Mitchondrial Health

Terry Wahls is a speaker, doctor, and a clinical professor of medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. She’s also a staunch promoter of functional medicine by way of lifestyle and dietary changes which lead her to eventually coin her own lifestyle program called the Terry Wahls Protocol. Before all this, she was a patient diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a disabling disease that slowly reduces the quality of life of its victim. She went to the best doctors and best facilities and despite conventional treatment, she was still in decline and eventually forced to be on a wheelchair. Her turning point was when she learned about the Paleo Diet and how she redesigned that diet to conform with what her body needed. The result was a super nutrient dense paleo diet that ended up reversing her MS. Today, Terry shares us her life story, how she began her journey, her many challenges, and her advocacies towards the future of medicine.   "It's not about the drugs, it's not about the supplements, it's about how we run our lives.” Terry Wahls   In this episode, you’ll learn: Terry changed her perspective on how to treat disease since learning more about how food interacts with the mitochondria. She changed the way she practiced medicine and now prefers dietary and lifestyle changes to alter the chemistry of the body rather than drugs. She garnered the support of her colleagues although they were skeptical at first. The Paleo Diet or any other diet is not always ideal. You have to find out what diet works for you and pair that with a healthier lifestyle based on how it affects your mitochondria. Telomeres are the ends of chromosomes. They shepherd the chromosomes to each cell division. As they get shorter, they can't do as good a job and renders cell division inefficient. If cells can't divide anymore, that's when you die. As telomeres get shorter, you age faster. You can help elongate your telomeres, you can make yourself look younger by having healthier habits and choices. Telomeres determine what your biological age is versus what your actual age is right now. You can look older now and look younger 10 years later based on how you manage your telomeres. Inactivity, regardless of whether your sitting or standing, is not good for the human body. Decreasing the things that make us addicted to an unhealthy lifestyle is hard. People have to understand why they have to give up those things otherwise they'll fail in becoming healthier.   Key Takeaways: 70-95% risk of disease is mostly from just three things: Smoking status, diet quality, and amount of physical activity every day. If you ace those three, you would have reduced the odds of getting sick by at least 70%. If your practitioner is not excited about you having a healthier lifestyle to help treat your disease instead of using medicine, then you probably should switch them with someone more open to functional medicine.   Connect with Terry Wahls: Terry Wahls official Facebook Twitter   Mentioned in this episode The Wahls Protocol The Paleo Diet book by Dr. Loren Cordain     Rate, Review, Connect, Inspire Stay updated on new episodes, guest interviews, and health, wellness, and fitness information and resources by subscribing to the FitFluential Radio Show on iTunes. Every day we bring you actionable insight, demystified truth, and simple steps to help you navigate the complex, often confusing health, wellness, and fitness information and answer the questions you’ve been asking. Visit our website or subscribe on iTunes today!

Terry Wahls is largely known for her Terry Wahls Protocol as well as her other books, seminars, and blogs. She is not shy to say that she was once dependent on conventional medicine and didn’t really consider lifestyle and dietary changes when it comes to treating patients. All that changed when she was able to reverse her Multiple Sclerosis through the use of functional medicine and she has since been one of its many advocates. In part 2 of our episode, Terry shares with us her thoughts about the food industry, the so-called “Diet Wars”, as well as why she thinks the future of medicine will be something to look forward to.   "The structure is set up to favor corporations making industrial food that maximize profits at the expense of health.” Terry Wahls   In this episode, you’ll learn: The industry has made certain foods addictive on purpose for the interest of their shareholders and profits. The public is at a huge disadvantage since groceries and supermarkets prioritize the big industries, the ones who only think about making money. Buy from small businesses and local farmers. Not only will it help the local economy but it also assures you’re buying from a company that focuses on quality instead of maximizing profit. Getting into a diet is helpful but you have to know why you’re doing a diet and not just because it’s the latest fad. Be mindful of the type of food you eat and align it with the season and situation you have right now. Terry herself based her diet on the way her ancestors ate. Ketosis is useful but if you can’t do ketosis, focus on a low glycemic index diet. Food is information, it's talking to our genes, cells, and hormones. There will be a tsunami of people who think health is mostly about lifestyle and diet in the future. You don't need to be a PhD to know vegetables are healthy and to know sleep is good for you.   Key Takeaways: Don't be dogmatic about your diet. One diet is not the only way to eat. It can make or break your health if you’re not careful. If you do it wrong, your new diet will make your health worse. The physician of the future will be the people in the gym, the health coaches, and nutrition coaches helping people sustain a healthy life through lifestyle and dietary changes.   Connect with Terry Wahls: Terry Wahls official Facebook Twitter   Mentioned in this episode The Wahls Protocol The Wahls Protocol Seminar     Rate, Review, Connect, Inspire Stay updated on new episodes, guest interviews, and health, wellness, and fitness information and resources by subscribing to the FitFluential Radio Show on iTunes. Every day we bring you actionable insight, demystified truth, and simple steps to help you navigate the complex, often confusing health, wellness, and fitness information and answer the questions you’ve been asking. Visit our website or subscribe on iTunes today!

