Are your cellular energy powerhouses zapped?
Mitochondria, which are tiny organelles found in every cell in the body, create 90% of the energy we need!
They do this by taking the nutrients from the food you eat, breaking the nutrients down, and transforming the byproducts into ATP (energy!). If you struggle with IBS, IBD, autoimmune disease or have any other underlying gut dysfunction, it’s highly likely you are not properly breaking down and absorbing the food you are eating. This will make it difficult for your mitochondria to have the nutrients they need to function well.
Fast facts about mitochondria
Did you know that mitochondria have their own DNA and it’s more similar to bacterial DNA?! While most of our DNA is stored in the nucleus of the cell, mitochondria also have their own. In fact, a child always receives their mitochondrial DNA from their mother!
The highest concentrations of mitochondria are in high-energy demanding places within the body such as the brain, liver, muscles, heart.
When the energy demands of the body exceeds the mitochondria’s ability to produce energy, this can lead to chronic disease.
However, your mitochondria do more than just produce the body’s energy. They also play a role in:
Metabolism
Storing calcium in the bones
Heat production
Immune support
Gut health
Cell death
Stem cell regulation
Aging
Appetite
Signs & Symptoms of Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Common signs of distressed mitochondria include:
Skin looks “old”
You’re more forgetful than usual
Your body just hurts.
It feels like you’re a lot older than your biological age
You feel like you don’t have energy for life
You’re gaining weight despite not changing anything.
You struggle to recover from exercise
You’re appetite has changed
Heartburn and other gut symptoms
Get sick frequently
Have one or several autoimmune conditions
Dull skin and/or hair
You feel more forgetful than usual
Hmmm, you might be thinking that all those signs and symptoms could possibly be due to other things as well…and you’re right!
Poorly functioning mitochondria have many overlapping symptoms with other conditions such as:
Hypothyroidism
Neurological disorders
Hypertension
Blood sugar dysregulation
Gut imbalance
+ more
Even if you have any other of those conditions, supporting your mitochondria regardless can be beneficial!
The benefits of supporting your mitochondria
When your mitochondria are functioning well, this results in:
An increase in metabolism
An increase in energy levels
An increase in lean muscle mass an a decrease in body fat
A decrease in risk of many types of cancers
An increase in exercise performance
More youthful looking skin
Better memory
A decrease in risk for many chronic diseases such as Alzheimers, autoimmunity, diabetes, etc
Mitochondrial dysfunction can be due to both:
❌A decrease in efficiency of the mitochondria
❌A reduction in the overall number of mitochondria
Things that impact mitochondrial function negatively include:
Lack of sleep
Many studies have found that disrupted sleep can have a negative impact on mitochondria function. If you consistently get less than seven hours of sleep can impact your mitochondria.
Microbiome dysbiosis
Research is finding that there seems to be bi-direcational communication between the microbiome and mitochondria. By-products of digestion such as short chain fatty acids help support energy production and mitochondria help support the integrity of the intestinal wall. When the microbiome is disrupted, this can impact mitochondrial function.
Mental stress
Chronic mental/emotional stress can impact mitochondria by making the cell membranes swell and become distended. In addition, the chemical byproducts of the stress response in the body can also impact the structural integrity of mitochondria, which then impacts overall function.
Inflammation
When the body produces an inflammatory response, macrophages (immune cells that “respond” to an “invasion” or inflammation in the body) switches the mitochondria function from producing energy to producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) -- which further increases inflammation levels. While this is a necessary AND beneficial response to acute sources of inflammation, when chronic inflammation is present, the excess ROS can damage cells.
Processed foods and excessive carbs
A diet full of processed foods and high in carbohydrates can put a strain on mitochondria.
Sedentary lifestyle
The largest amount of mitochondria are found in muscle cells. If there is low muscle mass, the amount of energy being produced by the mitochondria is smaller.
Environmental toxins
More and more research is finding that toxins, everything from environmental pollutants to certain pharmaceuticals impact mitochondrial function.
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance and mitochondria dysfunction is thought to have a bi-directional relationship meaning that insulin resistance can lead to mitochondrial damage and mitochondrial dysfunction can lead to insulin resistance.
How to test for mitochondrial dysfunction
How do you know if you have mitochondrial dysfunction or something else?
When you read about the “signs of mitochondrial dysfunction” and the root causes of mitochondrial dysfunction you might be left wondering…
“Well… if it mimics the symptoms of so many other conditions, how do I know if it’s my mitochondria or not?”
One of the best tests to identify mitochondrial dysfunction is the NutrEval test from Genova Diagnostics.
They have a specific section called “Need for Mitochondrial Support” where they test for key nutrients and enzymes that are essential for healthy mitochondria.
These include:
Glutathione
CoQ10
Magnesium
Manganese
Formiminoglutamic Acid
Methylmalonic Acid
Glutaric Acid
Lactic Acid
Pyruvic Acid
Citric Acid
cis-Aconitic Acid
Isocitric Acid
a-Ketoglutaric Acid
Succinic Acid
Malic Acid
Adipic Acid
Suberic Acid
For each one of those substances, it gives if a score of:
Minimal need for support
Moderate need for support
High need for support
In addition, it gives an overall score for whether or not your body needs more mitochondrial support or if things are functioning properly!
Another test that has several mitochondrial markers in an Organic Acids Test. I love running this test because it assesses for not only the health of the mitochondria, but also gives clues to toxic exposure and whether or not a person is struggling with candida or fungal overload.
If you feel like you may need support in getting to the root of your symptoms and determining whether or not your mitochondria are affected and whether or not there is toxic exposure at play, schedule a free discovery call with us to see if I can help you.
