Why we Breath….
Breathing allows the body to take in oxygen-rich air and expel carbon dioxide. The oxygen from the air is carried by the bloodstream to the cells, where it is used by the mitochondria. Mitochondria use oxygen to break down glucose, fatty acids or amino acids, into carbon dioxide and water. The carbon dioxide produced is then carried by the bloodstream back to the lungs and exhaled.
The breakdown of the glucose, fatty acids, or amino acids releases energy, which is used to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The ATP is then used to power cellular processes, such as muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and protein synthesis. Although all cells need ATP energy to survive, the brain and the heart consume an immense amount of mitochondria energy to keep us healthy.
Mitochondria are the highly specialized cell organelles that create most energy production in the body and are the only cells that enable large quantities of ATP.
Why is this important
Without healthy mitochondria, the ATP energy process could not occur efficiently, and subsequently, we would probably still be amoebas!
Simple overview:
“Every cell contains hundreds of mitochondria.The primary role of mitochondria is to generate chemical energy store molecules, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used to power cell activities.
Mitochondrial dysfunction with aging isn’t just a loss of ATP generation and production of a harmful amount of reactive oxygen species, however. It can also be connected with chronic inflammation, as mislocalization of mitochondrial DNA can trigger sensors of the innate immune system to provide inflammatory signaling.
Mitochondria are the descendants of ancient symbiotic bacteria, and there is a certain degree of overlap in the evolved mechanisms that detect the presence of bacteria and those that detect cellular damage and dysfunction.
This is all the more reason for a greater focus on the development of ways to reverse the mitochondrial dysfunction observed in older individuals. ”
www.fightaging.org
The mitochondria is essential for:
Energy Production:
Healthy mitochondria ensure efficient energy production, which is essential for maintaining cellular health and vitality.
Metabolic Health:
Mitochondria are involved in the metabolism of various nutrients, including carbohydrates, fats, and amino acids. This is important in preventing metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity.
Oxidative Stress Management:
Mitochondria are involved in managing oxidative stress, which occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body’s ability to neutralize them.
Cell Signaling, Apoptosis and Calcium Homeostasis:
Healthy mitochondria are involved in regulating cellular responses to various signals and stressors, including the activation of apoptotic pathways when necessary to remove damaged or dysfunctional cells from the body, and with regulating calcium ion concentrations within each cell.
Aging and Overall Health:
As mitochondria age or become dysfunctional, this can contribute to the aging process and age-related diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders
Basic details:
Keeping the Mitochondria healthy
Here’s what we know about the mitochondria health
- What keeps the mitochondria healthy: Coenzyme Q10, (also known as ubiquinone or CoQ10), is a vitamin-like compound found in the bodies of almost all life forms. CoQ10 is found primarily within mitochondria, where it is a vital part of the energy production process and also acts as a free radical neutralizing antioxidant.
- What happens when we don’t: Natural production of CoQ10 can decrease with age, illness and lifestyle factors like diet and smoking. When CoQ10 levels diminish, we tend to see poorly functioning mitochondria and increased free radical damage which is now known to contribute to a whole host of health concerns
- What can we do? CoQ10 supplements have been widely available for many years, however, the research has shown that supplementing with standard CoQ10 isn’t as effective as hoped. CoQ10 is a fairly large fat-soluble molecule and only a very small amount of it actually makes it inside the mitochondria due to the tough double membranes of the mitochondria. That includes the active form of CoQ10 ubiquinol which is quickly oxidized back into ubiquinone (inactive form of CoQ10) inside the body. Yet the mitochondria is the very place you need CoQ10 to target in order for healthy levels to be supported.
Here’s what I have learned
In the U.S., CoQ10 is the 4th or 5th most consumed supplement.
“MitoQ”, the supplement:
A breakthrough was discovered in New Zealand by two biochemists in the late 1990s. They realized that because mitochondria have a significant negative charge compared to the rest of the cell, attaching the right positively charged molecule to CoQ10 could solve the absorption problem. After years of experimenting with different molecules, they found the optimal formulation with ‘MitoQ’.
How does MitoQ work:
“ High levels of the MitoQ molecules find their way into the mitochondria. It is so effective that the recommended dose (10mg daily) can be significantly less than the normal CoQ10 dose (up to 200mg), yet still provide a high amount of molecule directly into the mitochondria. Additionally, once it neutralizes a free radical, MitoQ is recycled back to its active form allowing it to perform this task over and over again.”
MitoQ Ltd. www.mitoq.com
How do we know MitoQ is one of the best CoQ10 supplements on the market?
Leading institutions around the world have studied MitoQ’s cellular health optimization in over 700 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 14 clinical trials to date.
There are over 604 scientific published studies of MitoQ since 2002, which are currently listed on PubMed.
MitoQ has been shown to:
- Improved cardiovascular health: MitoQ has been shown to improve blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and protect the heart from damage.
- Enhanced cognitive function: MitoQ has been shown to improve memory, learning, and cognitive function in older adults.
- Reduced inflammation: MitoQ has been shown to reduce inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to improved health and well-being.
- Improved mitochondrial function: MitoQ helps to improve the function of mitochondria, which are the energy-producing organelles in cells. This can lead to increased energy levels and improved overall health.
- Protection against age-related diseases: MitoQ has been shown to protect against age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cardiovascular disease.
- Metabolic syndrome: MitoQ has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels in people with metabolic syndrome.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): MitoQ has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve liver function in people with NAFLD.
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD): MitoQ has been shown to protect the kidneys from damage and improve kidney function in people with CKD.
Personal experience
I have been taking MitoQ with Curcumin since 2018, with great results.