Many Diseases Might Be Caused by Mitochondrial Dysfunction, 4 Ways to Prevent
Recent years have seen increased attention to the role of mitochondria in health. The quality and rate of your life are affected by mitochondria. AgingProtecting mitochondria is a way to prevent chronic diseases and ageing, and can even help you fight them. Cancer.
According to a paper in Molecular Basis of Disease Metabolic abnormalities are common In many Chronic diseases Such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are all important factors in energy metabolism.
The Power Plants of the Cell are the Mitochondria
Mitochondria is a small organelle in the cell. They are tiny, usually between 0.75 to 3 microns. If stained, they cannot be seen under the microscope.
Each cell has a different number of mitochondria. It can vary from a few hundreds to a few thousand. Higher energy cells such as the liver and cardiac muscle cells tend to have more mitochondria.
Mitochondria, also known as a “cell’s power plant” And “energy factory,” This is where ATP (energy currency for the cell), is produced. Mitochondria utilize oxygen to further process glucose, fatty acids and food. This enables them to produce ATP which powers metabolic processes. According to the Molecular Basis of Disease paper mitochondria in cells produce 90 per cent of the energy needed to run our bodies. The average cell uses 10 billion ATP per day, while a typical adult requires 3.0×1025 ATP per day.
Our bodies can’t store ATP so our mitochondria must work properly. A person may have 250g of ATP stored in their cells at any one time. This equates to 4.25 watts or the energy stored in one AA battery. Healthy people can generate as much as 1200 watts per day.
Apoptosis is also controlled by mitochondria.
Cells are subject to life cycles. When they lose their function and become senescent they enter a phase that involves destruction and clearance. This is also known as “apoptosis”.
Mitochondria decide which cells must undergo apoptosis. When this happens, they release a substance to activate the enzymes responsible. This causes the cell’s death process to begin.
Cancer cells can continue to grow and multiply because the apoptosis mechanism is broken. Apoptosis requires ATP; if the energy supply does not meet the cell’s needs, it cannot carry out the process.
Mitochondria are responsible for maintaining the calcium stability in the body as well as generating heat.
Mitochondria Can Be Damaged and Are Commonly Associated with Various Diseases
The delicate nature of the mitochondria is what makes them so fragile. The following factors can impact mitochondrial function: inflammation, viral infections, certain nutrient deficiency, chemical toxins and heavy metals, radiation, and so on.
Mitochondria are also susceptible to oxidative damage from within—that is, damage caused by free radicals (also known as reactive oxygen species), a byproduct of mitochondrial metabolic processes. As an example, mitochondria produce more energy from food, which leads to more free radicals.
All of these factors can damage mitochondria and interfere with their ability for repair. The mitochondria will shut down energy factories when they sense danger and alert the nuclear core. This is when mitochondrial function switches from energy production to cell defense.
Dr. Michael Chang, founder and attending physician of the Healed and Whole Clinic in California and the author of the book Mitochondrial Dysfunction: a Functional Medicine Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment, emphasized in an interview with The Epoch Times that the two functions of mitochondria are mutually exclusive, and they can only perform one of the two functions—once the energy-generating mechanism in the mitochondria changes or malfunctions, we are in trouble.
A malfunctioning mitochondria can cause cells to become deficient in energy. There are many symptoms that can be experienced depending on what cell type you have.
These symptoms can range from mild fatigue to severe fatigue to brain fog, anxiety, depression, mood swings, mood swings, mood swings, reduced stamina, mood swings, muscle and joint discomfort, as well as sleep disturbances, mood swings, mood swings, decreased stamina and mood swings. The mitochondria are also implicated in age-related degenerative diseases such as hearing, vision, and skin wrinkles. Others that are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction include: diabetes, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, aging, chronic fatigue syndromes, fibromyalgia and infertility.
According to Chang’s estimation, about 50 percent of his patients have mitochondrial dysfunction, and the symptoms of these patients are diverse. One symptom that may present is fatigue. Other symptoms include hormonal imbalance and cells not having enough energy to function properly. Many people also develop brain fog, because the brain is a high-energy-consuming organ. Some people might also experience symptoms such as heart disease or cardiac dysfunction.
