Is Mitochondrial Dysfunction the Root Cause of All Chronic Illness?

In January 2020, when I woke up one day and found I could barely walk, I had no idea what mitochondrial dysfunction was. I just knew it felt like I was pushing hard to move my legs forward and my arms up. I felt as though had aged 20 years overnight. Physiologically speaking I wasn’t wrong.

Seven months later, having only regained partial strength in my arms and legs, Dr Bruce Hoffman would diagnose me with it over the phone, after hearing me describe my symptoms.

“You have mitochondrial dysfunction. Of course we’ll run a test to confirm it, but your symptoms match it perfectly.”

“Can I reverse it?”

“Yes!”

Why is Everyone Talking About Mitochondria?

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a condition that’s getting a lot of well-deserved attention these days. Dr Bruce Hoffman has treated many patients at the mitochondrial level for years, including me. Dr Robert Naviaux’s groundbreaking work on the Cell Danger Response is a riveting read on the more precise mechanisms at work that add up to CDR.

For some very brief background, the mitochondria’s biggest job is to convert fuel into energy, known as ATP, which our cells need to function. Mitochondria produce about 90% of the ATP we use, and to give you an idea how much we need - our bodies produce a whopping 88 cumulative pounds of it per day! When they aren’t fed the right fuel or when conditions are suboptimal – due to issues like chronic stress, too many carbohydrates, overeating, nutrient deficiencies, microbiome issues, lack of exercise and pharmaceuticals – these vital little organelles won’t produce enough ATP for the cells to function properly.

My main symptoms were the strain I felt in moving my legs forward or my arms up as well as suddenly needing 9.5 hours’ sleep without fail to feel right. I had no stamina, and couldn’t walk a full mile without stopping.

In my case, the cause was an extreme approach to mold detox -- taking Cholestyramine powder, which stripped my cells of the fats they needed to maintain healthy cell membranes that house and protect the mitochondria.

My mitochondria were depleted in number, highly dysfunctional, and in some cases located outside the cell. This triggered massive, system-wide inflammation, which is another reason why I felt like crap.

Going from the cellular level, to the organ level, to looking at the whole human system – you can imagine how this single root cause can trigger all sorts of problems downstream. Some Functional Medicine practitioners are positing now that mitochondrial dysfunction may be the single root cause of all chronic illness. 

So!

How Do I Repair My Mitochondria?

Given the vital role mitochondria play in our metabolism – converting fuel to energy, in a nutshell – and the fact that roughly 93% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy, chances are, you have some amount of mitochondrial dysfunction. Fortunately, although they may be susceptible to damage, under the right conditions, you can heal your mitochondria.  

My case was severe, so my protocol was extensive. I needed IV infusions of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to flush (or detox) the inflammatory junk from my cell membranes – and from the very first one, I felt much, much better.

In addition to adopting the autoimmune protocol of a low-carb Paleo diet (for mild mast cell activation) I also took PC orally, along with glutathione, evening primrose oil, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, flax oil, electrolytes, liquid minerals, granulated dismuzymes and an amazing fuel source specifically designed for mitochondria called ATP Fuel by Researched Nutritionals. It took time, but eventually I could start walking one mile, then several, without stopping to rest.

When we retested a year later, I had restored nearly all my mitochondria and they were fully functional.

Thanks again, Dr Hoffman!

How Do I Keep My Mitochondria Healthy?

From Andrew Huberman’s Twitter.

Most people won’t need to go to the lengths I did to heal or optimize their mitochondria. Andrew Huberman posted something recently that captures it simply for building health overall, and it works for your keeping mitochondria healthy too. 

In terms of food, it is important to consume healthy fats – which can include avocados, wild caught salmon, ground flax seeds or oil, ghee, olive oil, nuts and seeds – to give you the building blocks to produce healthy, flexible cell membranes. It’s also important not to consume too much carb, sugar, or food overall, because this clogs the cell and hinders mitochondrial function.

Why I Built My Health Coaching Program with Mitochondrial Healing in Mind

All my clients benefit from what I’ve learned in healing my mitochondria and Lyme disease. I was inspired by everything I learned because I realized these are all – simple, not necessarily easy – things we can do at home, ourselves, to prevent most chronic illnesses.

Here’s what I emphasize in my program:

A little bit more water one day, going to bed 20 minutes earlier the next, a 10-minute longer walk the day after that, and joining a book club the following week. All these simple things have an immediate impact on our sense of well-being, and they also compound over time, like interest.

You can significantly improve your health with small, simple changes.

Don’t worry about how small it might seem today or if you don’t notice that much of a difference right away. A few months down the road, you won’t recognize how much better you feel, and you won’t want to go back.

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*Disclaimer: The information shared in this post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for specific medical guidance and treatment.**