A wave of disorders and various ailments is the current plague of our times. Increasingly, people are seeking the cause of their diseases by searching for relevant information online.
A wave of disorders and various ailments is the current plague of our times. Increasingly, people are seeking the cause of their diseases by searching for relevant information online.
This is not without reason, as more complex cases are not receiving adequate medical attention or an accurate diagnosis. Unfortunately, the lack of time for specialists to properly delve into a given case results in an increasing number of people who remain unaware of their ailments. However, increasing attention is being paid to the cellular environment in specific tissues and to the processes of proper energy production in the form of ATP to power cells. This role is carried out by mitochondria, small cellular organelles that are crucial to the proper functioning of the entire human body. What are mitochondria, and how can you properly care for them?
What are mitochondria?
Mitochondria are small, specialised structures within the cell responsible for producing energy in the form of ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. This is the fundamental substance responsible for the functioning of every cell in our body. This information alone provides evidence that mitochondria are among the most crucial elements of the proper functioning of the human body.
Mitochondria are responsible for more functions than we might think. They may be involved in the specialisation of individual cells based on their location. In other words, mitochondria determine whether intestinal cells specialise in maintaining homeostasis within the digestive tract or whether liver cells (hepatocytes) actively participate in the metabolism of various substances.
What are the functions of mitochondria?
To delve even deeper into the importance of these cellular organelles to our bodies, it's worth examining the functions they perform daily.
The primary function of mitochondria is cellular respiration. This is a process involving a series of biochemical reactions in the so-called Krebs cycle and subsequently in the electron transport chain, ultimately leading to the production of ATP molecules. Thanks to this, mitochondria ensure that every tissue in our bodies functions properly. Without mitochondria, humans wouldn't be able to take a single step!
These organelles also influence the growth and development of individual cells, especially during the period of rapid growth in the early years of life. Mitochondria can also determine which cells will undergo apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death. This explains the crucial role of mitochondria in cancer.
Mitochondria are responsible for the proper circulation of energy throughout the human body. First, it must be produced through cellular respiration. Then, it circulates throughout the body according to the body's needs to provide adequate energy.
What can weakened mitochondria result in?
Mitochondria often become impaired in their function. This is not uncommon due to the lifestyles many people lead today. Lack of proper regeneration, poor eating habits, and poor food quality contribute to the development of chronic inflammation, which also affects mitochondria. This results in impaired ATP production and a reduced quality of life.
The overall process is also undermined by excessive cortisol secretion, which negatively affects the functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems. This condition further worsens a person's health and causes significant discomfort in daily life.
Mitochondrial deterioration is a unique process, as it's practically unnoticeable. One of the few ways to assess the body's biochemical (and therefore 'mitochondrial') health is through blood tests. Based on these tests, we can effectively determine the state and quality of our mitochondrial function and take appropriate steps towards better health. Unfortunately, not every specialist is familiar with aspects of mitochondrial medicine, a field that deepens understanding of the importance and functions of mitochondria. This topic is widely discussed in Germany, where there are even mitochondrial medicine centres that provide specialised treatments and supplementation to improve health in the context of various metabolic and hormonal disorders. Unfortunately, we can only dream of such centres in Poland at the moment.
The deterioration of mitochondrial function may result in the following symptoms:
- deterioration of general condition and performance,
- frequent headaches,
- deterioration of well-being and motivation,
- pain in the limbs and joints,
- problems with the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients,
- deterioration of concentration and the ability to maintain attention (cognitive functions),
- deterioration of vision,
- weakened immunity,
- feeling of chronic fatigue.
The inflammatory process involves the production of excessive free oxygen radicals, which negatively affect the body's functioning. Their massive amounts contribute to DNA and protein damage in individual inflamed tissues. A similar situation occurs with mitochondria, where mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which encodes the proper functioning of a given mitochondria, is destroyed. When mitochondrial structures cannot efficiently produce energy for the body, the functioning of individual tissues deteriorates, making them more susceptible to inflammatory factors. This phenomenon is called mitochondrial dysfunction, or disruption of mitochondrial function.
How can you reduce inflammation in your mitochondria and regain health?
To reduce inflammation and regain health, you should examine your current health habits and lifestyle. These contribute most to our health. Restoration, through adequate rest and sleep, is crucial in this regard. This allows the body to reduce the inflammatory factors that accompany it throughout the day. If this rest is lacking, we can expect higher levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, which will have a negative impact on the body's structures.
In addition, the quality of food and our diet play a significant role. In most cases, the problem is a hectic lifestyle, which limits the ability to balance a diet with individual nutrients properly. Furthermore, it's essential to consider the changing climate and environment, which impact the quality of food delivered to stores. Food currently contains fewer minerals than it did a decade ago.
Nowadays, to fully balance a diet with nutrients, you would need to consume around 15,000 kcal per day! This figure alone demonstrates the current quality of food. We would need to consume daily calories equivalent to those Michael Phelps consumed during his Olympic years, when he won Olympic gold medals.
Unfortunately, in addition to lower-quality food, it is also accompanied by numerous supplements that promote artificial growth. Furthermore, this is accompanied by protective measures against pests, which also cause inflammation in the human body. Various types of saltpetre and products based on potassium and nitrogen compounds contribute to excessive nitrogen delivery to the body, leading to the formation of unfavourable metabolites during metabolism. These cause a phenomenon known as nitrosative stress, associated with free radicals.
