Quick Biology class review! The mitochondria are the powerhouse of your cells that produce all the ATP (think Energy… and who doesn’t need more of that, right?). Mitochondrial disease, as it is labeled, is a contributor to such conditions as Diabetes Mellitus, neuropathy, Leigh’s Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Insulin Resistance, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, Cancer, and many more.
Despite the almost invisible size of the mitochondria they can suffer damage and what’s more, that damage can go undetected for many years. Sometimes this damage continues until is “too late” according to the medical profession. So we have an up rise of neurological disorders, fatigue, cardiovascular problems, hormonal conditions, etc. But what if there was a way to reverse some, if not all, of that damage to your mitochondria?
Functional Medicine is all about getting to the root of the problems you may be experiencing. The mitochondria are often the core essence of the problems. In an article entitled Reverse Brain Cell Death by Growing New Mitochondria by Michelle Flagg in Report (Link: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2011/nov2011_Reverse-Brain-Cell-Death-by-Growing-New-Mitochondria_01.htm) that is exactly what she proposes. Build new, stronger mitochondria that will help take over the essential roles that the damaged mitochondria can no longer fulfill. This is half the battle. The other half of the battle is to get the damaged mitochondria to go through a process called apoptosis, where they essentially kill themselves. Conditions like cancer with tumors that continue to grow would be more similar to damaged mitochondria that is unable to go through apoptosis for whatever reason. More cells join, the damaged cell begins to replicate because it has no way to self-regulate since the damaged mitochondria can’t perform its necessary role.
However, it is NEVER too late to stop the process, enhance the functioning of current mitochondria and build stronger new mitochondria to take the place of the damaged ones. Schedule your appointment today to find out how to build better mitochondria and a better YOU!