There are ways to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction
1. Stay away from toxic factors that could cause mitochondrial damage
If you want your mitochondria to stay healthy, this is the first thing you should be aware of. Avoid:
Stress and negative emotions can also have an impact on mitochondrial health, so they should be addressed immediately.
2. Supplements that the mitochondria need such as coenzymeQ10 are recommended.
Coenzyme Q10, a crucial cofactor for the function of mitochondria, is an essential component of cellular metabolism. It also acts as an antioxidant and affects cell signaling, metabolism, energy transport, and other functions. Clinical trials have shown that coenzyme Q10 improves energy production and reduces fatigue.
In a Spanish studyTwo groups of patients suffering from fibromyalgia was randomly selected. The first group took 300 mg per day of coenzymeQ10 for 40 days. The coenzymeQ10 group saw a 52 percent decrease in fibromyalgia symptoms compared to the placebo. There was a significant reduction in pain, fatigue, and morning tiredness.
A meta-analysis published in August 2022 showed that coenzyme Q10 can significantly reduce fatigue. Moreover, the group that took only coenzyme Q10 demonstrated a significant fatigue-alleviating effect compared to those who also took other nutritional supplements.
3. Adopt a ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting
Aging-related diseases and many chronic diseases, including cancer, are linked in some way to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Thomas N. Seyfried, a well-known scholar in cancer research and a professor of biology at Boston College, said in an interview with The Epoch Times that cancer is not a genetic disease, but a metabolic disease; and cancer is the result of cellular metabolism disorder. The mitochondrial metabolism of cancer cells is different from the efficient aerobic respiration used by normal cells. It does not use oxygen and produces much less ATP, while cancer cells can only obtain energy by decomposing glucose and glutamine.
Chang mentioned in his book that diabetes can be reclassified as a metabolic disorder rather than an endocrine disease. This is because the root of the problem is not insulin resistance, but mitochondrial dysfunction. When mitochondria fail to function properly, the rate of fat oxidation and energy production will drop, resulting in fat accumulation in our muscles and liver. These fats are converted to lipid peroxides that are cytotoxic, which further damage the mitochondria. Decreased mitochondrial function in beta cells also slows insulin secretion, leading to impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglycemia, and eventually Type 2 diabetes.
The ketogenic diet switches the mitochondria from burning glucose to burning ketone bodies, which produces relatively less toxic substances in the form of free radicals. Ketone bodies are a relatively cleaner fuel for mitochondria. Furthermore, cancer cells cannot metabolize ketone bodies. Therefore, the purpose of the ketogenic diet is to cut off the rations of cancer cells so that cancer can be reversed.
Intermittent fasting is good for the mitochondria. This is because, if we are constantly eating, the mitochondria have to keep burning fuel. Chang described it as like leaving the car engine running all the time and producing a lot of exhaust even though you are not traveling. Mitochondria build up damaging free radicals when they are constantly working. Intermittent fasting also keeps blood from rushing to the digestive tract to aid digestion; the gut can rest and its cells have a chance to repair themselves.
In addition, intermittent fasting can stimulate cells and mitochondria to start autophagy—like performing a spring cleaning—and form new mitochondria.
In addition to choosing unprocessed, natural, and organic foods, Chang suggested that we should relax and eat slowly with gratitude at mealtimes, as it can reduce internal stress, protect mitochondria, and help digestion.
4. High-intensity interval training is more beneficial for mitochondria
Chang said that compared with low- and medium-intensity exercise, high-intensity interval training is relatively more beneficial to mitochondria. Besides, short bursts of high- and low-temperature stimulation, such as in saunas and cold baths, can stimulate mitochondria and boost their function.
Exercises like a long jog on a treadmill are not necessarily ideal. Chang explained that this may elevate stress hormones and also exhaust the mitochondria due to prolonged work.
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