There isn’t a fountain of youth on this earth, but one exists inside of you, and it’s called autophagy, which is the body’s natural and biological ability to heal itself and slow down the aging process.
The human body is capable of regenerating cells and consuming diseased or unwanted cells, which is particularly valuable when a degenerative disorder is rampantly tearing through your better years.
Teaching the body to tap into its self-healing process can help you reset the immune system that has become automatically destructive in rheumatoid arthritis. It can also help you restore the gut flora, which can help prevent gout flares.
Additionally, this internal “fountain of youth” can slow down the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Everything you need already exists within your body.
Repairing Injuries Naturally
The body’s incredible ability to restore itself to its natural and self-healing state is the only way you can genuinely use anti-aging to combat OA. How does it prevent the progression of OA if the cartilage cells are already experiencing a form of autophagy?
There are two processes that the body requires to be active in order to use autophagy as an anti-aging mechanism. The first one is called homeostasis, which is the body’s desire to preserve itself in a constant environment, irrespective of external factors.
The second process is to purposely activate autophagy on your terms so that the bones don’t degenerate prematurely before cartilage cells have a chance to regenerate.
If you threaten the homeostasis of the chondrocyte cells in the cartilage by temporarily starving them, which instructs them to regenerate faster, you can successfully speed up the second process enough to prevent further damage to the bones.
The Hindawi Medical Journal has systematically reviewed various autophagy cases and their effect on cartilage and bone health. The results confirmed that triggered starvation can activate enhanced autophagy and multiply the chondrocyte cells.
It’s important to note that although intermittent fasting can effectively stimulate cells to activate homeostasis and regeneration, intermittent fasting requires careful, close medical supervision.
Intermittent fasting can help you control the self-healing homeostasis your joints need to repair themselves. It’s a straightforward technique if you follow the correct guidelines, and the process has the potential to reverse diabetes type two and slow the progression of arthritis.
The only change for the case of OA fasting would be to decrease your intake of protein and increase complex carbohydrates. This makes intermittent fasting safe for mild OA patients who must avoid certain foods.
Staying hydrated is the most important rule to follow during your fast periods. Drink a minimum of 8 to 10 glasses of purified water daily to sustain the controlled autophagy.
Supporting Intermittent Fasting With OA
You can support and encourage autophagy by adding a few tricks to your intermittent fasting. Please consult with your doctor about supplements that require specific doses.
Home Tricks
Hydration must be maintained throughout your fasting periods, but you can also add drinks that trigger autophagy on a cellular level to enhance your regeneration. These drinks include:
- Black coffee with no creamer or sweetener
- Green tea
- Ceylon tea
- Steeped tea made from any of the herbs that promote better arthritis care
A review published by the Department of Clinical Chemistry, Chulalongkorn University, Hong Kong, confirms that most teas are capable of activating the autophagy process in favor of degenerative disorders.
Tea isn’t the only home method for autophagy. You can also use spices that promote cellular regeneration, such as:
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Ginseng
These spices could flavor your teas, doubling the activation. Lastly, there’s a berry that promotes autophagy. Elderberries are an effective trigger to enhance your intermittent fasting.
Dietary Supplements
Speak to your doctor about suitable doses of supplements that improve cellular regeneration, such as:
- Bergamot
- Resveratrol
- Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil
- Melatonin
You can probably purchase the MCT oil and resveratrol at your pharmacy. Bergamot is a supplement derived from bergamot orange peels to reduce bad cholesterol or low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which prevents the autophagy process.
Melatonin isn’t only a mood enhancer. It also helps you to sleep better, which is crucial for the autophagy process. Sleep and autophagy have something in common when it comes to restoring the cells in the body.
Non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep is when the body repairs itself, so a lack of sleep will prevent you from regenerating cells to slow the progression of degeneration.
FAQs About Autophagy and Arthritis
There are two major questions about autophagy.
Is This Safe for Osteoarthritis?
Yes, OA is a degenerative disorder, which is a form of autophagy, but activated and controlled autophagy is safe with intermittent fasting. Degeneration naturally makes you lose control, whereas regeneration gives it back.
Can I Use the Keto Diet for Autophagy in Arthritis Management?
No, other methods of autophagy should be avoided. Don’t try the keto diet if you have arthritis. It contains too many foods that you shouldn’t eat for joint health.
Final Thoughts
Patients with mild or early-stage OA have an amazing biological “fountain of youth” at their disposal. All they have to do is use it. Just remember to speak to your physician if you have advanced OA.
Doctor Loy
Loy Puckett MD
Emergency Medicine – 27 Years Experience
