Energetic parents play with children outside

Enhancing True Energy

My most frequent health question is, “How can I have more energy?” I understand why; after all, energy is the currency of life. It fuels our health and propels us through the day. And the more energy we have, generally, the better we feel.

We create energy from the food we eat and the oxygen we breathe with the help of mitochondria, the energy-producing compartments in the cells of our body. Mitochondria produce energy in the form of a chemical known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Remarkably, each day, mitochondria produce an amount of ATP that approximately equals our body weight. Very little of this energy (ATP) is stored, and large amounts must be produced every minute of our lives. In fact, it is ATP that gives us life.

Improving mitochondrial function and cellular ATP is the key goal for higher energy levels, improved cellular function, enhanced physical and mental power, and slowing down the aging process.

Mitochondrial function is like a dimmer switch. At low levels of mitochondrial function, most people barely have enough energy to make it through the day, are “dimwitted,” or experience “brain fog.” In contrast, when your cells are flush with energy, so is your life. Everything is brighter, especially your mind.

Woman eating a colourful salad full of vegetables

Enhancing mitochondrial function requires three key goals:

  • Providing all essential nutrients and dietary cofactors
  • Using specific dietary supplements such as mitochondrial enhancers to protect and support mitochondrial function
  • Reducing exposure to damaging factors, such as cigarettes, environmental toxins (pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, etc.), and drugs (prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), and illicit)

Mitochondria require the basic building blocks of exceptional nutrition to function properly: adequate protein, the right fats, quality carbohydrate sources, vitamins, minerals, and good hydration.

They also require several special phytochemicals from plant foods, such as flavonoids and carotenoids, for protection and enhanced function. Like an orchestra, it is critically important to have all these compounds to make beautiful music in the form of ATP.

So, eat many plant foods, and take your multivitamin and mineral formula and omega-3 fatty acids.

Key dietary supplements

A woman’s hand full of supplements


Beyond eating a health-promoting diet and supplementing with essential nutrients, there are other key dietary supplements that I highly recommend to enhance mitochondrial function:

  • Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) basically acts like a spark plug in a car’s engine. Mitochondria in the body cannot function without the spark that CoQ10 provides.
  • Carnitine functions as the fuel injection system. Mitochondria use fat, specifically long-chain fatty acids, as the fuel source in energy production. Carnitine is required to transport these long chains of fat into the mitochondria.
  • Glutathione is the key protector of mitochondrial structure and function.

Low mitochondrial function is linked most closely to low glutathione levels. Look for these key mitochondrial enhancers; they can be taken separately or within a formula providing all these ingredients. Lastly, getting a good night’s sleep cannot be stressed enough for improving our energy levels, mitochondrial function, and overall health. To enhance sleep quality, try taking a melatonin supplement with a quick- and timed-release dosage to provide support throughout the night.

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