Mitochondrial health is one of the most critical factors in your overall health and energy — yet most people know little about the powerhouse of your cells. However, mitochondria are susceptible and can be damaged easily. And when that damage occurs, you can suffer from fatigue, memory loss, low energy, pain, rapid aging, and much more.
What are Mitochondria?
You may have heard about mitochondria back in biology class, but you may not fully know what they do. Mitochondria are the tiny factories in your cells that take in food and oxygen and convert them into energy. That energy, called ATP (adenosine triphosphate), supports every function of your body. Dr. Mark Hyman, the esteemed functional medicine physician, explains it this way:
“Each cell holds hundreds or thousands of mitochondria; they are found in greater concentrations in active organs and tissues like the heart, brain, and muscles.
“In fact, we have more than 100,000 trillion mitochondria in our bodies, and each one contains 17,000 little assembly lines for making ATP. Mitochondria are where metabolism happens.”
In addition to ATP, mitochondria also produce a byproduct called ROS (reactive oxygen species), which is a type of free radical. These free radicals can damage the mitochondria if you don’t have enough antioxidants in your diet (or make enough in your body).
What Contributes to Mitochondrial Damage?
The natural aging process can contribute to mitochondrial damage, but other things can also contribute. A few examples are stress, lack of sleep, environmental pollution, and eating refined sugar and flour.
Many health issues have been linked to poor mitochondrial function, including:
- Aging
- Cardiovascular disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Skin disorders
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Bipolar disorder
- Infertility
- Depression
- Reproductive problems
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Fatty liver disease
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Insulin resistance
- Multiple sclerosis
- Obesity
- Parkinson’s disease
The reason many issues are related to mitochondrial function is simple: All cellular processes require energy. And a poor energy state is a common denominator in practically all chronic diseases.
That’s why one of the major symptoms of mitochondrial disorders is fatigue — which can have a great deal to do with the thyroid. And the relationship between the thyroid and mitochondria is fascinating.
The Thyroid-Mitochondria Relationship
With damage to the mitochondria comes damage to all your cells — including the thyroid and other hormone-producing cells. However, with thyroid hormones — specifically T3 (triiodothyronine) — the relationship is reciprocal.
T3 affects almost every process in the body and plays a crucial role in your metabolic rate, brain development and function, heart and digestive operations, muscle control, and maintenance of bones. And T3 is also one of the most important regulators of mitochondrial activity — so important that when you remove or reduce T3, mitochondria produce less energy and eventually die.
However, the converse is also true: When your mitochondria are damaged from toxins, chronic stress, or other things that can deplete antioxidants, the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones. Then, with reduced thyroid hormones comes a decline in mitochondrial efficiency. It’s a vicious cycle.
That’s why it’s vital to get comprehensive thyroid treatment that uses holistic and standard medical practices to isolate and treat the specific issues with your thyroid. We are experts in thyroid treatment, so to learn more about the thyroid and how we can help get your thyroid right, please visit our Thyroid Treatment page.
Mitochondria and the Gut Microbiome
Your gut is the frontline of defense for your immune system, constantly exposed to toxins, chemicals, pesticide residues, bacteria, and more. And processes in your gut can affect your central nervous system, brain, and moods. But you may not be aware of the gut-mitochondria connection.
In the gut, the cells with their mitochondria and ATP production exist next to the bacteria that make up the gut microbiota. These bacteria interact with the body’s cells mainly through the mitochondria. And studies show that improving the gut microbiome will improve the quality and diversity of the mitochondria’s functions.
However, gut dysbiosis (imbalance of the gut flora) can create a state of chronic inflammation. And this inflammation acts like a constant opposing force on the body’s delicate hormonal balance — and mitochondrial processes essential for energy.
You can learn much more about the importance of a healthy gut microbiome by visiting our Gut Health and Hormones page.
How to Improve Your Mitochondrial Health
- Eat whole foods, mainly plant foods. Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains are packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients, so try to eat eight to 12 servings daily.
- Eliminate processed foods, sugar, and junk foods.
- Increase omega-3 fats to help build the mitochondrial membranes. Oily fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines, plus chia seeds, flaxseed, and walnuts, are all excellent sources.
- Get rid of toxins — both in your body and in your environment.
- Take supplements like acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, n-acetyl-cysteine, NADH, D-ribose, resveratrol, and magnesium aspartate. These can protect mitochondria and boost energy.
- Get enough sleep. When you sleep well, your body repairs and restores itself, particularly in the deep sleep stage.
- Exercise regularly, doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT), strength training, and aerobic activity. Studies have shown that HIIT training can improve mitochondrial health.
- Balance your hormones. This includes discovering anything that could cause your thyroid hormones to be out of balance.
- Improve your gut health and reduce inflammation.
Forum Health can Help Discover What May be Damaging Your Mitochondrial Health
Our providers are devoted to understanding your health concerns and symptoms. We use science-based protocols to find the root cause of hormonal imbalances, thyroid dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, and more.
When it comes to mitochondrial health, as you have read, many issues may be at play. That’s why we will spend quality, personalized time with you to get to the root cause. Treatments may include:
- Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Thyroid Treatment
- Gut Health Testing
- Nutritional Testing
- Sleep Treatment
- And much more
We are here to help you improve your mitochondrial health — and your quality of life!
We can explain our protocols and fees in more detail and answer any questions or concerns you have. we can also explain how our approach can help with hormonal balance, anti-aging, and disease prevention to enjoy a vibrant and healthy life!
