The super-energizing enzyme duo that fights fatigue and more

It seems that aging comes with an ever-growing list of issues you have to deal with from increased fatigue and brain fog to a lack of strength and stamina…

And, let’s not forget the higher likelihood of ending up with one of a multitude of ailments that hit in the senior years.

So, what do all of those things have in common?

According to scientists, a dysfunction in the powerhouses of your cells.

You may remember the name of them from your high school biology class… they’re called mitochondria.

And, when your mitochondria don’t function properly, your ability to live an energetic, healthy life goes out the window.

But, how does the problem start in the first place? Why does the function of your mitochondria begin to slow?

Research shows there are three main reasons:

1. You don’t produce enough mitochondria anymore (so your body doesn’t have the powerhouses it needs to keep going).
2. You aren’t providing the proper fuel to your mitochondria or something is keeping the fuel from getting into them where it can be used.
3. Or, there’s a problem with ATP synthesis — that’s the assembly line where your energy is made.

These mitochondria saboteurs can be caused by:

• Inflammation — Inflammation destroys the function of your mitochondria which actually creates more inflammation… It’s a cycle that feeds on itself as you get more and more fatigued and sick.
• Stress — Chronic stress doesn’t just have psychologic ramifications, it also can overload your mitochondria, leading to lowered function and all that comes with it.
• Poor diet — Healthy eating promotes mitochondrial function while a high fat, high carb type of diet that is typical here in the U.S. can ruin your cells’ powerhouses over time. In fact, a scientific study showed our typical Western diet can decrease mitochondrial function in as little as 16 weeks.

But the biggest contributing factor to poorly functioning mitochondria is your age. And there’s not a lot you can do about that.

It’s sort of a catch 22… without mitochondria you age poorly, even faster, but the mere fact that we age slows production of this valuable nutrient.

Putting the power back in your powerhouses

Now you know why your mitochondria aren’t working so well. And it shouldn’t come as a big surprise with so many things working against it… things that are not so easy to fix, like diet, stress levels, inflammation and aging.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try…

• Start by following an anti-inflammatory diet that’s naturally high in antioxidants (to repair damage resulting from stress), like the Mediterranean diet.
• Then add in a little exercise — simple walking daily is a big start.
• You can also spend a little time in a sauna or take hot showers. Regularly raising your body temperature could also improve both the function of your mitochondria and the number available to power your cells.

The super-energizing enzyme duo

When it comes down to it, supplementing is the easiest way to boost the production and the quality of your mitochondria.

There are two powerful enzymes that have lots of research behind their ability to help your body boost your mitochondria and reduce oxidative stress — CoQ10 and PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline quinone).

CoQ10 (coenzyme Q 10), helps mitochondria make ATP, the fuel that powers most cellular functions. CoQ10 is also a powerful antioxidant that helps control oxidative stress.

PQQ (pyrroloquinoline) is a Micronutrient that also performs a number of useful functions. Similar to CoQ10, it can help mitochondria produce ATP, but it also increases the number of mitochondria, another important benefit.