The PricePlow Podcast #034: Shawn Wells #6 | Mitochondrial Health - Optimize the Power of 'Mito'
When looking for an additional boost in energy, we often turn to stimulants and other supplements to provide a jolt. While this usually does the trick temporarily, how often do we take a step back and ask why we needed the kickstart to begin with? Maybe the previous night’s sleep wasn’t great, or a tough week at work or in the gym have left us feeling drained. What if the cause runs deeper than situational circumstances, though? What if, biologically, the body isn’t efficiently producing the energy it so desperately needs?
The human body is an extremely complex system. It houses 78 different organs, each of which have unique responsibilities, plus countless pathways/complexes that dictate overall functioning. Containing over 37 trillion cells, this vessel is incredibly complicated – but that doesn’t mean it can’t be understood. At a high level, the human body is effectively a machine, complete with power-generating mechanisms and supportive structures that ultimately enable efficient operation.
Every component in the body is important in its own right, but for the purposes of this post, we’d like to hone in one particular piece that is central to optimal functioning – the mitochondria
Meet the mitochondrion: the center of it all
Mitochondria act as energy converters at the cellular level. They take in chemical energy via food and transform it into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy source that cells need to operate. This fuel is used for virtually every bodily function there is, making the efficient firing of the mitochondria absolutely imperative for our health.
Mitochondria vs. Mitochondrion?!
Note that mitochondria is actually plural for mitochondrion. One mitochondrion, multiple mitochondria. These tenses are often used incorrectly, although we are generally talking about all mitochondria in the body and not just a single one.
However, outside factors can negatively influence the mitochondria, reducing their energy production and the functioning of the body itself. There are ways to right this ship, though. We can provide the body with what it needs to make mitochondria more efficient in creating clean energy. Ensuring these converters are firing on all cylinders can have a massive impact on your overall health, thanks to a steady supply of clean energy that’s sustainable for longevity.
In this post, we’re going to dive into everything you need to know in regards to mitochondrial function — what they are, how they work, and what can influence them. We’ll also discuss some sports supplements ingredients that we think have some real potential to optimize the mitochondria, some of which can be amplified when used synergistically.
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What are the mitochondria?
Before we get into the different ways to optimize the mitochondria, we need to take things back to high school biology and discuss what they are.
Mitochondria are organelles housed within cells of almost all eukaryotic organisms, from humans to plants. Their main function is to convert chemical energy, ingested as food, into a form of usable cellular energy. Without these organelles, the cells would struggle greatly to perform their necessary operations. Cells that demand higher amounts of energy, such as human liver cells, can contain up to as many as 2,000 mitochondria. These rod-shaped structures are the batteries that make living possible.
Origin and structure
Despite their importance within their home, mitochondria didn’t always take up residency in cell…