What's the deal with mitochondria?

... and where does the energy in our body come from? If you already know me a little, you know that I talk a lot about mitochondria, which are small in size but big in importance organelles that are part of the cell and our energy power plants. Over the past few decades, it has been discovered that there is no disease in the body that doesn't start with a disruption of ATP synthesis in the mitochondria.

It's perfectly logical, since it is to them that we owe 85% of the power supply to our systems, as well as the detection and disposal of used cells that the body wants to get rid of. Unfortunately, sometimes it can't, if only because of the reduced function of the lymphatic system (as I wrote about recently), as well as the very reduced function of the aforementioned mitochondria, which, when impaired, are unable to produce, among other things, the energy needed for apoptosis, i.e. killing the cell. Such spent and not expelled cells turn into internal enemies, leading, for example, to autoimmune disorders or cancer.

Mitochondria can be damaged as a result of pharmacotherapy, deficiency of T3 - thyroid triiodothyronine hormone, oxygen deficiency, the effects of oxygen free radicals, coenzyme Q10 deficiency or miscoding of proteins necessary for the development of new mitochondria. However, the effect is always the same - impairment ATP synthesis, which means a decrease of the amount of energy in the body.

Key elements and vitamins for mitochondrial function are: coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, vitamins B1, B2, B3, D, C, E, selenium, folic acid, iron, magnesium. However, this does not mean that we should supply these substances with additional preparations. Remember that additional supplementation should be adjusted only on the basis of laboratory-diagnosed, and by a medical specialist, deficiencies. Supplementation on our own may not only be unnecessary for us, but also dangerous, since excesses in the body also build up, damaging the mitochondria by producing free radicals. Do your research and don't rely on Dr. Google or your neighbor's advice!

Thank you for being here, have a wonderful May and may your mitochondria work like super efficient wind turbines!

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Karo