Keep your brain in its best shape with a regular fasting practice. Liz shares the latest science of autophagy from sunny Marbella.
My introduction to extended fasting began last year, with a trip to the founding fathers of fasting at the Buchinger Wilhelmi clinic in Germany. Established by Dr Otto Buchinger back in the 1920s, the clinic is now the largest of its kind in the world, run by fourth-generation members of the family.
I wrote about my experience on these pages this time last year, revealing how the 12-day fasting programme activated a state of autophagy, literally the Greek for ‘self-eating’. This process is much like your body’s very own Marie Kondo, tidying up and clearing out cellular clutter, stored toxins and excess fat by devouring all the debris.
I’ve since discovered that autophagy is not only hugely beneficial for maintaining physical health, but has more recently been linked to brain benefits, including warding off dementia and cognitive decline, as well as anxiety and depression. I was keen to learn more about this lesser-known aspect of fasting by visiting their sister clinic in Marbella, Spain.
Although the Spanish clinic follows the same protocol as the German original, the vibe couldn’t be more different.
With cosy Andalucian villa-style architecture, it sits in a verdant garden, filled with palm trees and brightly coloured bougainvillea. Alongside the clinical colonic irrigation and hydrotherapy treatment rooms, you’ll also find a creative arts studio and chakra-cleansing sound workshops. Mental wellbeing through mindfulness and the arts is seen as being every bit as important as the physical act of fasting. The team are pros at all of this – and I highly recommend it as a mental, as well as physical, reset.
Building a resilient brain
Our brains are extraordinary organs, capable of remarkable plasticity and adaptation. Autophagy plays a pivotal role in supporting the longevity of our brains by removing damaged or dysfunctional neurons and protein aggregates. As we age, this natural process becomes less efficient, contributing to cognitive decline. The idea that we can enhance neuroplasticity and potentially stave off neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s is exciting.
The latest research also suggests a link between autophagy and anxiety relief, as the ‘self-eating’ process may help to clear away cellular debris and dysfunctional mitochondria, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation – two factors that pl
