In this episode, Donna is joined by the Founder of The Energy Blueprint, Ari Whitten, M.S. He is an energy and fatigue specialist who focuses on taking an evidence-based approach to energy enhancement, nutrition, and exercise, a natural health expert and #1 best-selling author. Ari explains the role mitochondria play in cellular defence and how that impacts their ability to produce the energy the body needs. Explaining the many stressors that stop your body from generating enough energy. Ari shares several super simple changes anyone can make to reduce these stressors, which enables mitochondria to break free from defence mode and go back to generating the power the body needs.
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
 

Mitochondria play a big role in generating energy for your body but are also part of its defence mechanism.
Your mitochondria are constantly on the lookout for threats and asking – Is it safe to produce energy? If they detect a threat, they switch from energy production to defence.
It is possible to power up the mitochondria to trigger more energy production. But doing it at the wrong stage is not a good thing. There is a right and a wrong time to rev up the engine.
Your mitochondria are deliberately turning down energy production in response to there being too much fat in your body.
Eighty per cent of US citizens have high blood sugar at some point during the day. Mitochondria see that situation as a threat.
Mitochondria are the central hub of your metabolism; they're connected to everything.
To fix your mitochondria start small with a few simple things e.g., eat your veg first or add vinegar to your meals.
Change the way you eat to reduce your weight without necessarily having to eat less. Several options are discussed in the episode.
Melatonin which is a hormone our bodies produce is the most potent mitochondrial antioxidant that exists. How you can generate more is discussed in the episode.


BEST MOMENTS
‘You must create energy to be able to fix your other problems. ´
‘Mitochondria are actually environmental sensors. They're like canaries in the coal mine. ´
‘These two roles of mitochondria, as energy generators, and cell defenders are mutually exclusive… to the extent that when they´re being asked to defend against threats, they are shutting down energy production.’
‘When you improve mitochondrial health as the central hub of the wheel of metabolism, it helps improve everything else.’
 
Body ecology is not a diet – it’s a way of life—based on 7 universal laws that always guide us toward the truth. If you want to know more about us, these 7 universal laws and our amazing effective products go to our website www.bodyecology.com. You can also get a transcript of this show there.
 
EPISODE RESOURCES
Eat for Energy by Ari Whitten (Audio Version) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Eat+for+Energy+by+Ari+Whitten&crid=34VHU34Y7NABU
The Ultimate Guide to red light therapy by Ari Witten - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Guide-Light-Therapy-Near-Infrared/dp/1721762825/
 
The role mitochondria play in the innate immune system: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31247505/
 
Mitochondria testing: https://daveasprey.com/why-you-should-get-your-mitochondria-tested/ and https://www.drminkoff.com/
 
GUEST RESOURCES
 
ABOUT THE GUEST
Ari Whitten is the founder of The Energy Blueprint system, a comprehensive lifestyle and supplement program which has helped more than two million people (and counting) experience optimal health, better performance, and more energy. 
 
He's also the bestselling author of The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy, and the host of the popular The Energy Blueprint Podcast, which features the world’s leading natural health experts. 
 
In 2020, Ari was voted #1 Health Influencer by Mindshare, the largest natural and functional medicine community. For more than 25 years, Ari has been dedicated to the study of human health science. He holds an M.S. in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, a B.S. in Kinesiology, certifications as