Dr. Tim Jackson is one of the leading experts in mitochondrial health, and today, he joins Kevin on the show to share some incredibly valuable information on how a healthy mitochondrial system functions, what you may feel like with a dysfunctional mitochondrial system, and what you can do to repair the damage at the cellular level. Dr. Tim obtained his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University in 2003 in health science and Chemistry and in 2009, he received his doctorate in physical therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina. Additionally, he has conducted significant studies in functional medicine, nutritional biochemistry, digestive health, and functional endocrinology.   “If you don’t get rid of the deterrent to mitochondrial health, the mitochondrial won’t work. Period.” Dr. Tim Jackson   In This Episode You Will Learn: Why the mitochondrial system is so important to your overall health. The effects of inflammation, supplements, and the environment on your mitochondrial health. Why avoiding mold and mycotoxins are critical to mitochondrial health. Why you should test your reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione. How antibiotics can damage the mitochondria Does getting blue light, especially after sunset, negatively affect mitochondrial health? Why many medical practitioners don’t understand the concept of a mitochondrial threshold. EMF device effects on the “Cell Danger Responses” of the mitochondria cells. Optimal ways to increase DHA in your diet.   Mentioned in This Episode: Doug Wallace’s Series Pharmasan Labs Tim Ferriss’ article in Outside Magazine Cell Danger Response   Key Takeaways: Rehabilitate the mitochondrial membrane with fatty acids and fossil lipids. Supply sufficient amounts of glutathione, especially reduced glutathione, and super oxide dismutase. Avoid toxins, environmental toxins, and pollution that will affect the mitochondria.   Connect with Dr. Tim Jackson: Heal Your Body website   Rate, Review, Connect, Inspire Stay updated on new episodes, guest interviews, and health, wellness, and fitness information and resources by subscribing to the FitFluential Radio Show on iTunes. Every day we bring you actionable insight, demystified truth, and simple steps to help you navigate the complex, often confusing health, wellness, and fitness information and answer the questions you’ve been asking. Visit our website or subscribe on iTunes today!

Dr. Tim Jackson, DPT is a medical practitioner who realized traditional means of manual therapy and orthopedic care benefited only some of his patients. He began to dive deeper into the concept of overall wellness and gained knowledge about functional and environmental medicine, as well as digestive health.   In today’s episode, Tim talks about Mitochondrial Dysfunction and how just about every disease known to man is caused by issues with mitochondria. He also recommends supplements people should take to make sure your body’s mitochondrial health is up and running.    “A classic sign of Mitochondrial Dysfunction is if you have multisystemic involvement.” Dr. Tim Jackson    In this episode, you’ll learn:    The first to be affected by mitochondrial dysfunction is the nervous system due to it having the largest number of mitochondria in the body. This often results to what we call Brain Fog.  Having enough immune cells is one thing but having enough active or functioning cells is another. Mitochondrial Dysfunction causes immune system inefficiency.  L-Carnitine and glutathione are great supplements to take when you want to improve mitochondrial health and efficiency.  The more you have symptoms in varying systems the more likely are you to have mitochondrial dysfunction.  Glutathione supplementation is almost a necessity due to the number of toxins your body is introduced to on a daily basis.  Thyroid dysfunction can lead affects the mitochondria and leads to dysfunction. An efficient circadian rhythm prevents mitochondrial dysfunction and improves pathways in the body.  Low melatonin may affect mitochondrial health. The first step in healing mitochondria is calming down inflammation and reducing oxidative stress. Glyphosates, an ingredient commonly used in weed killers in farms, damages mitochondria.  Antibiotics are harmful to your mitochondria. Cipro is one of the most harmful and should only be taken during life threatening situations. Too much EMF exposurefrom cellphones trigger what we call the “Cell Danger Response” and causes mitochondrial damage.      Key Takeaways:    Taking supplements for your mitochondria is great but daily habits have a larger contribution than any supplement you can buy. Justbecause something is approved by a government organization doesn't mean it's safe for the mitochondria.  Find a practitioner that will try to treat you without using antibiotics every day.    Connect with Dr. Tim Jackson:    Heal Your Body Email:support@healyourbody.org  Facebook http://www.coachdarrencasey.com/     Mentioned in this episode:    NeuroBiologix  Apex Energetics LivOnLabs  Empirical Labs LifeWaveNanotechnology Patches   Garth L. Nicolson, Ph.D. NT Factor Alex Vasquez     Rate, Review, Connect, Inspire    Stay updated on new episodes, guest interviews, and health, wellness, and fitness information and resources by subscribing to the FitFluential Radio Show on iTunes. Every day we bring you actionable insight, demystified truth, and simple steps to help you navigate the complex, often confusing health, wellness, and fitness information and answer the questions you’ve been asking.    Visit our website or subscribe on iTunes today!   

