Distance from routine
Breathe and find calm.
GoalsKnowledge ยท Autophagy
Autophagy during Buchinger fasting โ what happens in your body?
โSelf-eatingโ โ your cellsโ recycling programme explained: what autophagy is, when it starts, what research knows and what it doesnโt (yet).
โป๏ธCellular recycling
๐
Nobel Prize 2016
โฑ๏ธNo fixed start time
๐ฌStill being researched
Autophagy explained
What is autophagy?
The term comes from Greek and means โself-eatingโ. It describes an important natural process: your cells constantly renew, creating damaged or unneeded components, which autophagy recognises, breaks down and recycles.
Think of it as a recycling programme: instead of accumulating waste, itโs removed and reused. See also metabolism while fasting.
๐ In the spotlight since 2016
Japanese cell biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi received the 2016 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discoveries on autophagy mechanisms.
Since then it has been widely discussed in connection with fasting.
Simply explained
How cellular recycling works
1
Recognise
The cell marks damaged or surplus components.
2
Wrap
A membrane wraps them into a vesicle โ the autophagosome.
3
Break down
It fuses with the lysosome, where enzymes break it down.
4
Recycle
The building blocks become available again โ for energy or new structures.
When does it start? Depends on โฆ
- metabolism
- health
- age
- physical activity
- diet before fasting
- fasting duration
Tap to flip
Autophagy: myth or fact?
Many concrete promises circulate online โ whatโs true?
The bigger picture
Buchinger fasting offers much more
Autophagy is just one aspect. Common goals of a fasting week:
New habits
Be more mindful with food.
RefeedingMovement
Hiking and yoga are part of it.
Fasting hikesRelieve body & mind
More on holistic effects.
EffectsTest yourself
Autophagy quiz
Quiz
1 / 3
What does โautophagyโ mean?
From Greek: โself-eatingโ.
Who won the 2016 Nobel Prize for it?
Yoshinori Ohsumi โ Otto Buchinger developed the fasting method (origin).
When does autophagy definitely start?
Fixed times are simplifications.
Your result
0Great โ now you know!
๐ฌ
Seriously speaking: Buchinger fasting may create conditions in which renewal processes like autophagy increase. We donโt derive health promises โ how you feel matters more. With conditions talk to your doctor (more).
Buchinger fasting at the Zollhaus
Guided fasting โ in the forest, with warmth
At Landhotel Altes Zollhaus in the Ore Mountains you fast according to Buchinger in a small group โ guided by experienced fasting leaders, with vegetable broth, fresh juices, fasting hikes, liver compresses and rest in our spa.
Current offers
Buchinger fasting dates
All prices per person in a double room. All about Buchinger fasting
07.11. - 13.11.2026Experience Fasting with Kirsten Jahns
Fasting is not about giving something up โ it is an encounter with yourself. This fasting week combines relief, exercise and joie de vivre into a healing break.
Price from 600 euros per person in a double roomDETAILS
29.11. - 04.12.2026Experience Fasting with Kirsten Jahns
Experience fasting: more mindfulness, more clarity โ a break for body and mind.
Price from 565 euros per person in a double roomDETAILS
10.01. - 15.01.2027Buchinger Fasting with Winfried Knust
A soothing fasting week with exercise, nature, mindfulness and valuable inspiration for regeneration and new inner balance.
Price from 799 euros per person in a double roomDETAILS
17.01. - 22.01.2027Experience Fasting with Kirsten Jahns
Experience fasting with Kirsten Jahns โ a soothing time out for body, mind and soul.
Price from 585 euros per person in a double roomDETAILS
21.02. - 26.02.2027Experience Fasting with Kirsten Jahns
Experience fasting โ consciously let go, gather new strength.
Price from 585 euros per person in a double roomDETAILS
07.03. - 12.03.2027Buchinger Fasting with Elke Fleps
Treat yourself to a time out with Buchinger fasting at the Zollhaus. Elke Fleps supports you with holistic care, laughter yoga, hiking and valuable inspiration.
Price from 809 euros per person in a double roomDETAILS
14.03. - 19.03.2027Buchinger Fasting with Katja Pohl
Buchinger fasting with Katja Pohl โ a mindful time out for body and mind with nature, peace, hikes and fasting guidance.
Price from 814 euros per person in a double roomDETAILS
21.03. - 26.03.2027Buchinger Fasting with Katja Pohl
A mindful time out with peace, nature, hikes and attentive fasting guidance.
Price from 814 euros per person in a double roomDETAILS
04.04. - 09.04.2027Buchinger Fasting with Elke Fleps
A week that relieves body and mind and awakens new joie de vivre, with rest, exercise and cheerful impulses back to more lightness.
Price from 809 euros per person in a double roomDETAILS
What is autophagy, simply?
A natural recycling programme: damaged or surplus parts are broken down and reused.
When does autophagy start while fasting?
Itโs individual; fixed hour figures are simplifications.
Does Buchinger fasting promote autophagy?
It may create conditions for it, but many findings are from lab and animal studies.
Is autophagy a miracle cure?
No โ an important maintenance mechanism, not a health promise.
Conclusion
Fascinating โ but just part of it
Autophagy shows how clever your body is. But Buchinger fasting is the whole package: calm, movement, nature, guidance and new habits โ just what you experience in our fasting week.
From the Zollhaus blog
Read more & try it
What is Buchinger fasting?The fasting weekPreparationDrinkingBreaking the fastEffectsFasting hikesThe 5 rulesCommon complaintsWho is it for?Therapeutic vs. BuchingerAlkaline fasting guideAlkaline fasting in the Ore MountainsRoomsRestaurantWellnessYogaContact
Further sources: รrztegesellschaft Heilfasten & Ernรคhrung e. V. ยท Klinik Buchinger Wilhelmi ยท Nobelpreis Medizin 2016 โ Yoshinori Ohsumi
Ready?
Fast with us in the Ore Mountains
Guided Buchinger fasting with hikes, yoga, wellness and lots of forest calm.
