Why Boosting Mitochondrial Function is Important
Being that I am now 50 years old and that I want to keep my energy levels up as much as possible, anything related to how we can boost our mitochondrial function is of interest to me. The mitochondria truly are the powerhouses of the cells. They are little organelles within the cells that produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), the energy that our body needs each day in order for us to do anything. In Head Strong, Dave Asprey mentions: “From age thirty to age seventy, the average person experiences a 50 percent decline in mitochondrial efficiency.” So whatever we can do to strengthen our mitochondria, especially as we get older, is a big plus. I am devoted to red light therapy (as mentioned in 4 Easy Steps to Start the Day), grounding, and cold showers.
12 Actionable Steps to Strengthen your Mitochondria
These steps are highlighted by Dr. Frank Lipman in How to Be Well:
- Quit eating sugar. Mitochondria don’t like using sugar as food.
- Adopt a grain-free diet to further limit the amount of sugar in your blood.
- Eat more vegetables to gain more nourishing phytonutrients.
- Consume plenty of healthy fats. These are the preferred fuel of mitochondria.
- Eat clean. Pesticides and toxins damage mitochondria.
- Practice intermittent fasting.
- Develop a routine of high-intensity interval training. HIIT has been shown to make more mitochondria.
- Get strong. There is more mitochondria in lean muscle mass than in fat.
- Practice better sleep hygiene.
- Soak up some sun. Sunlight is a powerful mitochondrial booster.
- Avoid electromagnetic radiation.
- Start your day with a cold shower. Cold exposure, in short bursts, helps trigger the production of new mitochondria.
In Summary
The above steps are a great starting point in building new habits for improving mitochondrial health. Always check with your personal physician first, of course. Just focusing on one or two of these steps when starting this habit is fine. You can always progressively add a few more as time goes on. Eating primal may help in choosing the right foods for your mitochondria. Then you can later implement the other steps gradually according to what works best with your schedule. To better energy levels no matter what your age!
Until next time!
References
Asprey, Dave. Head Strong the Bulletproof Plan to Activate Untapped Brain Energy to Work Smarter and Think Faster – in Just Two Weeks. New York Harper Wave, 2017, p. 41.
Lipman, Frank M D. How to Be Well: The 6 Keys to a Happy and Healthy Life. Houghton Mifflin, 2019, pp. 168-69.
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