5 Ways to Keep Your Mitochondria Healthy and Strong

Emily Monaco |

Updated: Nov 8, 2024

keep your Mitochondria Healthy, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Suddenly, it seems that mitochondria are everywhere, with new studies showing that caring for our mitochondria will lead to improved health. One particular study in Cell Death and Disease even points to evidence that healthy mitochondria can reverse the aging process¹.

But while mitochondria may be enjoying some newfound fame, the importance of these cellular powerhouses is nothing new. In fact, as the organelles that create cellular energy, mitochondria are some of the most essential components of the human body. Want to learn how to keep your mitochondria healthy and strong? Then follow these helpful tips and tricks.

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What Are Mitochondria?

What Mitochondria, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

If you remember your days in freshman biology, you might recall that mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of your cells. The analogy is apt; the role of mitochondria is transforming food into cellular energy. In fact, mitochondria produce about 90 percent of the energy that our cells need to survive.

But mitochondria don’t stop at making energy; they’re also essential in triggering cell death, an essential function that, when hindered, can lead to tumor growth and cancer (you can read more about autophagy, and how the body rejuvenates itself via cell death)².

“Mitochondria have always been important, but until recently there has not been much thought in medicine about doing anything to improve their function,” explains Naturopathic doctor, Jason Way.

And these are not the only health problems brought about by dysfunctional mitochondria. As David Asprey, founder of nutrition brand Bulletproof, explains, mitochondrial dysfunction “appears to be at the heart of most illness and chronic disease.”

“You can get mitochondrial dysfunction if you don’t have enough mitochondria, if the ones you have aren’t working well or if you don’t produce them consistently,” he explains. “Disturbingly, research suggests half of people under the age of 40 have early onset mitochondrial dysfunction.”

Why Are We Only Hearing About Mitochondria Now?

Why Mitochondria, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Mitochondria haven’t suddenly become more important in our bodies. Rather, our understanding of their essential role in a wide variety of disease processes has recently come to light.

“Mitochondria have always been important, but until recently there has not been much thought in medicine about doing anything to improve their function,” explains Jason Way, N.D.

“The development of chronic health issues and disease has typically been blamed on faulty genetics and bad luck. This antiquated thought process is now being proven false” – Dr. Robert Zembroski, functional medicine specialist, clinical nutritionist

“The development of chronic health issues and disease has typically been blamed on faulty genetics and bad luck,” adds Dr. Robert Zembroski, a specialist in functional medicine, clinical nutritionist, and author of REBUILD. “This antiquated thought process is now being proven false.”

Poorly functioning mitochondria are linked to issues like fatigue, excess fat, and declining cognition, not to mention Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), atherosclerosis, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and mood disorders³.

For Way, this is a rapidly sliding scale from simpler problems to more serious ones. As mitochondria degrade in function and ability, he says, we might first experience a sort of brain fog or difficulty thinking.

“The chief reason for mitochondrial burnout is the consumption of processed, empty-calorie foods,” explains Dr. Robert Zembroski. “Across the body, the muscles will have less energy.”

And this is just the beginning.

“As mitochondria continue to degrade,” he continues, “there is a progression from these general and more vague symptoms to actual disease states like diabetes, heart disease, and cancers, as the cellular metabolism shifts to compensate for the mitochondrial short-comings.”

Now that you understand why the mitochondria play a huge role in your overall health, it’s time to take care of it.

For ways to keep your mitochondria healthy and strong though, look towards these five helpful tips.

1. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Anti-Inflammatory Mitochondria, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Inflammatory foods stress and overwork your mitochondria, so cutting them out is one key way to keep your mitochondria healthy and strong.

“The chief reason for mitochondrial burnout is the consumption of processed, empty-calorie foods,” explains Zembroski. “These unhealthful foods cause the mitochondria to produce excessive free radicals and the immune system to produce inflammation which, in turn, damages mitochondrial function.”

“Through exercise and movement, we can actually trigger what is called mitochondrial biogenesis – which is a fancy way to say the production of more mitochondria.” – Jason Way, ND

To ensure your mitochondria are living in their ideal environment – both to continue to be healthy and to repair themselves when damaged – our experts suggest eating a mostly plant-based diet rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants, supplemented with small quantities of grass-fed or wild-caught animal protein sources and as few processed foods as possible, such as refined sugars, gluten, dairy, and hydrogenated oils and fats⁴.

2. Consider Keto

Keto Mitochondria, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

For many of our experts, this anti-inflammatory diet goes hand-in-hand with a low-carb ketogenic diet.

“Mitochondria love using ketones as fuel, and if you follow a high fat, low carb diet correctly, you will enter a fat-burning, ketone-generating state,” explains Asprey.

Naomi Whittel, author of the New York Times bestseller, Glow15, recommends also practicing intermittent metabolic fasting. Sleeping is one of the best ways to stave off mitochondrial dysfunction.

This, she explains, “represents the transition from the utilization of carbohydrates and glucose to fatty acids and ketones as the major fuel source,” and pairing regular intermittent fasting with regular exercise achieves this.

3. Move

Move Mitochondria, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Moving your body is a great way to ensure your mitochondria are healthy and strong.

“Through exercise and movement,” explains Way, “we can actually trigger what is called mitochondrial biogenesis – which is a fancy way to say the production of more mitochondria⁵.”

This, Way explains, happens when you demand more energy from your muscle cells, triggering mitochondria to divide. Toxins like heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides are some of the main culprits that disrupt cellular and mitochondrial function.

“This means more young and healthy mitochondria are being produced, which are more likely to function better and increase our ‘bank account’ of energy,” he explains.

Try to find ways to integrate movement into your daily life, such as walking, playing outside with children or pets, or climbing stairs, in addition to your favorite spinning class, pilates workout, or hiking routine. Sleeping is one of the best ways to stave off mitochondrial dysfunction; in fact, a study showed that getting less than seven hours of sleep a night can lead to a substantial decrease in mitochondria⁶.

Go to bed at the same time every night, and sleep for at least seven hours in a completely dark room in order to get as much good sleep as possible to keep your mitochondria healthy.

4. Avoid Toxins

Toxins Mitochondria, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Toxins like heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides are some of the main culprits that disrupt cellular and mitochondrial function. One 2017 study showed that pesticide exposure could contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease due to how pesticides induce morphological changes in mitochondria⁷.

To avoid allowing your mitochondria to come into contact with toxins, choose only the cleanest foods, cosmetics, and household cleaning supplies, opting for organic whenever possible.

5. Stay Stress-Free

Yoga Mitochondria, Unsplash — Credit: Unsplash

Stress can weigh heavily on your mitochondria. One research review found that acute and chronic stressors had adverse effects on mitochondrial function, particularly in the brain⁵.

Keep your mitochondria healthy and strong by reducing stress. Consider adding meditation, yoga, forest bathing, or another relaxing protocol to your daily routine in order to reduce your overall stress – and its adverse effect on your mitochondria.