We're tired, our wounds don't heal as fast, our hangovers are worse and last longer, and we have stubborn weight that doesn't fall off like it used to. What's going on?
Our mitochondria, the energy powerhouses in our cells, aren't rebuilding properly and one pesky source is probably the cause.
There is something we can do about it.
Mitochondria determine how we feel. Our strong body, energetic approach to life, and sharp mind all depend on it. Our most important organs have the most mitochondria.
Creating new mitochondria is important for beauty, energy, and protection against oxidative stress (the nasty bio-product of doing, eating, moving, stressing). Unfortunately, mitochondria are both delicate and vulnerable to free radical damage and Inflammation.
Ugh Inflammation. That thing that is so healing & helpful when acute and so damn damaging when chronic.
Bulletproof executive founder Dave Asprey's article today referenced a Prevention article stating how, “Mitochondria slowly decline(s) in number and vigor” ... “Little by little, your health and vitality decline, until one day you realize that your favorite clothes no longer fit, you’re exhausted by a trip to the grocery store, and your doctor is writing you a script for metformin to control your diabetes.”
With prolonged high Inflammation levels being tied to depression, obesity, slow wound repair, and mitochondria damage, let's look at a few things we can do to whittle our middle, increase our energy, and battle aging oxidative stress more effectively.
5 Ways to Help our Mitochondria
1) Lower inflammation
Inflammation plays a key role in aging, damaging mitochondria and increasing mitochondrial mess ups. Deep breathing, Omega 3s, Rest, Adaptagenic Herbs, lower sugar intake, moderate exercise, vegetables, antioxidants, inflammation lowering herbs, and fasted (no food in belly) sleep have all been tied to lowering inflammation. We've centered our - Free the Fat - stubborn fat release protocol around this principle. Lowering chronic inflammation is everything for mitochondria repair and weight loss.
2) Early, empty belly sleep
Think of the brain's cleanup crew like a bunch of brooms (microglial cells) that come in at night to sweep up the oxidative stress trash left behind. Improper sleep means yesterday's trash is still present when the offie workers arrive the next day. Days, months, years of that become a problem and have been tied to Alzheiners. Studies show crappy sleep and sleep disorders play a key role in mitochondrial dysfunction. - Dave Asprey Here’s a guide to hacking your sleep.
And fasted sleep, or empty belly sleep allow a very important process to start - Autophagy = the cellular repair scan the body goes through to metabolize bad cells (cancer) and repairing good cells (mitochondria leaking electrons).
3) Fast... & then eat these:
It appears calorie restriction / starvation and lack of access to sugars or putting your body into ketosis (fat using) is the preferred state for mitochondria repair. High quality coconut oil, grass fed hormone free butter, and Omega 3 fatty acids all fuel mitochondria without the oxidative stress byproduct. Because Dave's article on Mitochondria inspired this one, I feel obligated to share that we do use his Brain Octane, a high quality MCT oil (coconut oil) in our am coffee/ tea while we keep the morning fast going.
According to Livestrong.com, other nutrients tied to mitochondria repair include: coenzyme Q10, antioxidants (fruits and vegetables), Acetyle-L-Carnitine, lipoic acid, vitamin E, lutein, and zeaxanthin (eggs, leafy greens). We also like Dave's Unfair Advantage that has active form of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), the cousin of the popular supplement CoQ10.
4) Exercise but not too hard
Heard of Orange Theory workouts? The studio that keeps your heart rate in the orange zone, not letting it get too high. It appears mitochondria do very well with moderate exercise but actually get damaged with prolonged super intense exercise. Short bursts appear to tax the body right and are good, try high-intensity interval training (HIIT) - unless you struggle with very high inflammation and then easier walks are more appropriate until you repair. One study found just two weeks of HIIT “significantly increased mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle.” - Dave Asprey
5) Detox the body, Detox the mind
Detox the Body: Heavy metals & toxins keep the mitochondria in a toxic environment impairing their ability to be repaired. Ditching the pesticide laden, packaged in plastic, processed foods while eating clean green fiberous scrubbing vegetables and chelating agents like parsley really help. Some detox protocols, specifically around heavy metals may need IV therapy or the oversight of a professional. Sweat, from exercise or sauna along with movement (lymphatic shaking) help the body move and eliminate toxins.
Meditation: Relaxing the mind, resetting the nervous system, and getting deep oxygenating breaths in are wonderful for mitochondria repair. Meditation benefits are lined up down the street and apparently the "vacation effect" of lasting bliss kicks in after 8 weeks of regular meditation.
We're proud of our latest creation centered on these pillars. I'm offering the FreetheFat Stress reducing slimming system to the GetHSH community for $17. Healthy cookbooks, Best ways to start your morning, Guilt free low sugar desserts, ways to reduce inflammation, Mood Makeover: depression guide, 10 Body sculpting moves, and stress reduction.
