12/23/2025
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Mitochondria and energy ⚡️
Mitochondria are organelles that exist within every cell of the body. Their primary function is energy production. They use oxygen to convert sugars and fats into ATP (adenosine triphosphate) that the body can then use as energy. They are also involved in cellular processes such as regulating and differentiating cell growth.
Mitochondria are not simply energy providers; they are also energy communicators. Brain mitochondria are particularly vulnerable and require constant, high-level energy. They are highly responsive to psychological stress, trauma, and loneliness, thus impacting mental wellbeing. Brain mitochondria integrate signals from the environment and the body to regulate cellular activity and influence overall health and behaviour.
Mitochondria thrive in healthy lifestyle conditions, which include whole foods, exercise, sleep, hydration, and community. This is where it gets interesting!
When we eat foods that our body easily recognises (whole foods as opposite highly processed foods, additives, etc), it requires less energy to assimilate those nutrients. This leaves more energy for the mitochondria to focus on their actual job: maintaining healthy cell function.
When we engage in activities that require an increased rate of respiration, our mitochondria thrive. When we are breathing more heavily, that breathing is a response to a message from our mitochondria that the activity in which we are engaged requires more oxygen. How do we get more oxygen? We breathe more heavily!
The result of this increase in oxygen is mitochondria multiplication. Due to the increased amount of incoming oxygen, our body requires more mitochondria to use that oxygen. The greater the amount of mitochondria, the greater our ability to create energy for all of our body’s needs, therefore allowing us to thrive. We become more efficient on a path toward overall health and performance.
So, the bottom line is… eat whole foods, get outside, and move! If we can avoid input (food & drink and negative mental stimulation) that creates stress, we give our bodies the gift of efficiency just by allowing it to do what it was designed to do!
