What Is Autophagy & The Real Reason Why It Exists – Dr.Berg

Autophagy evolved over eons to enhance your survival.

Timestamps:
0:00 Autophagy exists to help ensure your survival
1:20 Damaged proteins are toxic to our bodies
5:10 Your body is designed to be always in autophagy; but, high sugar levels will disrupt this process
5:50 By the time you’re at 18 hours of fasting, you’re in a serious degree of autophagy

Autophagy exists to help ensure your survival, particularly in times of starvation. It’s a condition in your body in which damaged or worn-out proteins are recycled and used to create new amino acids for both fuels and to build new tissues. Autophagy evolved over eons.

The damaged proteins are toxic to our bodies. They’re behind type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s, for example. So it’s obvious that you benefit from getting these toxic proteins out of your body.

Autophagy will also eliminate microbes and viruses.

Proteins can be misfolded, oxidized, mutated, or glycated. As an example, when it is misfolded, after it’s initially formed in your DNA, it no longer works and can accumulate in your body, leading to amyloid plaques. The plaquing can lead to type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s. (By the way, you also need zinc to help with the cleanup process.)

Glycated proteins result from consuming a combination of protein and sugar, such as you’d find in barbequed ribs. This can lead to something called advanced glycation end products; check below the video for links to some of my other videos about this.

Autophagy isn’t really an on/off process. Your body is designed to always be in autophagy; but, if you have high levels of sugar in your body or a severe inflammatory condition, it’s probably not happening. Most people do have some going on, and especially if you’re doing keto, exercise, and definitely if you’re intermittent fasting. You can create enormously beneficial effects for your health, the more fasting you do. Though you’re probably always in autophagy, by the time you get to 18 hours of fasting you’re in a serious degree of it.

However, there’s a certain point where autophagy plateaus. Some studies say 24 hours; others say a little bit more or less. We still have much to learn. And each part of your body has its own autophagy. One, for instance, is specific to the mitochondria that are the powerhouse of your cells. Or others are specific to your bones, or lungs.

If I were you, I’d focus on doing keto, exercise, and intermittent fasting to spur your autophagy to its highest possible degree, for the most health benefits..

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:
Dr. Berg, age 56, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

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Disclaimer:
Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Thanks for watching!
Autophagy evolved to enhance your survival during times of starvation; you can harness its power for health benefits.

[amargandam]

My wife does periodical fasts of anything between 24 to 36 hours. She regularly does intermittent fasting (daily) for 18 hours and has 2 keto meals. But what I notice is that at the end of prolonged fasts, rather than getting tired, she is so full of energy, in great mood and her skin super smooth. She is an Indian and she is exceptionally beautiful. But at the end of prolonged fasts, she looks like a goddess. That could be because of internal repair. Autophagy is real.

[emh]

Because of you. I don't look pregnant and have abs. Also not diabetic anymore. God bless you Dr.Berg.

[erzcav]

I swear fasting makes us younger, when i was binging in sugar and carbs 4 years ago people mistook me as my sisters mom, im just a year older than her, now whenever i go they mistook me as her younger sister! Ive been fastinh for a year now and on keto!

[DirtyFastingLife]

It takes me 3 to 4 days for me to get into ketosis...I feel great my body starts burning fat...if you are overweight...by 50 or more pounds Autophagy and fasting for 2 to 4 days a week is the secret to weight loss and better health.

[qbb]

As I approach the 18th-20th hour of a fast it feels like i've taken the pill from limitless. My brain is so much more clear than with food. Also all my sinus issues go away and my energy levels elevate while my anxiety goes down. Really cool.

[ETERNALCYCLES]

I'm doing a 18 hour fast 6 hour feeding window with 2 meals everyday maybe a cheat day twice a month have lost 30 pounds in about 4 months.

[messiahblack]

Explanation of science in layman's terms is an art within itself, Dr. Berg is very good at this...

[ghost.]

anyone else love the way dr. berg's white boards start all neat but by the end of the video they're completely covered in lines and scribbles?! lol.

[MultiPjay]

I’m into my 8th day. Four months ago I fasted for 16 days and cleared up some issues that had been bothering me for years. That is the incentive for doing another fast but maybe only 10 days this time. I have a history of cancer and diabetes in my family so I thought maybe a little fasting could help Incase something is lurking there in the shadows. I will break my fast with a bowl of cabbage soup, and eat mostly cabbage and turmeric soup for the first week - that’s what I did last time.

[fabrice]

So much energy and enthusiasm
Imagine if we had teachers like that
We would have all understood and listened with so much more attention

[olblu]

This Dr. I trust....he has brought out to the light alot of healthy life extension info.
Dr. Berg was the first Dr. I heard say "potasium is the most important mineral our body needs." I was ignorant of this as my PCPs never even checked my potasium level! Because of this l went tru most of my life suffering horrendous cramps all over my body, heart palpitations, nervousness, afib episodes, severe insecurity which led to depression because l felt not up to tasks that required strenuous activity.
Not bragging, l had the ability to be one of the best athletes in hi school. But lacking Potasium AND magnesium in my diet kept me in the bleachers, thinking l had a bad heart!
In 2018 Dr. Berg made a video on Magnesium, l tried it and just 20 minutes later l felt like a very healthy 18 year old! My heart rate went down to 60 bpm from 80 bpm resting pulse and blood pressure came down drastically.
What an AMAZING change in how l felt. I wanted so bad to go back to my teen years and live again eating right. God bless Dr. Berg even more!

[lynettec]

At 10am, I'll have completed a 60 hr fast. I swear I look so youthful this morning!

[stephencullum]

Watching your videos has given me much more respect for Chiropractors. I retired from a pretty technical field and can tell you know what you are talking about. You are an excellent teacher. I am doing keto, exercising and fasting. Most eating days OMAD and one 48 hour fast weekly. I lift weights 2 to 3 days a week. And hike 3 to 5 days a week 3 to 6 miles. Thanks for your teaching videos.

[maxcalifornia]

I love all these informative videos. I don’t do social media but I do use YouTube as a tool for informative knowledge. This video is great.

I’m 24 hours into fasting. I plan to knocked out. Get 8 more and see how long I can last past 32+ hours.

[Smiley_]

I can’t fast everyday as my goal isn’t losing weight but to maintain them and recharging my body once a week at least 48hrs for my heart health . It been working as I felt healthier and my mind are very clear n focused plus eating healthy after too is very important . I don’t want to depend on medications if the long term effects has anything to do w damaging my organs . Thank u for posting all your videos up as it been helping me a lot w my heart health .

[Луч-уе]

I am from Russia and we have many books on fasting written before autophagy was discovered. and everyone is advised to drink only clean water, the rest of the drinks can’t. I have been starving for 10 days on the water, it's like flying into space

[janefranzen]

I so appreciate how you explain things, making complicated systems understandable for the ordinary person. Also, the more I watch your videos the more I appreciate our human bodies and how they function, and am very grateful to God for that.

[karensellers]

Dr. Berg, thank you for sharing. I learn things I never knew from you and it is making a difference in my overall health. It takes time and energy to produce the videos and you seem to share them so unselfishly. Learning things like this in a Doctors office would be outrageously expensive. Thank you for the great and kind service you provide to your followers!

[sarahbadgett]

I really appreciate how you get to the point and describe it so well but in a time efficient manor.

[sunclover]

Is this why people don't feel like eating when their sick?