Let's get back to grade 9 science and talk about mitochondria. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell and are present in almost all types of cells.
As we age, our mitochondria don't produce energy as optimally, and produce more reactive oxygen species (NB: we use antioxidants to combat ROS). I used to think of mitochondrial function only in terms of fertility (an egg is a cell that is dependent on mitochondria), but have realized that it's important in all aspects of aging and age related diseases - not just aging fertility.
Luckily, there are things we can do to help mitochondrial function. There was one study that I came across that showed that physical activity helped preserve the mitochondrial function - and we all know that there are a million reasons beyond mitochondria to be active.
Eating the rainbow - the brightly coloured fruits & vegetables - are great sources of antioxidants that can help reduce the reactive oxygen species and help mitochondrial health. It is also important to eat some healthy fats as they are also needed for mitochondrial health.
Avoiding alcohol and pollutants when possible can also help preserve mitochondrial health.
There are also several pharmaceuticals that are known to damage mitochondria - Acetaminophen, Antibiotics, Aspirin, AZT, Grisepfulvin, Indomethacin, l-Dopa, NSAIDs, and Statins. Please don't stop any of these medications without talking to your health care team - most often the pros outweigh the cons of the mitochondrial damage but I thought it should still be mentioned.
There are also supplements (e.g. alpha lipoic acid, coQ10, l-carnitine) that may be helpful in maintaining mitochondrial function.
Please note, I'm not talking about mitochondrial dysfunction disease - I'm talking more about aging and what we can do to stay healthy for as long as possible!
If you want to talk healthing aging, overall or with respect to fertility, please reach out!
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