Dave Asprey is a well-known blogger and media figure on health and human performance because of his "Bulletproof Executive" work behind Bulletproof Coffee and the Bulletproof Diet. He's been featured on ABC's Nightline, CNN, and in Vogue and Men's Health. Today, he’s here with us to discuss how to important the mitochondria are and how to biohack it with just a few simple lifestyle changes.   “The Mitochondria decides whether cells live, die, or divide. They run things, not us.” Dave Asprey   In this episode, you’ll learn: How mitochondria are similar to a frame of the house Just how much your diet affects the mitochondria Why mitochondrial dysfunction is the primary cause of just about every chronic disease there is Why Dave compared the mitochondria to playing a reverse Jenga The significance of knowing just enough of the Krebs Cycle Why Mitochondria is practically ancient bacteria Dave’s three changes that people should start focusing on right now   Key Takeaways: Ketones play a major role when it comes to mitochondrial health Just changing our light bulb or indoor lighting will greatly enhance mitochondrial efficiency Sunlight is still the best source of vitamin D and boosts mitochondrial functions   Connect with Dave Asprey: Bulletproof Exec Bulletproof Radio Official Twitter account Official Facebook page Rate, Review, Connect, Inspire Stay updated on new episodes, guest interviews, and health, wellness, and fitness information and resources by subscribing to the FitFluential Radio Show on iTunes. Every day we bring you actionable insight, demystified truth, and simple steps to help you navigate the complex, often confusing health, wellness, and fitness information and answer the questions you’ve been asking. Visit our website or subscribe on iTunes today!

In the last episode, we had the CEO of Bulletproof Exec Dave Asprey talk about mitochondria, how much our diet affects mitochondrial functions, and how a few lifestyle changes will boost not just mitochondrial efficiency but our overall health from a cellular point of view. In Part of the interview, Dave will discuss different factors that may alter your mitochondrial functions in a negative way, more tips on how to further biohack your mitochondria, as well as provide general health advice.   “Instead of focusing on perfection, you can just learn to ask the question ‘what is this going to do to my mitochondria?’” Dave Asprey   In this episode, you’ll learn: What statins are how do they affect the mitochondria Why cholesterol really isn’t bad Why your mitochondrial efficiency determines the effects of the food you eat on your health Why eating burned food is bad for your mitochondria The significance of knowing the optimal dose of any supplement How possessing Tribal Mentality is bad for your health Why you shouldn't let your health decisions be based on an "us or them" kind of thinking   Key Takeaways: Having a positive mindset is important when it comes to mitochondrial health It’s important not to surround yourself with negativity Get a signal to the mitochondria. If they believe the signal, they will change the body to adapt to that signal.   Connect with Dave Asprey: Bulletproof Exec Bulletproof Radio Official Twitter account Official Facebook page Rate, Review, Connect, Inspire Stay updated on new episodes, guest interviews, and health, wellness, and fitness information and resources by subscribing to the FitFluential Radio Show on iTunes. Every day we bring you actionable insight, demystified truth, and simple steps to help you navigate the complex, often confusing health, wellness, and fitness information and answer the questions you’ve been asking. Visit our website or subscribe on iTunes today!

