Mitochondria
Your cellular power plants. These ancient bacteria inside your cells produce 90% of your body's energy. When mitochondria fail, everything fails.
What Mitochondria Do
ATP Production
Convert food into ATP—the universal energy currency. Without ATP, nothing works.
Apoptosis Regulation
Control programmed cell death. Dysfunctional mitochondria = cancer risk.
Calcium Signaling
Buffer calcium levels, coordinate cell signaling.
Heat Generation
Produce body heat, especially in brown fat. Thermogenesis.
Hormone Synthesis
Make steroid hormones (cortisol, testosterone, estrogen) and heme.
ROS Signaling
Produce reactive oxygen species for cellular signaling (and damage if excessive).
How ATP Is Made
1. Fuel Input
Glucose, fatty acids, amino acids enter mitochondria
2. Krebs Cycle
Acetyl-CoA processed, NADH/FADH2 produced (B vitamins needed)
3. Electron Transport
Electrons flow through Complexes I-IV, pumping protons (CoQ10, iron needed)
4. ATP Synthase
Protons flow back through ATP synthase, spinning it to produce ATP (magnesium needed)
⚠️ Causes of Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Nutrient Deficiencies
CoQ10, magnesium, B vitamins, iron, copper, carnitine—all essential for ATP production.
Toxins
Heavy metals, pesticides, mold toxins, pharmaceuticals directly poison mitochondria.
Oxidative Stress
Excess ROS damages mitochondrial DNA (no protective histones like nuclear DNA).
Chronic Infections
Some pathogens hijack or damage mitochondria. Lyme, viruses, parasites.
Artificial Light
Blue light at night, lack of red/infrared light disrupts mitochondrial function.
Medications
Statins deplete CoQ10. Fluoroquinolones damage mitochondrial DNA. Many drugs are mito-toxic.
Thyroid Dysfunction
T3 directly regulates mitochondrial biogenesis. Low thyroid = fewer, weaker mitochondria.
Aging
Mitochondrial DNA accumulates mutations over time. Energy production declines.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Exercise stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis. No exercise = mitochondria atrophy.
Signs of Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Energy
- • Chronic fatigue
- • Post-exertional malaise
- • Exercise intolerance
- • Needing excessive sleep
Brain
- • Brain fog
- • Cognitive decline
- • Poor concentration
- • Memory issues
Muscles
- • Muscle weakness
- • Muscle pain
- • Poor endurance
- • Slow recovery
Heart
- • Heart palpitations
- • Cardiomyopathy
- • Exercise-induced issues
Metabolic
- • Temperature dysregulation
- • Cold intolerance
- • Blood sugar issues
Other
- • Chronic diseases
- • Accelerated aging
- • Multiple sensitivities
✅ Supporting Mitochondrial Health
CoQ10
Essential electron carrier. Ubiquinol form best absorbed. Especially if on statins.
Magnesium
ATP is stored as Mg-ATP. Without magnesium, ATP is unstable and less usable.
B Vitamins
B1, B2, B3, B5 all required for Krebs cycle and electron transport chain.
Sunlight
Red and near-infrared light stimulate cytochrome c oxidase, boosting ATP production.
Cold Exposure
Stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis, increases brown fat, improves efficiency.
Exercise
Most powerful trigger for mitochondrial biogenesis. More mitochondria = more energy.
Fasting
Triggers mitophagy—clearing out damaged mitochondria. Quality over quantity.
PQQ
Stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis. Powerful antioxidant for mito protection.
D-Ribose
The backbone of ATP. Can help rebuild ATP pools in chronic fatigue.
Metabolic Connections
CoQ10
Essential electron carrier in the mitochondrial chain
Magnesium
Required for ATP production and stability
B Vitamins
Cofactors for the Krebs cycle and electron transport
Iron
Essential for cytochromes in the electron transport chain
Glutathione
Protects mitochondria from oxidative damage
Thyroid
T3 directly controls mitochondrial biogenesis