The Mitochondria: Your God Particles

The mitochondria are the powerhouses of every cell in every form of life, bioenergetic machines (half physical, half spiritual in terms of energy) that scientists believe were once independent bacterial cells because they have their own DNA. They are responsible for cell death and renewal. Mitochondria produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), the energy a life form operates with. Although a chemical process generates it, this energy is electrical and stored in cells for use.

 

Mitochondrial Dysfunction is when your body's cells no longer work properly to convert nutrients into energy, which causes cognitive problems, fatigue, muscle and skeletal pain, poor digestion, hormonal imbalances, problems sleeping, and other symptoms, such as immune problems and premature aging, due to low cellular energy and impaired cellular regeneration.

 

From another perspective, ATP is the essence of spirit (your God/dess particles). The less ATP you have, the less energy you have, and the more prone you are to disease. In other words, without healthy mitochondria, you'll have no physiological resilience. In the world of herpes, you'll have no resistance to HSV outbreaks.

 

 

Types of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

 

Primary Mitochondrial Dysfunction (Leigh Syndrome) is inherited and passed to 1 in 5,000 babies by the maternal parent (the mother). It is a neurodegenerative disease passed down through either nuclear DNA or mitochondrial DNA that leads to symptoms in childhood and is fatal by the age of five. 

 

Secondary Mitochondrial Dysfunction (SMD) or Mitochondrial Myopathy can evolve at any age and is considered less severe. Symptoms are apt to be different than those with PMD. Symptoms include muscle weakness, cramps, spasms, muscle thinning, and atrophy. There are several variants of myopathy with varying levels of severity, inheritance patterns, and age of onset. Many conditions can lead to SMD later in life and affect overlapping conditions. Parkinson's, Cancer, and Huntington's Disease can cause or worsen mitochondrial Dysfunction.

 

Damaged emotions and physical stress can lead to degenerative changes in mitochondria within cells, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and practicing self-care.

 

 

General Symptoms of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

 

Mitochondrial dysfunctions vary greatly and may include the following symptoms, syndromes, or diseases. 

 

  • Poor growth
  • Lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactate)
  • Exercise intolerance
  • Low muscle tone, muscle loss, poor coordination, weakness, and pain
  • Learning disabilities, Autism
  • Vision or hearing problems
  • Breathing problems
  • Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
  • Sugar Disease (Diabetes)
  • Heart, kidney, or liver disease
  • Brittle hair and nails
  • Irritablilty
  • Gastrointestinal issues, trouble swallowing, IBS symptoms, bloating, or constipation (caused by inflammation and loss of motility)
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, IBS (bowel or bladder)
  • Neurological problems (Post-Herpetic Neuralgia, movement disorders, seizures, migraines, strokes), and an interruption in the regular rhythmic beating of the heart
  • Dementia, Alzheimer's (changes in the brain that lead to deposits of specific proteins that degenerate the brain), Huntington's (degeneration of nerve cells in the brain), or Parkinson's Disease (a disorder that affects the nervous system and causes tremors or stiffness of movement)
  • Increased risk for infection (poor immune response)

 

Holistic alternatives for many of these conditions are discussed here.

 

 

Causes of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

 

  • Stress
  • Not enough deep sleep
  • A diet deficient in plant-based foods, such as green leafy vegetables, colorful fruits, and vegetables containing phytochemicals, flavonoids, and polyphenols
  • Sugar
  • Seed oils
  • Medications (all)
  • Micro-based plastics
  • Personal care products
  • Tylenol (acetaminophen) dramatically damages mitochondria every single time you take it.
  • Cigarette smoke and vaping
  • Toxins, such as pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium
  • Environmental toxins include emotionally toxic people. 
  • Prescription and illegal drugs
  • What is your passion (or purpose)? What gets you out of bed and makes you want to live? Whatever it is, it is directly tied to your mitochondria and cellular energy production. 

 

 

The Difficulty With Getting Diagnosed

 

"Because mitochondrial diseases affect so many different organs and tissues of the body, and patients have so many different symptoms, mitochondrial diseases can be difficult to diagnose. No single laboratory or diagnostic test can confirm the diagnosis of a mitochondrial disease (Cleaveland Clinic)."

 

"Because mitochondria perform so many different functions in different tissues, there are hundreds of different mitochondrial diseases. […] Because of the complex interplay between the hundreds of genes and cells that must cooperate to keep our metabolic machinery running smoothly, it is a hallmark of mitochondrial diseases that identical ...DNA mutations may not produce identical diseases (The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation)."