In other words, in addition to the quality of our food, we also consume a higher intake of highly processed fast food, which promotes further inflammation and metabolic diseases.
The answer to these challenges is a low-processed diet, eliminating inflammatory factors such as:
- excess sugar,
- high amounts of trans fats,
- high amounts of saturated fats,
- excessive frying,
- and low amounts of fibre.
It's also important to remember to eat meals regularly and evenly spaced, which will ensure adequate blood glucose levels and provide adequate energy for working tissues.
Both accumulated stress and mitochondrial disease contribute to a global deterioration in human function, which in the long run can lead to serious lifestyle and autoimmune diseases.
How to care for mitochondria? Essential supplementation
In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet and proper recovery, it is essential to consider additional supplementation to address key nutritional needs, including vitamins and minerals, as well as substances crucial to mitochondrial biochemistry.
Important components for the proper functioning of mitochondria include:
- Acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR),
- Magnesium,
- Coenzyme Q10,
- Spermidine,
- PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline quinone),
- B vitamins.
Acetylated L-carnitine is a biologically active form of the amino acid L-carnitine, which is involved in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids (their utilisation for energy). It also acts as an acetyl donor in the formation of acetyl-coenzyme A, a key compound in the Krebs cycle. In other words, ALCAR is a substance essential for maintaining the efficient production of energy in the form of ATP. A large portion of this compound is produced in mitochondria, so during periods of inflammation, it is worth providing the body with this substance and supporting the function of key cellular organelles.
The second key substance is magnesium, which acts as a cofactor for the enzyme pyruvate kinase, which is responsible for producing adequate amounts of glucose for cells. Some magnesium is also found in mitochondria and helps activate ATP molecules.
Coenzyme Q10 acts as an electron donor in the respiratory chain, thereby playing an essential role in the final step of energy production by mitochondria. Coenzyme Q10 is also a substance with very strong antioxidant properties, meaning it counteracts excessive concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. This substance affects more than just mitochondria and is definitely worth admiring for its broad spectrum of action.
Spermidine is an interesting biologically active compound found in wheat germ. Spermidine is responsible for autophagy, the self-destruction of damaged mitochondria and their subsequent recycling for the synthesis of new, functioning organelles. Spermidine is a key regulator responsible for the proper functioning of mitochondria in the human body. It also has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, making it beneficial for broadly defined health prevention.
PQQ is the enigmatic-sounding name for pyrroloquinoline quinone, a substance whose properties include improved cognitive function thanks to its ability to create new brain connections and stimulate the synthesis of new mitochondria. Thanks to PQQ, our concentration and memory can achieve a new level of quality, and the production of additional mitochondria will contribute to a significant improvement in the functioning of the entire human body. PQQ is also used as a preventative measure against neurodegenerative and lifestyle diseases.
The final additional element supporting mitochondrial function are B vitamins, which act as cofactors for various enzymatic reactions that lead to energy production in mitochondria. It's worth obtaining them through diet and, if necessary, supplementing them.
Can mitochondrial health be restored with a single supplement?
It turns out that it is. The process of ordering individual products and searching for suitable-quality supplements can be streamlined to a single product currently available on our market. If you want to improve your health and significantly support the functioning of your mitochondria, as well as take your body to a whole new level of functioning, BestLife from the BESTLAB store is definitely worth considering!
The supplement offered on our website contains the full spectrum of the substances mentioned above, which comprehensively support the well-being of your mitochondria. Furthermore, the substances contained in our product are beneficial not only for mitochondria. They improve preventive health care and support the body in maintaining daily health and improving physical fitness, both of which play a key role in human health.
BestLife supplement composition:
- Acetylated L-carnitine (ALCAR) - 500 mg,
- Magnesium Taurate (currently the most effective and best-absorbed form of magnesium) - 320 mg,
- Coenzyme Q10 (in the form of ubiquinol - a more biologically active form than ubiquinone) - 100 mg,
- Wheat germ extract with spermidine - 100 mg, including 1 mg of spermidine,
- PQQ - 20 mg
The ingredients and their quantities have been selected to ensure quick, effective results in improving health and well-being, without the risk of overdosing or the need to adjust the dosage yourself. In other words, everything you and your mitochondria need is in the BestLife supplement and within your reach!
How to care for your mitochondria - a summary
Mitochondria are crucial cellular organelles responsible for the process of producing energy in the form of ATP. Thanks to them, the entire body can function properly. Unfortunately, pervasive stress and an unhealthy lifestyle for most people cause inflammation, which also affects the mitochondria. It affects the development of the so-called mitochondrial dysfunction. To address this, it's essential to focus on regeneration, proper nutrition, and supportive supplementation.
Key ingredients that influence mitochondrial function include:
- Coenzyme Q10,
- Magnesium,
- Acetylated L-Carnitine,
- PQQ,
- Spermidine,
You'll find all of these ingredients in BestLife from BESTLAB! Thanks to this product, you can comprehensively support your body's health and performance by supporting mitochondria. Mitochondriopathies don't produce classic symptoms, so prevention is crucial, and it's worth investing in it as soon as possible, because you only have one health.
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