Healthy mitochondria means more energy and a longer life. Magnesium is a vital mineral that plays a critical role in mitochondrial function, especially producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Did you know that more than a third of a cell's magnesium is found inside the mitochondria? Magnesium is a cofactor in more than 300 enzyme reactions, including those involved in the electron transport chain in mitochondria.

A lot of people are not getting sufficient magnesium in their diet. Deficiency is especially common in people with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, and heart rhythm problems.

Magnesium insufficiency can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, increased oxidative stress/free radical production , and accelerated aging. If you don’t get enough magnesium in your diet, your mitochondria won’t be able to produce as much energy and your overall health will suffer.

Fatigue is one of the most common problems we see among our patients. Fatigue can be caused by many different health conditions, but often two patients with the same disease will have vastly different energy levels. That means there’s usually a lot you can do to improve your energy, despite your health situation.

There are so many different possible causes of fatigue, which can make it tricky to overcome. Poor quality sleep, hormonal imbalances, gut problems and immune system disorders are all common culprits. One culprit that people often don’t think of is nutrient deficiencies.

Ways to make your mitochondria more efficient

Mitochondria are the energy factories inside your cells. The more mitochondria you have, and the better they function, the more energy you will have. Healthy mitochondria also help to slow down the aging process, and may reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Be mindful of your magnesium intake. Small amounts of magnesium are found in green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and red meat. However, if you suffer with low energy, poor sleep or anxiety, these foods will not provide sufficient magnesium. Because there are no effective laboratory tests to check for magnesium deficiency, the best thing to do is take a Magnesium supplement and watch for an improvement in symptoms. A magnesium supplement offers a fast and reliable way of topping up with this mineral.

Eat sufficient natural, healthy fats. Mitochondria are actually largely composed of fat, which forms the outer membrane and the inner membrane (called cristae). You want your mitochondria to contain healthy natural fats, rather than highly processed vegetable oil or margarine. Most vegetable oil is very high in omega 6 fat, which is highly unstable and prone to oxidation. Nourishing your mitochondria with healthy fats will help them to function optimally. Healthy fats to include in your diet include avocados, olive oil, macadamia nut oil and avocado oil; oily fish or a fish oil supplement; coconut oil, ghee and the fat from grass fed animals such as lard and tallow.

Reduce your level of body toxicity. Your body is equipped with its own detoxification organs, such as your intestines, liver and kidneys, however, not everyone is in 100 percent health. The detox organs in most of our patients are not working optimally. Also, the amount of chemicals we are all exposed to in daily life has never been higher. The human species did not evolve to be able to handle this chemical load.

Get plenty of antioxidants in your diet. Your mitochondria generate energy by producing ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Inevitably, this process generates free radicals. If too many free radicals are produced, they can harm the mitochondria; particularly the delicate fatty acids within the mitochondrial membranes. Selenium and vitamin C both help to mop up free radicals and reduce their destructive effects. You can take these nutrients in a supplement; they are both found in Selenomune Designer Energy capsules, which may give you a noticeable boost in energy. Raw vegetable juices are another great way to boost your intake of antioxidants. There are lots of recipe ideas in my book Raw Juices Can Save Your Life. Drinking a vegetable juice is a great way to pick up your energy level immediately.

Exercise, exposure to cold weather and fasting can all increase the formation of mitochondria inside your cells. All of those conditions can be stressful for your body; therefore your body makes more mitochondria to compensate.

Reference

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.