The Electrain Series: What Can You Do for Your Mitochondria?

We will begin our journey by exploring how our bodies produce energy.  

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Then we will turn to maximizing our energy production. 

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From Oxidative Phosphorylation to the electron transport chain, we will learn how our mitochondria help us produce energy in the form of ATP. 

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As the powerhouses of the cell, mitochondria are key to optimal performance and healthy longevity. 

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Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with neurodegenerative disease and Metabolic Syndrome, a constellation of traits including insulin insensitivity, hypertension, and obesity (which together set the stage for diabetes and heart disease).  

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All the supplements and therapies discussed can increase the total energy produced by the electron transport chain (ETC)!

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We will further enhance their effects by delving into optimal quantity, timing, and order.

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Supplements can be extremely beneficial, especially if the compound in question is difficult to obtain from food, which can be especially helpful if you have dietary restrictions. 

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It’s not just a matter of getting nutrients that are hard to get from food sources. Sometimes beneficial molecules cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities from what we eat. For example, 100 mg is a standard dose for pterostilbene. Blueberries are one of the richest natural sources of this flavonoid, yet there are only 3 mg in over 140 cups.

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The are several contributors malnutrition in the modern world: 

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1. Soil depletion, due to non-regenerative farming methods, is impoverishing soil, leading to increasingly innutritious crops. 

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Fact: Soil is eroding  at an alarming rate. Nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen have drastically fallen over the last century. We could solve this by switching to regenerative farming which will increase the nutrients in soil and thus our food. [1][2]

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2. Produce now often travels long distances.

Fact: These long distances lead to a shorter shelf life of fruits and vegetables, so that by the time they have sat in your fridge and customers are ready to consume them, many of their B vitamins have  

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3. Highly processed foods are pervasive. 

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4. Environmental toxins, old and new. 

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5. Minerally depleted water 

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6. More dietary restrictions, as the result of allergies or lifestyle choices  

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7. An older population. Levels of beneficial hormones decline with age.  

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If you have a restricted diet, consume commercially available food, or want to live a longer, healthier life, taking supplements just makes sense. 

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                                                                  References and Suggested Reading

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Amundson, Ronald, et al. "Soil and human security in the 21st century." Science 348.6235 (2015): 1261071.

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Bournat, Juan C., and Chester W. Brown. "Mitochondrial dysfunction in obesity." Current opinion in endocrinology, diabetes, and obesity 17.5 (2010): 446.

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Bratic, Ana, and Nils-Göran Larsson. "The role of mitochondria in aging." The Journal of clinical investigation 123.3 (2013): 951-957.

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McCormack, Denise, and David McFadden. "A review of pterostilbene antioxidant activity and disease modification." Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity 2013 (2013).

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McLauchlan, Kendra. "The nature and longevity of agricultural impacts on soil carbon and nutrients: a review." Ecosystems 9.8 (2006): 1364-1382.

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Patti, Mary-Elizabeth, and Silvia Corvera. "The role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes." Endocrine reviews 31.3 (2010): 364-395.

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Szendroedi, Julia, Esther Phielix, and Michael Roden. "The role of mitochondria in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus." Nature Reviews Endocrinology 8.2 (2012): 92-103.

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Vernochet, Cecile, and C. Ronald Kahn. "Mitochondria, obesity and aging." Aging (Albany NY) 4.12 (2012): 859.