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Mitochondria are our cell engines and take the energy from food and change this into the energy our bodies need. At the end of the line is production of ATP – adenosine triphosphate – to provide energy that make our bodies work.
Free radicals, especially nitrogen radicals like peroxynitrite, can damage delicate cell structures and cause less energy to be made.
Some diseases can damage mitochondria. Studies show chronic fatigue syndrome weakens mitochondria, resulting in significantly less energy than in healthy people.
The result is always tiredness, but other symptoms are determined by the type of disease.
For example, in MS mitochondrial changes occur and lead to nerve myelin damage.
The first step to improve energy is to add Co Enzyme Q10. Be aware: most CoQ10 on the market is low-cost semi-synthetic material. I prefer high grade, naturally-fermented material despite its higher cost. There’s no such thing as good, cheap CoQ10.
The most important component of nutritional therapy for fatigue and inflammatory problems is adding a range of mitochondrial nutrients and co factors. These include CoQ10 and compounds such as PQQ, Resveratrol, Grape seed extract, Acetyl l- carnitine, N acetylcysteine and Alpha Lipoic Acid.
These help to increase energy output, support flagging energy processes, and reduce free radical damage by actively targeting the free radicals. We then add a full B vitamin complex, which are needed in most steps to make energy.
A good diet and these beneficial supplements can make a real difference in life quality for those with low energy.
John Arts (Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423559 or email: john@abundant.co.nz
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