When it comes to biohacking, our go-to guy is Georgi Dinkov. Georgi is probably one of the few people who is always ready to give you a whole world of answers. The interesting thing about Georgi is how he doesn’t have a formal education with regards to what constitutes biohacking specially biochemistry and has only his interest and a few conferences under his belt to prove his merit. Still, he can hold a good conversation with an actual biochemist as you’ll realize in this episode. Today Georgi will discuss a plethora of information regarding biohacking. The topics would revolve around mitochondrial health, cellular respiration, and Georgi’s thoughts on the medical industry.   “If you want to cure all these diseases, you better restore mitochondrial function.” Georgi Dinkov     In this episode, you’ll learn: The mitochondria are responsible for 80% of our body’s ATP. The three steps to cellular respiration are Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, and Electro Transport Chain. The Mitochondria is responsible for the second and third step. Our lifestyle can cause and cure metabolic disease. More money is now being used to fund studies regarding the Warburg effect. Some even say the Warburg effect is not just an effect but also the cause of cancer. Any activity, fun and not strenuous, is healthy for you and your mitochondria. If you run and you can't hold a conversation, you're overexerting yourself. Overexertion is dangerous and can backfire against your mitochondrial health. Hardcore Endurance enthusiasts are dried up and considered good but the truth is they might have cardiomyopathy or enlargement of the heart and eventually lead to chronic heart failure by their 40s.   Key Takeaways: Activity is good but it should be stimulating, not be strenuous and exhausting or make you collapse. You will not grow muscle if you're cholesterol levels are low since you won't have testosterone.   Connect with Georgi Dinkov: Ray Peat Forum   Mentioned in this episode: Protein Information Resource Cancer Surpasses Heart Disease as Leading Cause of Death for All But the Very Elderly Common Food Additive Promotes Colon Cancer In Mice   Rate, Review, Connect, Inspire Stay updated on new episodes, guest interviews, and health, wellness, and fitness information and resources by subscribing to the FitFluential Radio Show on iTunes. Every day we bring you actionable insight, demystified truth, and simple steps to help you navigate the complex, often confusing health, wellness, and fitness information and answer the questions you’ve been asking. Visit our website or subscribe on iTunes today!

Georgi Dinkov is definitely an expert in biohacking and it’s amazing how he knows all this despite having a degree in IT instead of a degree related to medicine and biochemistry. Talking to him is like asking more than a few experts at once and he’ll make sure to quench your thirst for biochemical information. In part 2 of our series, Georgi will discuss the effects of lactic acid build up on our mitochondria, recommend us a few supplements to take for mitochondrial health, and give biohack advice with regards to getting the most out of your supplements.   “Let your food be your drug and your drug be your food.” Georgi Dinkov     In this episode, you’ll learn: Lower lactic acid levels allow your body’s cellular respiration to perform much better. No matter how healthy you are, there's always a section of your cells in your body that's not respiring properly, not getting nutrition, and not producing ATP. Supplementing with something like methylene blue covers for those secluded areas. Over exertion causes cortisol rises. Weight lifting is only beneficial for you if after the exercise the levels of testosterone is higher than cortisol. Cortisol prevents testosterone synthesis by suppressing the gonads, the testicles. If you don’t stop, the body eventually adapts and stop producing testosterone. Backup source of testosterone = DHEA. Aging and chronic stresses atrophies the layer that produces DHEA and you're left with nothing. If you see cortisol and estrogen rising, and your testosterone and cholesterol aren't going up too, you're probably not in a good state. You want to be away from a catabolic state but don't go overboard with anabolism since it promotes cancer. The goal of supplementation is to get a chemical in your circulation. When it comes to oral supplements, nothing gets to your blood stream without going through your liver first. Liver decides if it keeps it for itself, get it excreted, or let it pass the bloodstream. Topical supplements allow your tissues to get the most out of your supplements since the supplement doesn’t pass through the liver first. If you don't get enough protein both your muscle mass and brain function won't be optimal. FDA no longer considers dietary cholesterol nor dietary saturated fat to be dangerous for your health. The body needs a bit of carbs for glucose. Long term ketone use is good for epilepsy but people who don’t cycle between ketosis suffers from cognitive decline.   Key Takeaways: Raise your levels of cholesterol. It's not good to have low levels of cholesterol. People with low cholesterol have high chances of getting and dying from cancer. Low cholesterol by itself is actually not a good sign. You will not grow muscle if you're cholesterol levels are low since you won't have testosterone.   Connect with Georgi Dinkov: Ray Peat Forum   Mentioned in this episode: Protein Information Resource   Rate, Review, Connect, Inspire Stay updated on new episodes, guest interviews, and health, wellness, and fitness information and resources by subscribing to the FitFluential Radio Show on iTunes. Every day we bring you actionable insight, demystified truth, and simple steps to help you navigate the complex, often confusing health, wellness, and fitness information and answer the questions you’ve been asking. Visit our website or subscribe on iTunes today!

