So What IF? with Jen - Intermittent Fasting

FASTING Your Way to FREEDOM - Intermittent Fasting Tips that Work!

in Intermittent Fasting, Intermittent Fasting Questions, JEN'S BLOG

What is AUTOPHAGY and How in the Heck Do You Pronounce It?

Have you ever wondered, What is AUTOPHAGY and how in the heck do you pronounce it correctly?

What is Autophagy?

What is AUTOPHAGY and How in the Heck Do You Pronounce It?

Well, today, that’s exactly what we’re doing – diving into a really cool, weird word, that I’d never even heard of before starting my intermittent fasting journey.

Hi there, it’s so great to meet you. I’m Jen (So What IF? with Jen) – a 50 Year Old Michigan mom, wife, new grandma (aka “Jemma”) and K-12 PE teacher who discovered intermittent fasting in 2021, lost 46 pounds in 4 months, and became an “IF” lover for life.

So What IF? with Jen
So What IF? with Jen

In this post, we’ll be covering the following:

  • How do you correctly pronounce AUTOPHAGY?
  • What exactly is AUTOPHAGY?
  • How does AUTOPHAGY relate to intermittent fasting?

What is Autophagy – Listen Here

You can listen to the full podcast episode #62 right here.

How Do You Pronounce Autophagy?

Let’s start out with the pronunciation of autophagy, because, honestly, it took me some time to figure out how to say it the right way – it’s not exactly an easy one.

What is Autophagy?

Alright, let’s move on to the really important stuff, like, what in the heck is autophagy anyways?

In simple, elementary school teacher words, AUTOPHAGY literally means “self-eating,” but don’t worry—this is a good kind of self-eating that your cells use to stay clean and efficient.

You can think of autophagy as your body’s built‑in recycling and clean‑up crew. Your cells are constantly getting a little beat up—proteins get damaged, cell parts wear out, and junk starts to pile up. 

Autophagy is the process where your cells pinpoint that junk, package it up, and send it to tiny “recycling centers” inside the cell to be broken down and reused as fresh building blocks and energy.

This helps cells work better, handle stress, and may play a role in staying healthier as you age.

How is Autophagy Related to Intermittent Fasting?

Now, let’s chat about autophagy and how it is connected to intermittent fasting.

One of the strongest triggers for autophagy is mild stress—especially the kind that happens when your body isn’t getting a steady stream of food. 

When you go for longer stretches without eating, your cells realize, “Hey, nutrients are low,” and they flip from “storage mode” into “clean‑and‑repair mode.”

Instead of focusing on digesting your last snack, your body starts digging into old, damaged cell parts and using them for fuel.

That cleaning process is autophagy in powerful action.

Now, Intermittent fasting doesn’t just magically turn on autophagy the second you stop eating, but longer fasting windows and extended fasts give it more room and more time to ramp up. 

Those who have studied this powerful process believe that Short overnight fasts probably only nudge the process, while extended fasting windows—like 16:8, 18:6, or even a few more hours without food—can create a stronger “recycle and repair” signal. 

And That’s one reason people are so interested in fasting for longevity, brain health, and better metabolic health, not just for seeing a smaller number on the scale.

How Can Fasting Enhance Autophagy?

So how can fasting enhance autophagy in a practical, real‑life way?

  • FIRST, keeping a consistent fasting window most days—say 16:8 or even occasionally pushing to 18–20 hours if it’s safe for you—gives your body regular time in that repair zone. 
  • SECOND, not constantly snacking during your eating window matters; every time you eat, especially high‑sugar or high‑refined‑carb foods, you shift your body back toward digestion and storage rather than deep cellular clean‑up.
  • THIRD, pairing fasting with healthy, nutrient‑dense meals—good protein, healthy fats, plenty of fiber—gives your cells the raw materials they need to rebuild after they’ve cleaned house.

The Big Picture

Here’s the big picture: autophagy means “self eating” and it is your body’s way of taking out the cellular trash and turning it into useful energy and parts. 

Intermittent fasting is one lifestyle tool that can encourage more of that awesome process, which may support better metabolism, brain health, and long‑term wellness. 

And finally, autophagy might just be the magical trick we’ve all been looking for to look and feel years younger.

Why not give it a go! It’s a cleaning service we can definitely all afford.

Connect with Jen

Hey – if you want more information on intermittent fasting, I’d love to connect with you.

Here are all of the places you’ll find me blabbing about intermittent fasting success tips, tricks, weight loss recipes and more:

Thanks for stopping by today!

I hope you have a truly BLESSED and BEAUTIFUL day!

So What IF? With Jen

JEN