The Basics for Healing Your Mitochondria

Eat mito-enhancing foods, which include a variety of plant-based foods that provide genetically appropriate nutrition. Some say that foods good for your brain also help restore mitochondria, and vice versa. Others disagree, saying that no medication or diet can restore mitochondria. However, this is likely true only in the case of PMD (Primary Mitochondrial Dysfunction).

 

Sleep. It's during deep sleep that the body repairs itself.

 

Perform regular resistance and aerobic exercise.

 

Engage in intermittent fasting to cleanse the mitochondria. Fasting triggers autophagy, a metabolic process in which your body clears harmful proteins and toxic waste.

 

 

Mito-Enhancing Foods

 

  • Holy basil (raw)
  • Cacao nibs
  • Chia seeds
  • Walnuts
  • Maca powder
  • Oat milk, almond milk
  • Cottage cheese
  • Acorn and zucchini squash, sweet potato, yams, potatoes
  • Millet
  • Apples, blueberries, bananas, avocado, and goji berries
  • Spinach, beets, fancy mushrooms, kale, greens, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower
  • Fish
  • Drinking periwinkle tea or taking a Vincamine supplement may help with "sticky" blood issues (a problem after contracting COVID-19 or receiving jabs) and improve ATP (cellular energy). 

 

Foods that nourish the mitochondria also nourish the brain. Some of these foods are high in arginine, an amino acid (a type of protein). However, it can feed the herpes virus and trigger herpes outbreaks. Still, we need some arginine in our diet.

 

 

The Top Supportive Supplements for Boosting Mitochondrial Function

 

  • Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of mitochondrial Dysfunction. For individuals with deficient iron levels, consuming liver once or twice a week is a simple way to boost iron levels. Or, you can take an iron supplement. Extended-release is also available for those with digestive issues. However, it is recommended that you have your iron levels tested before taking supplements. Taking too much iron can cause health problems, including more frequent or severe outbreaks of herpes. Viruses love iron.

 

  • B vitamins are essential for mitochondrial function. Folinic acid (folate) plus riboflavin (B2) reduces neurological symptoms. However, if you have the MTHFR Gene Mutation, you must take methylated B.

 

  • Vitamin C can donate electrons (energy) and increase the efficiency of neurotransmitters.

 

  • D3 is essential for overall cellular health and is implicated in numerous functions, too numerous to list here.

 

  • Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) has a beneficial effect on brain and musculoskeletal metabolism (energy)

 

  • EPA and DHEA

 

  • Coenzyme Q10 increases exercise tolerance and muscle strength, and reduces post-exercise lactic acid. In the case of MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes in Primary Mitochondrial Dysfunction), alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is used as an antioxidant to enhance creatine uptake, Co Q-10 as an antioxidant to bypass some of the inner workings of the mitochondria, and creatine as an alternative energy source (helping out ATP). However, some studies show the cocktail has little effect on muscle strength. MELAS is an extremely rare genetic condition that begins in childhood. 

 

  • Rebuild tissues and organs with organ meats (liver and heart), muscle meat, and bone broth. Consume saturated fats (grass-fed butter, coconut oil, meat). Maintain healthy levels of copper, iron, B12, vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and potassium. Eat foods containing omegas (EPA, DHA, ALA) from foods such as walnuts, flaxseed, chia, and salmon.

 

  • B6, B12, vitamin D, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc are essential for cellular support, as they help cells absorb the "good" substances and eliminate the "bad". 

 

  • Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics (the right ones) help to maintain healthy gut microbes, which have everything to do with the energy of your cells. 

 

  • Periwinkle tea increases ATP in the body. Rhodiola and Ginseng are also helpful. 

 

  • Urolithin A is a natural compound produced by gut bacteria from ellagitannins found in certain foods. It has recently been the subject of scientific research due to its health benefits for mitochondrial and muscle function.

 

 

In Summary

 

You don't have to have a gene mutation (MELAS or any other) to have poorly functioning mitochondria. Secondary Mitochondrial Dysfunction can happen at any age. Often, it's simply a matter of providing your cells with what they need (water, nutrients, light, and exercise) to function optimally. If you have an energy problem, the following information may be helpful. However, it is not condition-specific nor specifically designed for individuals living with HSV. You'll need to limit foods that trigger histamine release and those highest in arginine. See HSV Meal Plans.

 

 

 

Experts