Our Mitochondria turn food and oxygen into energy. They are the missing link between what we eat, and how we function. They are a key component to our metabolism, and they are extra concentrated in our most active tissues and organs like our heart, our brain, and our muscles. Mitochondria are also our key to longevity, and how we age. New reports are linking almost all degenerative diseases and age related complications to DAMAGED Mitochondria.  

Our body has at least 100,000 trillion mitochondria, each containing almost 20,000 different processes for creating ATP. ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) is thought of as life’s energy currency. It stores the energy we need to do everything.  Walk, sit, sleep, digest, think, you name it. For the moment, we can think of ATP as our batteries, and the mitochondria as our battery chargers. I’m sure you can figure out where I’m headed.  What good is a battery if it’s not charged? It’s pretty inconvenient when I leave home with a low battery, only to realize I forgot my charger? Why does this concept matter?

Well our mitochondria, the battery chargers in this case, are very sensitive. The same process of creating our energy is also firing off free radicals that are harmful. Therefore, mitochondria are constantly damaging themselves and each other. As we age, more and more of these little “battery chargers” are burning out. Our body’s antioxidant defenses start to diminish and the signs of aging become apparent throughout our bodies:

    Fatigue

    Difficulty Breathing

    Pre-mature Aging

There is good news, however.  

What if I told you that modern nutrition, combined with science, holistics, curiosity, trial and error, and bio-hacking has lead us to some powerful advances in mitochondria stimulation?

What if you could undo some of the aging signs you’ve begun to experience?  

What if you could build yourself a fortress against mitochondrial diseases, a seemingly never-ending supply of these little battery chargers, fueling your ATP, and revitalizing your precious cells?  

Now, you can. Here are 5 ways to jumpstart your mitochondria production:

1. Raise Intake of Antioxidant PQQ

PQQ is an extremely potent anti-oxidant that not only protects and strengthens mitochondria, but as of recent studies, has been shown to stimulate the regeneration of mitochondria. Where is it found? Whole food sources are the best, and they include: Parsley, green tea, peppers, papaya, kiwi.

2. Increase Aerobic exercise

We talked about the woes of too much cardio (raised cortisol, high-impact damage etc) however, compared to strength training, cardio and aerobic exercise drastically increases mitochondrial growth.  Just don’t do too much longgggg bouts of cardio.  I recommend some HIIT if you can do it.

3. Get A Massage

No, I’m not selling my massage service here, (although it sounds like a fun job, depending on the clientele) but some studies have shown that a deep tissue massage may boost mitochondrial production. With the toxins released, blood and oxygen can circulate as they should through one’s body, giving you a cleansed and relaxed feeling. (Do consult your doctor to ensure your body can withstand the pressure.)

4. Supplement BCAAs

Branched Chain Amino Acids are often called the “building blocks of protein.”  Some studies suggest mitochondrial growth was stimulated and increased by supplementation of BCAAs. These can be found in most animal proteins, as well as eating a variety of nuts, seeds, and legumes.

5. Detox heavy metals from your body

Lead, mercury, cadmium and other harmful, toxins easily accumulate in our precious mitochondria.  It’s a GREAT idea to detox and attempt to remove these by (doctor approved) whole, unprocessed food diets and juice fasts.

So let’s mix up a Mitochondria-stimulating Juice Recipe:

By now, we can all agree the importance of mitochondria and ATP production in our cells. Damaged mitochondria are basically the very definition of “aging.” You can use the above practices to slow down and possibly reverse that process.  Now, why would I want to slow down my aging process? Well I have about 100,000 trillion reasons (see what I did there?) No, I’m not desperate to relive my youth and act like a college hooligan again (although everything does happen for a reason ;). I believe there is a big, wonderful world out there that I’m not exactly finished exploring. I have friends and family with children whom I’d like to watch grow up, and I don’t know about you, but in terms of making an impact on all 7 billion humans on this planet, I feel like I’m just getting started.