Ten Causes of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondrial dysfunction or “the mitochondria” are buzzwords in the medical field today which are driving lots of research. Mitochondria are the power stations or battery packs of the cell that convert nutrients into energy. These battery packs are essential to the health of each cell and every one of your organs and tissues. We all know what happens when the batteries in any of our electronics are too low—they run slowly or simply can’t do anything.

Your mitochondria play a key role in the aging process as well as most age-related diseases. They are vital to all health and regulate how nutrients get into your cells and your energy levels. They also play an important role in immune function. Dr. Robert Elliot, the oncologist, surgeon, and medical researcher who wrote commentary throughout my book, “Unleash Your God-given Healing,” first introduced me to the importance of the vitality of our mitochondria. He always told me, “When it comes to cancer, ALS, and many diseases, it’s all about the mitochondria.”

Mitochondria are sensitive to damage. When not working properly, you can develop many health issues. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to fatigue, cognitive decline, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory issues, fibromyalgia, cancer, and even autism. Your mitochondria generate 90 percent of your cell’s energy in the form of ATP.

Your mitochondria are responsible for cellular respiration which is when your lungs breathe in oxygen and the lungs transfer it into your cells. When the mitochondria use up oxygen, carbon dioxide is released when you exhale. Your mitochondria also play an important role in programmed cell death and metabolic function among other functions.

So today we’re going to look at ten causes of mitochondrial dysfunction because this in and of itself is a major driver of disease in our country. And next time, we’ll look at ten things that boost your mitochondria and thereby improve your health.

The first two are things we have no control over, but I need to address them:

Aging – As we age, mitochondria accumulate oxidative damage and lose efficiency. This contributes to age-related diseases. Although we can’t control aging, we can implement a healthy lifestyle that can help turn back our biological clock. This means that while my chronological age is 69, if I practice a healthy lifestyle, my body’s age may be more like 59. My video on “How to Turn Back Your Biological Clock” will be referenced below.

Genetic Mutations or Inherited Genetic Condition – Yes, sometimes mitochondrial dysfunction can be traced to one or both genes from parents being mutated in some way. Some mutations may even be random and not inherited. But whatever the case, practicing a healthy lifestyle can improve your prognosis.

Now, Let’s look at the causes that we can control!

Exposure to toxins – Our world is filled with nearly 80,000 toxins in this day. I learned that in the cancer journey when my toxic levels were off the charts. In a previous video, I showed the up to 75 toxins that an average woman is exposed to in one day. That video is called, ”A Woman’s Toxic Exposure in Just One Day.” And then in another video, I showed “How to Reduce Your Toxic Exposure in Just One Day” by changing what you do. These videos will be referenced below and are not to be missed. We can lower our toxic load by eating organic as much as possible and by changing the personal care and cleaning products we use. Now that you know the energy or battery pack of your cells can be impacted by exposure to too many toxins, we have no choice but to reduce our exposure.

Chronic Infections – By this I mean any chronic infection, bacteria, virus, fungi, or parasite. Chronic infections can lead to oxidative stress and a compromised immune system, but they are also linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and autoimmune disorders. Some examples are Epstein Barr Virus, HIV, hepatitis, Candida, and even Long Haul Covid-19. Viral and bacterial infections can actually invade mitochondria and cause damage.

Highly-processed, Low-Nutrient Diet -Your body uses oxygen to metabolize food in the mitochondria. It’s important to eat a balanced diet with all nutrients provided and loaded with antioxidants. This helps to avoid mitochondrial damage. The average American eats a highly inflammatory and processed diet void of nutrients and loaded with junk calories. We tend to eat the opposite of how we should eat, and we are paying for it with the highest rates of chronic diseases in the world. Then we beg our doctors to bail us out with drugs! And speaking of drugs—-

Drugs and Medications – Certain drugs such as antibiotics, statins, antipsychotic, and anticancer drugs are among the medications with the most mitochondrial-damaging effects as a side effect. This is why it’s best to cure your health issues with lifestyle, and only use medications when absolutely necessary.

Alcohol, Illegal Drugs, and Cigarettes – Alcohol is toxic to your mitochondria as well as cocaine, illegal drugs, and smoking cigarettes. So drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, and smoking can damage your mitochondria which is probably one of the reasons smoking and drinking alcohol are in the top risk factors for every cancer.

Metabolic Disorders – Conditions like obesity (one-third of Americans), diabetes, and metabolic syndrome can increase oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. So I’ve just given you the motivation to lose that excess weight and balance your blood sugar. According to the CDC, nearly 12 percent of the American population have diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes can usually be controlled with diet and lifestyle. Check with your doctor about how you can do this. If you have type 1 diabetes, work with your doctor to make sure it’s controlled.

Sleep Deprivation – Our bodies heal and repair during deep sleep. It’s when our cells rebuild and repair and that includes your mitochondria. We must realize that chronic sleep deprivation over time damages many things down to the energy of our cells. It also suppresses our immune system which stands between us and all diseases. According to the Cleveland Clinic, not getting enough sleep and stress can make your mitochondria weaker. The cure for this can be as close as your pillow!

The Sedentary Lifestyle – Our bodies were made to move during the day and to recover during deep sleep at night. However, with all our inventions, we can easily become a couch potato who slides into becoming sedentary. The sedentary lifestyle is now called the “new smoking” because it is a risk factor for many diseases including cancer. And one of the best ways to boost your mitochondria is by exercising regularly. Remember, movement is key to a healthy lifestyle and key to boosting your mitochondria.

Does it surprise you to learn that many of the risk factors for mitochondrial dysfunction are also risk factors for heart disease, cognitive issues, cancer, and many diseases? This takes me back to what Dr. Elliot taught me—that, “It’s all about the mitochondria.” If we can keep them healthy by practicing a healthy lifestyle, we can increase longevity and prevent many diseases.

Stay tuned, because next week, I’ll give you research-backed ways of boosting your mitochondria. And the next week, we’ll look at how this relates to cancer prevention, getting through the cancer journey, and preventing its recurrence.

Before reading this, had you ever heard about the mitochondria and how important they are to your health?

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Ten Causes of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Related videos:

How to Turn Back Your Biological Clock

A Woman’s Toxic Exposure in Just One Day

How to Reduce Your Toxic Exposure in Just One Day

For Your Health,

Ginny

Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs, a finalist in Serious Writers Book of the Decade, and Second Place in both Selah Awards for Memoirs and Director’s Choice Award for Nonfiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. It recently received the Christian Authors Network’s (CAN) Gold Award for Excellence in Marketing for reaching 62.5 million people with a message of cancer prevention and survival. It was written with commentary from an oncologist and was featured on CBN’s Healthy Living Show, Atlanta Live, and CTN’s Homekeepers along with over 75 media outlets. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog and book information at www.ginnybrant.com. Ginny is on YouTube