Great Energy – Metabolism – Mitochondria

Metabolism – The Foundation of Good Health

Metabolism is the core foundational pathway for good health. How we convert food into energy is critical for optimum health.

Mitochondria: The Powerhouses of Cells

Mitochondria are structures within our cells that are responsible for generating energy. In addition to creating energy, mitochondria have other critical functions including cellular communication, cell growth, and providing building blocks for our genetic materials.

How Mitochondria Create Energy

Mitochondria take elements from foods such as carbohydrates, protein, and fat, combined with oxygen from air to make ATP through cellular respiration.

The Role of ATP in Cellular Energy

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) is an energy storage system for cells and serves to close the gap between energy-releasing reactions for food breakdown and energy-requiring actions such as synthesis. Every living organism consists of cells that rely on ATP for their energy needs, and all life is cellular.

Free Radicals and Mitochondrial Health

Cellular respiration provides the body with the ATP energy it needs; however, it also generates free radicals as by-products, which can damage mitochondria and their DNA. This is linked to muscle loss and neurodegenerative age-related disease.

Mitochondrial DNA: A Unique Legacy

An interesting fact about the mitochondria is that they have distinct chromosomal DNA in our nucleus called mtDNA. More on this and how mitochondria evolved from ancient bacteria in my next post.

The Global Impact of Metabolic Disease

Metabolic disease is a global health problem, with an estimated 20%–30% of adults worldwide having metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risks of type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, heart disease, and stroke.

Proactive Steps for Improving Metabolic Health

Being proactive to prevent and/or improve your metabolic conditions involves a little time every day for self-care, regular monitoring of your health, and making lifestyle adjustments that nature intended—like eating non-processed whole foods, walking daily, getting sound sleep, and staying positive and optimistic, with a little smile.