Spermidine — Frequently Asked Questions

Dietary spermidine intake varies significantly — people eating traditional Mediterranean or Japanese diets may consume 12-15mg daily, while a typical Western diet provides only 7-10mg. Wheat germ is the richest dietary source (24mg per 100g), followed by soybeans, aged cheese, and mushrooms. Supplementation can help bridge the gap if your diet is low in these foods, though incorporating spermidine-rich foods is always the foundational approach.

Autophagy is your cells' built-in recycling system. It breaks down and recycles damaged proteins, dysfunctional mitochondria, and other cellular debris. When autophagy slows down with aging, this damaged material accumulates and drives inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and disease. Fasting, exercise, and compounds like spermidine all stimulate autophagy. The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology was awarded for research on autophagy mechanisms.