What are Mitochondria and Why are They So Important for Your Body?

Our bodies are made up of billions of cells, and within each cell are mitochondria – the “powerhouses” that provide energy to our cells. Without this energy, the body simply couldn’t function. From keeping our hearts beating to repairing damaged cells, mitochondria play a central role in all of our life processes. In this blog, we’ll focus on what mitochondria are, why they’re so important to our well-being, and what happens when they’re not functioning properly.

What Are Mitochondria?

Mitochondria are small, egg-shaped organelles responsible for the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy molecule needed for virtually every function in the body. Interestingly, mitochondria are descended from ancient bacteria and contain their own DNA, which we inherit entirely from our mother (Falkenberg et al., 2013). Each person has a specific mitochondrial haplotype, meaning that we all have slightly different mitochondria that influence our energy production (Wallace, 2013).

In addition to ATP, mitochondria also produce heat, water, and infrared light, which are essential for the proper functioning of our cells (McBride, Neuspiel, & Wasiak, 2006). They play a crucial role in maintaining the energy balance in our body, which helps us survive and regenerate.

Why are Mitochondria so Important?

Energy is the essence of life. Our bodies use energy to maintain structure and order. Without sufficient energy, we would not be able to move, think, or heal. When mitochondria are unable to produce sufficient energy, inflammation occurs and we become more susceptible to various diseases (Picard et al., 2018). Approximately 80% of modern diseases can be traced back to mitochondrial dysfunction, where the body does not produce enough energy to function normally (Finkel et al., 2013).

What Happens in Mitochondrial Dysfunction?

When mitochondria lose their function, the body can no longer produce enough ATP. This leads to damage to cells and tissues, ultimately resulting in mutations and serious diseases. Since mitochondria play a crucial role in metabolism, their dysfunction can disrupt the cells’ ability to convert food and light into energy (Keeney et al., 2006). In the long term, this can lead to serious diseases such as heart failure and neurodegenerative disorders.

How Red Light Therapy Helps Mitochondria

As we briefly touched on, red light therapy can help stimulate mitochondria. This therapy uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to activate mitochondria and optimize their energy production (Karu, 2008). This process can help restore cellular health and support regenerative processes. In our next blog, we will delve deeper into this and discuss how mitochondrial dysfunction can lead to disease and how red light therapy can provide a solution.

Sources:

• Falkenberg, M., Larsson, N. G., & Gustafsson, C. M. (2013). DNA replication and transcription in mammalian mitochondria. Annual Review of Biochemistry, 76 , 679-699.
• Finkel, T., Menazza, S., Holmström, K.M., Parks, R.J., Liu, J., Sun, J., ... & Murphy, M.P. (2013). The ins and outs of mitochondrial calcium. Cell, 172 (1-2), 22-37.
• Karu, T. I. (2008). Mitochondrial signaling in mammalian cells activated by red and near-IR radiation. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 84 (5), 1091-1099.
• Keeney, P. M., Xie, J., Capaldi, R. A., & Bennett, J. P. (2006). Parkinson's disease brain mitochondrial complex I has oxidatively damaged subunits and is functionally impaired and misassembled. The Journal of Neuroscience, 26 (19), 5256-5264.
• McBride, H. M., Neuspiel, M., & Wasiak, S. (2006). Mitochondria: more than just a powerhouse. Current Biology, 16 (14), R551-R560.
• Picard, M., McEwen, B.S., Epel, E.S., & Sandi, C. (2018). An energetic view of stress: Focus on mitochondria. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 49 , 72-85.
• Wallace, D.C. (2013). A mitochondrial paradigm of metabolic and degenerative diseases, aging, and cancer: A dawn for evolutionary medicine. Annual Review of Genetics, 39 , 359-407.