What is Autophagy?
Your cells eat themselves — and that's good
Autophagy (from Greek: 'self-eating') is the process where cells break down and recycle damaged components. It's your body's cleanup crew.
How it works
When autophagy is activated, a double membrane wraps around damaged proteins and organelles, forming an 'autophagosome.' This fuses with a lysosome, which digests the contents and recycles them into usable parts.
True or False
Autophagy only happens when you're sleeping.
Why it matters for aging
As we age, autophagy slows down. Damaged proteins accumulate, cells malfunction, and disease risk rises. Boosting autophagy is a core strategy in longevity science.
Fill in the blank
Complete the sentence about autophagy.
What happens during a 24h fast?
Tap through each stage to see how autophagy ramps up.
Build the autophagy pathway
Tap each step in the correct order to recycle a damaged protein.
Key Takeaway
Autophagy is your body's recycling system. Keeping it active through lifestyle choices is one of the most powerful anti-aging strategies.