In 2016, Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering how autophagy works — the body’s natural “self-cleaning” system.
Autophagy is the process by which our cells break down and recycle damaged components, turning waste into energy and fresh building blocks. It’s activated during periods of stress, such as fasting, helping cells repair and renew themselves.
This discovery reshaped how we think about aging and disease prevention. By clearing cellular debris, autophagy supports resilience and may play a protective role against cancer and neurodegenerative conditions.
Sometimes, giving the body a pause from constant intake isn’t deprivation — it’s an opportunity for renewal.
In 2016, Japanese biologist Dr. Yoshinori Ohsumi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his groundbreaking research into autophagy, a term derived from the Greek words for self-eating.
— GP Q (@argosaki) February 14, 2026
This extraordinary biological repair mechanism acts as the body's internal… pic.twitter.com/43RoUtImJ5
