Micronutrients & recovery
Inhibition of mTORC1 activity is a necessary physiological trigger for initiating autophagy during nutrient deprivation, which recycles cellular components to sustain blood glucose and amino acid levels.
Fasting works by turning off the 'growth' signal (mTORC1), which unlocks the body's internal recycling system (autophagy). This system breaks down old cellular parts to create glucose and amino acids, keeping you alive and healthy during food scarcity. You cannot have this benefit if your body is constantly in 'growth mode' due to constant eating.
Suppression of mTORC1 activity has proven essential to endure conditions of nutrient deprivation in mammals... This rapid and strong inhibition is critical to unleash autophagy, which in turn boosts free amino acid levels that feed gluconeogenesis to sustain glycaemia
Why this rating
Based on consistent genetic mouse models (RagA mutants, Atg5/7 KO) showing neonatal death or hypoglycemia without this pathway.
Source
The mTOR–Autophagy Axis and the Control of Metabolism
Nerea Deleyto-Seldas et al. · Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · 2021
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