The Secrets of Autophagy

The words of Allah the Almighty: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was for those before you, that you may become righteous.” (Surat al-Baqara, 183)
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: Fasting is a shield (to avoid sins). So the fasting person should not speak obscenely or behave ignorantly. If someone tries to quarrel with him or insults him, he will say to him twice, I am fasting. He further said, I swear by the entity in whose hands my life is! The stench of the mouth of the fasting person is better than the fragrance of musk in the sight of Allah Almighty. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Fasting is for Me, except for food, drink, and lust.” So I will give him a special reward for fasting. And the reward for good deeds will be given up to ten times.” (Sahih Bukhari, Volume I, Page 333)
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that whoever prays Shabe Qadr and fasts Ramadan with faith and belief in the hope of thawab, all his past sins will be forgiven.” (Bukhari, 1/334)
The Holy Qur’an mentions – “Ramadan is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed which is a guide for mankind and a clear proof of guidance and furqan (i.e. distinguishing between right and wrong). So whoever of you gets this month, let him fast in it, but whoever is ill and on a journey, then he should complete the reckoning on another day. Glory be to Him that He has guided you, and that you may be grateful” (Surat al-Baqara: 175).
In this context, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Ramadan and the Qur’an will recommend for the servant. Rosa will say, God! I have restrained him from eating and drinking, so accept my recommendation for him. And the Qur’an will say, I prevented him from sleeping at night and did not let him sleep, so accept my recommendation for him. Their recommendation will be accepted.” (Bayhaqi).
Autophagy is a self-activating process in which the body “cleans” itself at the cellular level. A small group of obese males with Pridebitis was studied by researchers at the University of Alabama. They contrasted an intermittent fasting method known as “initial time-limited feeding,” in which all meals are consumed within the first eight hours of the day (8 a.m. to 3 p.m.) or spread out over 12 hours (from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.). Both groups maintained their weight, but the eight-hour group had considerably lower insulin levels and better insulin sensitivity after five weeks. The appetite of the eight-hour team has drastically decreased. They weren’t hungry at all.
Dr. Razzin Mahroof (Oxford University) says that using lipids for energy can protect muscles and lower cholesterol levels, in addition to weight loss. For instance, Medical News Today stated in June 2014 that a study introducing phased fasting – defined as one week of fasting per week – may lessen the incidence of diabetes in persons who are at risk for the disease. In recent years, numerous studies have suggested that intermittent fasting – eating or drinking infrequently or lowering it – may be beneficial to our health, and it may be one of the most popular food fads worldwide. The necessity of fasting for health benefits are of following:
Reduces the Risk of Diabetes: Patients with diabetes always have to be extra careful when it comes to calorie intake. A separate restriction applies to the intake of calories on the day of Ramadan. So if you fast, the risk of getting diabetes is less. (Barnosky-2014)
Keeps Old Age Away: There are hardly any people who are not afraid of old age. Aging makes both body and mind burdened and helpless. Fasting increases longevity and eliminates the problems associated with aging. (Matson and One-2005)
Increasing the Performance of the Brain: Fasting in Ramadan undoubtedly creates a kind of positive feeling in the body and mind. If you fast for two days, the rate of growth of hormones in the body increases five times. Fasting in Ramadan gives birth to new cells in the brain. As a result, the efficiency of the brain increases. (Li-2000)
Helps to Reduce Fat: Many people are suffering from many problems due to overeating. That is why Islam is not in favor of overeating. Excessive food intake leads to accumulation of a lot of fat in the body, as a result of which the body becomes abnormally fat, which disrupts normal life. But when fasting, the fat accumulated in the body is used for body work and as a result blood circulation becomes normal. (Mansell-1990)
Increased Hormone Levels: When people fast, the hormones they require to maintain their body levels rise. The protein brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which interacts with neurons in the hippocampus, cortex, and basal forebrain, is increased by fasting.
Yoshinori Ohsumi, Japanese cell biologist known for his work in elucidating the mechanisms of autophagy, a process by which cells degrade and recycle proteins and other cellular components. Ohsumi’s research played a key role in helping to uncover the critical physiological activities of autophagy, including its function in helping cells adapt to various types of stress, contributing to embryo development, and eliminating damaged proteins. For his discoveries relating to autophagy, Ohsumi was awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.
According to new lifestyle books, the process can be “turned on” by dietary and lifestyle adjustments, such as fasting, which is already popular among individuals who follow the 5: 2 or Fast Diet. Glow 15, a new book by Naomi Whittel, a self-described “wellness adventurer,” lays out a 15-day plan that involves 16-hour fasts three times a week, protein reduction on some days, carbohydrate intake later in the day, and high-intensity activity intervals. She claims she discovered a number of benefits in preliminary tests of the therapy on volunteers at Jacksonville University in Florida.
Dr Rubinsztein says none of these lifestyle recommendations are going to do you any harm. Research suggests that some of the most important autophagy benefits include: Providing cells with molecular building blocks and energy; recycling damaged proteins, organelles and aggregates; regulating functions of cells ’mitochondria, which help produce energy but can be damaged by oxidative stress; clearing damaged endoplasmic reticulum and peroxisomes; protecting the nervous system and encouraging growth of brain and nerve cells; Autophagy seems to improve cognitive function, brain structure and neuroplasticity; Supporting growth of heart cells and protecting against heart disease; enhancing the immune system by eliminating intracellular pathogens; defending against misfolded, toxic proteins that contribute to a number of amyloid diseases; protecting stability of DNA; preventing damage to healthy tissues and organs (known as necrosis); potentially fighting cancer, neurodegenerative disease and other illnesses.