Autophagy and exercise

How workouts can boost cellular clean-up

- SAPNA VYAS

Ever wondered what happens to the old, worn-out cells in your body when you exercise? It turns out, your body has its own version of "Diwali cleaning" called autophagy.

What is autophagy?

Think of autophagy as your body's recycling system. The word literally means "self-eating" in Greek, but don't let that gross you out—it's a good thing! Autophagy is the process through which your body cleans out damaged cells, making room for new, healthier ones. It's like a cellular detox, breaking down old cell components and reusing them for energy or building new cells. This process is crucial for keeping your body functioning smoothly, especially as you age.

How exercise triggers autophagy

When you exercise, your body goes through mild stress. This temporary stress tells your body to adapt and improve, and one way it does that is by turning on autophagy.

ENERGY DEMAND

Exercise increases your body's energy needs. To meet this demand, it starts breaking down old and inefficient cellular components for fuel. Think of it as using old scraps to build new energy stores.

CELLULAR DAMAGE REPAIR