Hunger Isn’t the Enemy It’s Your Body’s Secret Healer
How intermittent fasting taps into autophagy to clean, repair & protect your cells Quick-Read Summary Intermittent fasting (IF) nudges your body into a housekeeping program called autophagy—a Nobel-Prize-winning discovery. After roughly 14-16 hours without food, cells break down and recycle damaged parts, which helps defend against cancer, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and even age-related heart trouble. Occasional 24-hour fasts, or daily 16:8 routines, can trigger this “deep-clean” while supporting healthy weight and blood-sugar control. IF isn’t for everyone, so check with your doctor first, but for many people it’s a simple, zero-cost tool for lifelong health. What Is Intermittent Fasting? Intermittent fasting is an eating schedule—not a diet list. You cycle between periods of eating and voluntary fasting. Popular versions include: Plan Fasting Window Eating Window 16:8 16 hours 8 hours 18:6 18 hours 6 hours 24-hour Dinner-to-dinner, 1–2 × per week Normal meals on...