13/01/2023
Extracted from Dr Mark Hyman
Fatigue is the most common symptom of poorly functioning mitochondria, and it is the reason we tend to feel pooped as we age.
Mitochondria are really important, but unfortunately many things can damage them, mainly through uncontrolled oxidative stress. That may sound complicated, but in reality we are all familiar with “oxidative stress”, even if some of us don’t know what the term means.
Oxidation is the rust on our cars, the brown color that appears on an apple when cut and exposed to air, the rancid vegetable oil in our cupboards, even the wrinkles that form on our skin. What most of us don’t realize is that our own tissues are rusting, our own fats are going rancid, and our brains are melting as we go about our daily lives.
What starts this process is some sort of insult — things like too many calories, smoking, a sunburn, exposure to toxins, anti-nutrients, and sugar. The insult leads to injury by tipping the balance and starting a chain reaction of damage to cells and tissues, that leads us down the path to weight gain and chronic illness.
So how do we care for our mitochondria?
Eat less processed food, junk food, sugar, and empty calories
Exercise regularly
Get good quality sleep
Manage your stress
Eat healthy fats
Heat therapy like a hot sauna
Eat plenty of anti-oxidant rich foods
Incorporate intermittent fasting
