Flip the Switch Up or Down on Autophagy – James Clement – #664

In this episode of Bulletproof Radio, I’m hosting a return guest because he’s doing some truly innovative work in the area of human health span and lifespan.

James Clement is a lawyer and entrepreneur turned research scientist who has devoted the last two decades to understanding the science of life extension.

His new book, “The Switch: Ignite Your Metabolism with Intermittent Fasting, Protein Cycling, and Keto,” is the result of years of scientific investigation that started with a curiosity of the human body’s mTOR/autophagy switch. Autophagy is a natural process that recycles and renews damaged cell parts and removes pathogens to keep us healthy. Like a dimmer “switch,” mTOR can turn autophagy up or down. A switch, James says, that’s at the center of nearly every anti-aging drug, nutraceutical, diet, and health choice that we make.

“The purpose of the book is really to go into this molecular biology mechanism inside the cell, which is about as basic as you can get,” James says. “If you’re not working these mechanisms properly, then it doesn’t matter what your good intentions are, or the practices that you think you’re following.”

In our interview James gives practical tips on how we can activate autophagy through different regimens, such as calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, very-low-carb diets, exercise, or supplements. When it’s switched up, autophagy restores our natural metabolism, slows the aging process, and helps fend off diseases from diabetes, to cancer, to heart disease.

James also is known for his Supercentenarian Research Study, which he started in 2010 and received international attention. Through worldwide scientific collaborations and in his own laboratory, his work focuses on advancing biomedical discoveries.

Enjoy the show!

Photo by David Steele