Mitochondrial Health
Mitochondria and they live within our cells – they are quite literally the powerhouses of the cells. They are vital for survival as they harvest additional energy from the food we eat. Without them, we would not generate enough energy to survive!
When mitochondria are damaged, they produce less energy, which results in compromised cell function. This may occur as a result of the adverse effects of drugs, infections, and other environmental toxins, a poor diet, or the body’s decreased capacity to handle stressors.
The most common symptoms are fatigue, brain fog, pain, mood disorders, anxiety, depression, gastrointestinal disorders and even diabetes.
Mitochondria are vital for survival as they generate ATP from the food we eat. The process is known as cellular respiration. Loss of function in mitochondria can result in excess fatigue.
Treatments for Mitochondrial Dysfunction May Include:
- Vitamins and Supplements including Coenzyme Q10, B Complex Vitamins, especially Thiamine (B1) and Riboflavin (B2); Magnesium, Astaxanthin, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Creatine, D-Ribose, Taurine and Turmeric among others.
- Exercise: both endurance exercises and resistance/strength training.
- A Phytonutrient-rich Diet: Certain plant phytonutrients act as pro-oxidants in the body, which activates the body’s antioxidant defence system. Such as red grapes, broccoli, green tea, and tomatoes. The antioxidant defence system, once activated, in turn, activates detoxification pathways and stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis.
- Ketogenic Diets and Intermittent Fasting: A ketogenic diet, which is high in fat, moderate in protein, and very low in carbohydrates.
- Other Hormetic Stressors: Cold exposure, heat exposure, hypoxia, red and near infra-red-light exposure, UV light exposure, and certain xenobiotics (such as caffeine and other drugs) work by producing temporary stress that stimulates mitochondrial adaptations, which improves resilience and dramatically increases energy levels.
- Avoiding Environmental Toxins
- Getting good sleep and minimising stress