Fasting and Carb Restriction Trigger Cellular Cleanup That Slows Aging

Full analysis

Dr. Chris Palmer describes two biological processes that the ketogenic diet and fasting activate: autophagy — the body's system for identifying and recycling old or damaged cell components — and the specific version of that process that targets damaged mitochondria, called mitophagy. When the body senses a low-food state, it preferentially breaks down defective structures first, using the byproducts for energy or to build new, healthier cells. This is why calorie restriction has been shown to extend lifespan across a wide range of animal species, and why fasting and fasting-mimicking diets are now a serious area of medical research. Palmer believes stimulating mitophagy — clearing out defective mitochondria and replacing them with healthier ones — is the key reason the ketogenic diet benefits both epilepsy and psychiatric conditions.