The mighty mitochondria, the organelle that powers our cells

A refresher on mitochondrial health 101

You might remember the term “mitochondria” (singular “mitochondrion”) from high school biology, or be familiar with it if you’ve been keeping up with any of the recent science around aging and cellular health. Here’s a recap of what mitochondria are and why they are so important to our overall health.

What are mitochondria?

These organelles also have other functions, and they play an important role in cell survival and detoxification. Indeed, mitochondria break down – and sometimes recycle – waste products so that they are less harmful. Furthermore, they can affect how cells respond to infections or injury. In short, it’s thanks to them that cells work properly and remain healthy.

How do mitochondria work?

Many cellular processes rely on ATP, two examples being that it powers muscle contractions and cellular division, among other things.

When mitochondrion age, they lose efficiency. See the next section to find out what happens to them then.

What happens if mitochondria are damaged or malfunction?

How can you keep your mitochondria healthy?

Two key elements contributing to healthy mitochondria are exercise and nutrition.

Nutrition is another important element, but following classic nutritional advice is not always enough. Different microflora compositions mean different rates of absorption of key nutrients in the digestive tract. While a balanced and healthy diet is important, to keep your mitochondria healthy you should also look into smart nutrition. Certain supplements and approaches are tailored to impact some of the key biological processes mentioned above and can contribute to healthier mitochondria, improved cellular health, and consequently, a healthier you.