What Are Mitochondria? And Why Your Health Depends on Them
What Are Mitochondria?
Mitochondria are specialized structures found inside nearly all your cells. Scientists believe they evolved from ancient bacteria that formed a symbiotic relationship with early cells, resulting in mitochondria still containing their own DNA, separate from the DNA in your cells. This unique feature gives mitochondria the ability to replicate and adapt on their own, which is key to their role in maintaining cellular energy.
This is vitally important because without mitochondrial energy, nothing in the body works properly. Cells wouldn’t be able to function, repair, or communicate. When mitochondrial health suffers, we feel it! This can translate into fatigue, poor exercise recovery, hormone imbalances, metabolic issues, and other chronic health conditions!
The Key Roles of Mitochondria in Your Health
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Energy & Metabolism
Mitochondria produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is essentially your body’s energy currency. We have ATP to thank for powering our hearts, lungs, brains, digestive system – all organ systems! Mitochondrial efficiency is directly linked to how energetic you feel, how well you tolerate exercise, and how your body regulates metabolism. When mitochondrial function declines, it’s not uncommon to experience persistent fatigue, weight gain, metabolic disorders, irregular periods, cognitive impairment, and more.
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Hormone Production
Many people don’t realize mitochondria play a central role in producing hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol. If your mitochondria aren’t functioning well, hormone production can be significantly impacted, leading to imbalances that affect everything from fertility and menstrual regularity to stress tolerance and mood.
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Brain & Mood Support
Your brain uses a disproportionate amount of the body’s energy (around 20%), even at rest, making it especially sensitive to mitochondrial dysfunction. Issues with memory, focus, mood, or even chronic anxiety and depression can sometimes be traced back to low cellular energy and poor detoxification in brain cells. Mitochondria also support neurotransmitter production, which further ties them to emotional and cognitive health.
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Aging & Cellular Resilience
As we age, mitochondrial function naturally declines. That being said, lifestyle factors like chronic stress, nutrient deficiencies, and toxin exposure can accelerate this decline. Damaged or sluggish mitochondria contribute to inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired cell repair processes. This is why mitochondrial health is now considered a key factor in longevity and healthy aging.
How to Support Mitochondrial Health
The good news is that we can directly improve mitochondrial health through diet and lifestyle changes. From eating antioxidant-rich foods and exercising regularly to prioritizing sleep and reducing environmental toxins, there’s a lot you can do to keep these tiny engines running smoothly! Check out our latest YouTube video for practical nutrition and lifestyle tips that can help you recharge your cellular energy and support whole-body vitality.
Written by Romana Brennan, MS, RDN
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