Mitochondria: Jedi Knights in the Anti-Aging War?
For many people, the closest they have come to understanding the inner workings of a human cell was if they watched the movie “Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” In one scene from the film, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn attempts to explain the power within the Jedi Knight. He tells viewers about microscopic life forms called “midichlorians” that inhabit all living cells. These midichlorians are the source of the power of the Jedi since they are the link with “The Force”.
Many of those with some knowledge of the human cell believe that Master Qui-Gon Jinn’s description contains a bit of truth.
Inside our human cells are structures known as mitochondria.
These structures are similar in nature to bacteria and help provide cellular energy. At one time, they were probably bacteria housed within the cell, but over millions of years they lost most of their “living” aspects, but continued to play a role in generating energy within the cell. Recent research indicates that they are also involved in many other functions, including selecting a child’s sex, choosing what factors will appear in the embryo, and whether or not someone will get Alzheimer’s.
As we age, one thing that happens is that the mitochondria begin to “lose their powers” and can even turn to the “dark side of the force.” In fact, some of them get malevolent before we older folks start worrying about things like anti-aging products, exercise, nutrition, and other silly stuff … that don’t get so silly when the older version of Darth Vader, The guy with the sickle comes closer.
Okay, so the mitochondria basically transform the nutrients that we provide into the energy that we need to live. And that?
Well, it seems to me that if we really like anti-aging thought patterns, we want to keep our mitochondria happy and healthy. We can do this in many ways.
The simplest way is to lead a healthy lifestyle ourselves: regular exercise, proper nutrition, proper rest, just to name a few steps we can take. In the nutrition department, we may want to make sure we get a good supply of antioxidants, as these help fight free radicals that are highly destructive to mitochondria. Getting the popular eight hours of sleep a night, along with the other two factors, can help with natural HGH (human growth hormone) production, which is far better than buying it on the street corner from a renegade doctor.
Sorry, I’ve seen too many stories about professional athletes and their use of illegal HGH injections. Natural production is encouraged through healthy living and has positive results, while the other method can generate some pretty healthy results for the United Nations.
There are several other nutrients and products that can improve mitochondrial function, one of which is resveratrol, a factor in red wine (yay!), And many of these products make use of that ingredient. An activity of the mitochondria that is relevant to anti-aging plans and programs is called mitochondrial biogenesis.
As we age, the mitochondria begin to “die” and lose their power. Mitochondrial biogenesis is the process by which new mitochondria are manufactured, and a regular supply of new “Jedi Knights” in the war on aging can help keep the dark side of the force at bay … at least for a time. … so it’s in our best interest to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help them.
Exercise regularly, eat right, rest, and get your resveratrol and other antioxidants on a daily basis. For most of us, the minimum of a walk, a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and eight hours of sleep, along with a daily multivitamin, will go a long way in keeping the inner Jedi Knight healthy and ready for battle.