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Those little bean-shaped microscopic friends are in every single cell inside your body. The human body is composed of trillions of them. Mitochondria generate almost all of the energy human bodies need to function properly. <\/strong>Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things and those cells depend on mitochondria to get their work done. They provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from food, and carry out specialized functions for the cells. And with cells being the building blocks of our entire life, from our health to aging, to our nervous system, and digestion. It’s kind of important that they’re as strong and vital as we hope to be<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s like the cell is the big boss and the mitochondria are his workers, keeping everything going smoothly. When we’re young the communication between them is strong and fast, but as we age that communication breaks down, and the root causes of poor health and aging begin to accelerate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, good news \u2014 this is a two-way street: intracellular communication can be repaired through diet and lifestyle changes! And when that communication gets strong again, the aging process slows down, and overall health and vitality improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The great thing is, caring for\u00a0your mitochondria and boosting their communication network\u00a0doesn\u2019t just help slow down the aging process. It can also enhance your energy, metabolism, and cognitive powers. And it can reduce your risk of age-related diseases like cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s, heart disease, and infertility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ve heard the term for a decade. Anti-oxidants. It’s famously found in blueberries, and much more fun… wine! But what’s oxidizing? And why are we anti? You may have also heard of Free Radicals. Besides being an awesome band name, free radicals are free-flowing pollutants that can cause cancer, aging, and cellular damage. These come as expellants from chemical processes inside our body like metabolism but also come from the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These nasty hoodlums are basically the “oxidants” threatening to invade and wreak havoc on our cells, causing oxidative stress. Antioxidants are our knights in shining armor. They find these free radicals and guard our organs, cells, and systems from harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blueberries<\/strong>\u00a0(yeah, this one was obvious) are full of powerful antioxidants.\u00a0 But this goes for pretty much all berries. In fact, the darker blue or purple, the better. These foods support healthy blood sugar levels, due to their low glycemic index, and high amount of fiber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pomegranate arils<\/strong> have some of the highest amounts of antioxidants (three times higher than red wine or green tea). They are also excellent sources of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. Their rich source of phytonutrients, called polyphenols, is a major factor in brain health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ve probably heard of B-12, B-5, B-6, these important B’s that we need for metabolism, energy support, and mood stabilization. That’s because beyond helping our Mitochondria, B vitamins are also great at supporting your mood and the lack of B vitamins has been linked to depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whole Grains<\/strong>\u2013 Don’t give up on the grains. Yes, processed refined carbs like bleached white bread can have negative side effects in large quantities, whole grains are the foundation of our diet for a reason. Humans have been living and thriving on them for years. From barley, to oat, to millet, wheat, and quinoa, these whole unrefined grans still have their germ and bran which contains tons of B vitamins, as well as other essential fiber and nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beef<\/strong> (grass-fed)<\/strong> \u2013 Where’s the beef? No, this doesn’t mean to start hitting the drive-through. This is not your standard beef. We’re talking clean, grass-fed (and finished) beef from local and sustainable farmers. Clean beef and buffalo or wild game is full of healthy B vitamins! No need to overdo it. 2-3 servings per week are all you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and collard greens, to name a few) are a great source of the much-needed sulfur element. Sulfur is the stinky, and super strong, nutrient that holds us together and eliminates toxins.<\/p>\n\n\n\nReady to embark on a mitochondrial makeover? Here are the foods we recommend for optimal intercellular chit-chat.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Antioxidants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
BEST SOURCES OF ANTIOXIDANTS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nB Vitamins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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