This podcast explores the root cause of fatigue and how to fix it, focusing on the role of mitochondria in energy production. It highlights the importance of nutrient-dense foods, the benefits of a ketogenic diet for energy, and the connection between exercise and mitochondria production. Other tips for boosting energy include intermittent fasting, cold therapy, and avoiding refined sugar and stress.
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Quick takeaways
The ketogenic diet is recommended for increasing energy levels as it boosts ATP production and taps into fat reserves.
Coenzyme Q10 plays a vital role in ATP generation and deficiency in this co-factor can result in muscle problems and lack of energy.
Deep dives
The Role of Mitochondria in Fatigue
Mitochondria, the energy factory deep inside cells, play a crucial role in fatigue. Most diseases and health problems stem from issues with mitochondria. Food needs to be converted into ATP, the battery that provides energy. The Krebs cycle and various co-factors contribute to the ATP production process. The ATP synthase enzyme generates ATP, with one enzyme producing around 27,000 ATPs per minute. The brain consumes 70% of the body's ATP, so insufficient ATP can lead to mental fatigue and mood disorders. The ketogenic diet is recommended for energy since it boosts ATP production and taps into fat reserves.
The Importance of Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 plays a vital role in ATP generation and acts as an antioxidant to protect against free radicals. Deficiency in coenzyme Q10 can result from medication use, especially statins. Muscle problems, lack of energy, and reduced endurance can indicate low coenzyme Q10 levels. Red meat and organ meats are excellent sources of coenzyme Q10. B vitamins are essential co-factors for coenzyme Q10 production. Taking coenzyme Q10 supplements can help improve energy levels and exercise endurance.
Nutrient-Dense Foods and Exercise for Mitochondrial Health
Consuming nutrient-dense foods like red meat supplies the body with electron-rich and energy-generating properties that support mitochondrial health. Artificial plant-based meats lack these beneficial properties. Exercise is the most effective way to increase mitochondrial production, leading to more energy and countering mitochondrial damage. Intermittent fasting can trigger autophagy, recycling damaged proteins and mitochondria, while creating new mitochondria. Cold therapy and phytonutrients such as sulfurophane from cruciferous vegetables can also boost mitochondrial reproduction and repair. Avoiding refined foods, sugar, chronic stress, heavy metals, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption is crucial for optimal mitochondrial function.
Let’s talk about fatigue—the root cause and how to fix it.
It all starts with your mitochondria. The mitochondria are the energy factories deep inside your cells that make ATP. ATP is the energy of the body.
Certain foods contribute to the energy-making process of the body more than other foods. It’s almost impossible to extract energy from ultra-processed foods.
Important nutrients to support energy include:
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B3
• Folic acid
• Vitamin B12
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Selenium
• Vitamin C
• Coenzyme Q10
A healthy person makes a massive amount of ATP. You generate more ATP when you exercise, but ATP doesn’t get stored. Your body can either store sugar or fat as fuel. Fat is a much more efficient fuel source than sugar.
When you go on a low-carb diet and get into ketosis, you become fat-adapted. Once you’re fat-adapted, you can burn fat as fuel a lot easier. This is why the keto diet, with a lot of nutrient-dense foods, is the best diet to increase energy.
Exercise is the number one way to produce more mitochondria and boost your energy. This is just one more reason to exercise consistently.
Other things to add to increase your energy and get rid of fatigue:
• Intermittent fasting
• Cold therapy
• Phytonutrients
Things to avoid to help support healthy energy levels: