Striving4Zen

Mitochondria are the little factories in our cells that take the foods we eat and the oxygen we breathe and convert them into energy. That energy is called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, and it is used to support every function in our body.

Each cell holds hundreds or thousands of mitochondria; they are found in greater amounts in active organs and tissues such as the muscles, heart, and brain. In fact, we have more than 100,000 trillion mitochondria in our bodies, and each one contains 17,000 little assembly lines for making ATP.

Why are these are these little energy factories so important to your health?

The answer is simple: Mitochondria are the place where metabolism happens.

When your mitochondria aren’t working properly, your metabolism runs less efficiently or can practically shut down.

Problems occur because these powerful energy producers are VERY sensitive to damage.

And when they are damaged, you suffer all the symptoms of low energy—fatigue, memory loss, pain, rapid aging, and more.

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Labels: aging, ATP, biology, energy, fatigue, mitochondria

Choline is part of the B vitamin complex. But researchers estimate the average choline intake in the U.S. is only about 315 mg per day – well below the recommended adequate intake (AI) of 425 mg per day for women and 550 mg per day for men. This is a concern because choline deficiency can play a role in raising homocysteine – the amino acid that promotes plaque buildup on artery walls.

What can high-choline foods do for you?

• Keep your cell membranes, the gates through which nutrients enter and wastes leave your cells, functioning properly
• Allow your nerves to communicate with your muscles
• Prevent the build-up of homocysteine in your blood. Homocysteine is a harmful compound that is associated with cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
• Reduce chronic inflammation

What events can indicate a need for more high-choline foods?

• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Poor ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine
• Accumulation of fats in the blood
• Nerve-muscle problems

Food sources of choline include soybeans, egg yolk, butter, peanuts, potatoes, cauliflower, lentils, oats, sesame seeds and flax seeds.

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Labels: b-vitamins, choline, eating healthy, fatigue, healthy diet

When a person is sapped by fatigue, the last thing he or she wants to do is exercise. But new research shows that regular, low-intensity exercise may help boost energy levels in people suffering from fatigue.

Fatigue is one of the most common health symptoms and can be a sign of a variety of medical problems. However, about one in four people suffers from general fatigue not associated with a serious medical condition.

“Too often we believe that a quick workout will leave us worn out — especially when we are already feeling fatigued,” said researcher Tim Puetz, PhD., who recently completed his doctorate at the university and is the lead author of the study. “However, we have shown that regular exercise can actually go a long way in increasing feelings of energy — particularly in sedentary individuals.”

Why exercise helps fatigue isn’t clear, but Dr. Puetz said his findings suggest exercise acts directly on the central nervous system to increase energy and reduce fatigue. Notably, the improvements in energy and fatigue were not related to increases in aerobic fitness.

“A lot of people are overworked and not sleeping enough,” said Patrick O’Connor, PhD., co-director of the university’s exercise psychology laboratory. “Exercise is a way for people to feel more energetic. There’s a scientific basis for it, and there are advantages to it compared to things like caffeine and energy drinks.”

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Labels: energy, exercise, fatigue, healthy living, study