Dave Asprey is the founder of Bulletproof Exec, a company geared towards biohacking to make sure the human body not only functions optimally, but ages slowly too. Before the invention of the now famous Bulletproof coffee, Dave was just another man walking the halls of Silicon Valley who once weighed a total of 300 unhealthy pounds. That was 20 years ago and he has since lost 100 pounds. He devoted his life to health and longevity and spent 15 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars hacking his own biology. Today, Dave talks about his new book called Head Strong, the reason why he wrote that book, his latest findings, and why he is now one of mitochondria’s biggest fans.   "I changed breakfast for millions of people using biohacking.” Dave Asprey   In this episode, you’ll learn: The Bulletproof Diet teaches you how to eat to have more energy and power with weight loss as a side effect. His new book explains why the Bulletproof diet works. When you know how mitochondria works, walking barefoot makes sense, cold bathing makes sense. Neurons in the brain prefer ketones, but glial cells prefer glucose more than ketones. Our brain has thousands more mitochondria than the whole body. Light is terribly important for mitochondrial health. You can get energy from melanin, not just in your skin, but also in your brain and eyes. Mitochondrial dysfunction can also be called aging.     Key Takeaways: Mitochondria are the ones calling the shots, not you. Your mitochondria listen to your phone and Wi-Fi. The mitochondria are the smallest unit of consciousness in the body and the fastest bio sensors.   Connect with Dave Asprey: Bulletproof Exec Facebook   Resources Mentioned: Head Strong: The Bulletproof Plan to Activate Untapped Brain Energy to Work Smarter and Think Faster-in Just Two Weeks book by Dave Asprey The Bulletproof Diet: Lose up to a Pound a Day, Reclaim Energy and Focus, Upgrade Your Life book by Dave Asprey Human Longevity Inc.     Rate, Review, Connect, Inspire Stay updated on new episodes, guest interviews, and health, wellness, and fitness information and resources by subscribing to the FitFluential Radio Show on iTunes. Every day we bring you actionable insight, demystified truth, and simple steps to help you navigate the complex, often confusing health, wellness, and fitness information and answer the questions you’ve been asking. Visit our website or subscribe on iTunes today!

Most Dietary, Nutrition and Exercise Recommendations are not Designed for Optimal Health & Wellness — KevinCottrell.com Mitochondria are the energy factories and power plants within your bodies cells. In fact, Mitochondria are truly ground zero for energy production. Readers likely remember high school biology class where Mitochondria were often called the “powerhouse of the cell,” where the discussion focused on their production of energy as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that the human body then uses to fuel not only critical functions like respiration, cardiac, neurological / brain function but all day to day activities across the body as well. Mitochondria health dictates how one feels all the time. As far as foundations go, they are the top key driver to optimized health and wellness. Mitochondrial density varies across your body. Neurological (Brain) cells are densely packed with these energy factories. Ditto with cardiac cells (heart). For those exercise enthusiasts, it would be important to note that muscle cells also have fairly highly dense populations of mitochondria as well. For optimal health & wellness, you want your mitochondria working at full capacity and cranking out an optimized level of ATP (Energy). As a basic premise, stronger mitochondria make for stronger brains, cardiac function and bodies. Optimized health & wellness relies on consistency: mitochondrial biogenesis, or the process of creating new mitochondria, becomes critical to protect against oxidative stress, for healthy aging and optimized energy production. At the opposite end of the spectrum, mitochondrial dysfunction spells disaster for optimized health and wellness. Attempting to exercise or diet for optimal health & wellness, something suggested daily on blogs and in social media, while subject to mitochondrial dysfunction would result in poor results. In the most extreme cases, chronic exercise and diet could result in disease, another thing that is linked to chronic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Several recent guests on FitFluential Radio have discussed the importance of Mitochondrial Health for optimized health & wellness. The following interviews dive deep into inputs for optimal mitochondrial health including the fact that diet, nutrition and exercise are not the primary driver. In fact, in several cases, common recommendations for diet and exercise can serve to damage mitochondrial health. Have a listen. You won't regret it.