneficial effects of autophagy, but what exactly is it? Autophagy, literally ‘’self-eating‘’, is a biological process that plays a key role in maintaining the health of the human body. Although the term may sound somewhat controversial, it is one of our body's most important functions, responsible for removing damaged cells, regenerating tissues and maintaining homeostasis.
What is autophagy?
Autophagy is the process by which cells remove and recycle their own damaged or unused components, such as proteins, organelles or cell fragments. It is a kind of intracellular cleaning that aims to maintain balance in living organisms.
The discovery of autophagy is credited to many scientists, including Christian de Duve of Rockefeller University. However, it was Professor Yoshinori Ohsumi, winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology, who thoroughly investigated this biological process. Autophagy is a complex set of processes that play an important role in various aspects of the body's functioning.
One of the key areas in which autophagy has an important function is in tumourigenesis. Autophagy exerts its effects on tumour development through two main pathways. Firstly, it counteracts the transformation of cells into tumours by acting as a defence mechanism. On the other hand, it allows cells to adapt to harsh conditions, such as nutrient deficiencies.
Discoveries concerning autophagy shed new light on the complexity of the mechanisms regulating cellular processes. Understanding these processes opens new perspectives in health and disease research, particularly in the context of cancer. The study of autophagy remains an area of intensive research that may bring new insights into cancer therapies and other areas of medicine.
In the next post, we will introduce you to the diets that contribute to triggering the process described. And note - these are available at Alhambra... :)
~Sandra Brudnik - dietician of the Alhambra Hotel
I have been passionate about dietetics and cooking for many years and am constantly developing in this direction. I have completed a degree in clinical dietetics and have attended and continue to attend many training courses. Since 2020, I have been acting as a dietitian at the Alhambra Hotel and I work with the diets we prepare for you. A few years ago I was sceptical about Dr Dabrowski's diet, but I have found out first-hand what it does and I help our guests during Dr Dabrowski's Fasting.