Why do some people age backward while others hit a wall at 60? The answer might be hiding in a cellular process most people have never heard of. 

Autophagy is your body's built-in maintenance system that keeps your cells running like new equipment. The problem is that this system naturally slows down as we age, which means our cells start breaking down faster than they get repaired. 

Understanding autophagy and how to support it could be the difference between feeling unstoppable at 70 or struggling to keep up with life's demands.

An Autophagy Deep Dive We Love

If you're as fascinated by spermidine as we are, you'll love biologist Gary Brecka's deep dive into this cellular superhero on The Ultimate Human Podcast. His episode "Is Spermidine The Solution To Slow Down Cellular Aging?" unpacks the jaw-dropping 20-year study where spermidine reduced death rates by nearly 40%.

How Does Your Cellular Cleanup Crew Work?

Think about your favorite piece of gear after a tough season of hiking. Your boots are caked with mud, your backpack has frayed straps, and your tent zipper sticks. You've got two choices: retire the gear or clean it up and fix what's broken.

Your cells face the same decision every single day. Autophagy is the cellular equivalent of a gear maintenance session. It identifies worn-out proteins, damaged organelles, and other cellular junk, breaks them down, and recycles the functional parts into fresh components.

The process involves more than 40 proteins working together in a complex, multistep sequence. Special structures called autophagosomes act like garbage collectors, packaging the damaged parts and delivering them to cellular recycling centers called lysosomes.

When autophagy works well, your cells stay efficient and healthy. When it doesn't, cellular debris starts piling up.

Why Does Autophagy Matter for Your Performance?

Autophagy is fundamental to cellular health because it eliminates damaged molecules and organelles to promote homeostasis and survival. Research shows that autophagy supports immune function in ways that matter for active people. Specifically, studies have found that autophagy in immune cells helps them function optimally and respond more effectively to threats. 

When Does Autophagy Start to Decline?

Here's the part none of us wants to hear: mounting evidence supports that autophagy declines with age (though the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear). What we do know for certain is that age-related changes in autophagy are associated with the accumulation of damaged cellular components and reduced cellular function. 

But what does that mean? In the same way that your maintenance crew gets slower and less thorough over time, cellular autophagy gradually loses efficiency, leaving more damage unrepaired until your body starts failing when you need it most.

Can Fasting and Exercise Really Boost Autophagy?

Traditional research has identified fasting as one of the most reliable ways to boost autophagy. That’s because acute nutrient deprivation (in other words, fasting) can cause an immediate increase in spermidine biosynthesis in yeast, flies, mice and humans, as corroborated in four independent clinical studies.

But there’s a catch, of course. Maintaining consistent fasting schedules isn't practical for most of us, especially when training hard or working a demanding schedule. Extended fasting can also interfere with recovery and performance. 

Plus, let's be honest. We want to enjoy our lives.

High-intensity exercise also triggers autophagy because it creates cellular stress and energy demands that the body needs to adapt to. Relying solely on this approach, though, may not be sustainable, as recovery becomes more challenging with age.

What Makes Spermidine Special for Autophagy?

Spermidine is a natural compound that can boost your cellular cleanup system. Unlike fasting for hours or doing punishing workouts, spermidine works through your body's existing pathways to keep autophagy running strong.

Spermidine has a range of benefits that aid our bodies and minds. Increasing spermidine uptake has protective effects against metabolic disease, heart disease, and neurodegeneration. It also preserves mitochondrial function, exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, and prevents stem cell senescence.

You can find spermidine in foods like wheat germ and even aged cheese. Getting therapeutic amounts of spermidine through diet alone can be challenging, though. You'd need to eat large quantities daily to reach these levels. Plus, your body's ability to absorb spermidine depends on your gut health, age, and individual metabolism.

That's why Cellitas takes a different approach. Our clinically-proven formula combines three essential polyamines (spermidine, spermine, and arginine) with BB-12™ probiotic technology to boost autophagy by 32%. 

The Three Essential Polyamines in Cellitas

• Spermidine: The cellular cleanup activator that triggers autophagy to remove damaged proteins and organelles from your cells
• Spermine: Works alongside spermidine to enhance cellular function and support your body's natural recycling processes
• Arginine: An amino acid that feeds the polyamine pathway, helping your body maintain the compounds needed for optimal cellular maintenance

Unlike single-ingredient supplements that only provide spermidine, our comprehensive approach includes the polyamine trio your cells naturally use together. This prevents your body from having to convert spermidine into other needed compounds. 

The BB-12™ probiotic promotes a healthy gut microbiome, supporting multiple body systems through the gut-immune and gut-brain axes. Clinical studies show BB-12™ helps combat age-related dysbiosis, supports metabolic health, reduces inflammation, and even enhances wound healing - making it a powerful component for whole-body wellness.

What Do Centenarians Tell Us About Autophagy?

Ever heard of centenarians? They're people who live to 100 or beyond. Naturally, researchers wanted to understand what makes them different. When they studied these long-lived individuals, they made an unexpected discovery. Most of us lose spermidine as we age, but centenarians maintain levels similar to much younger people.

Centenarians stay healthy and functional well into their 90s. They're still climbing stairs, maintaining independence, and keeping their minds sharp because their cellular cleanup systems are still working.

Why Should You Care About Autophagy Now?

Our cells have remarkable self-repair capabilities, so the question isn't whether to support these systems, but how to do it effectively. Understanding autophagy gives you insight into one of your body's most fundamental maintenance processes and practical tools for supporting it.

Your cells are already working to keep you performing at your best. Supporting their cleanup systems through evidence-based approaches helps them do their job more effectively.

Learn more about Cellitas’s research-backed approach to supporting your body's natural renewal processes. Your cells are built to last. We help them prove it.