Energy, we wonder where it went and how we can get it back, especially as we age. The experience of fatigue - a lack of energy – is one of the top reasons we seek support from health supplements in Australia and the sheer number of products available can feel overwhelming to navigate.
From multivitamins to mineral combinations, tonic herbal extracts to sophisticated botanical formulations, health food and supermarket shelves are stacked high with the promise of an energy uplift but often fail to deliver the boost we need. But our answer to the energy mystery may be simpler than we imagine and it all comes down to understanding our mitochondria.
Often referred to as the ‘powerhouse of the cell,’ the mitochondria are part of the cellular structure in plants, fungi, and animals (including humans, of course). Their essential primary function is energy production as special proteins and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). To function optimally and produce abundant energy, the cell mitochondria need to have specific biological needs fulfilled.
We can care for our mitochondria and fuel its production of energy in a number of now-proven ways, including:
- Adapting a wholefood, nutrient-dense, Mediterranean-style diet.
- Intermittent fasting.
- Exercise.
- ‘Hot’ and ‘cold’ therapies (e.g. saunas and cold plunging).
- Ample restorative sleep.
- Stress management.
For young people with good overall health and low stress lifestyles, these strategies can be more than sufficient to maintain a steady production of energy. However, there are a number of causes of mitochondrial dysfunction and damage, which in turn impede our ability to produce adequate energy.
These include:
- Ageing.
- Genetic factors.
- Environmental chemicals and toxins.
These factors can dramatically increase our mitochondrial need for very specific nutrients that serve to support fuel energy production, including carnitine, alpha lipoic acid and coenzyme Q10, and these are common ingredients found in energy formulas.
A far lesser-known but vitally important nutrient for optimal mitochondrial health and energy production is nicotinamide riboside chloride (NRC) – an advanced form of vitamin B3. NRC acts as a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+).
NAD+ is a coenzyme that plays a key role in mitochondrial health and is also involved in many other cellular and metabolic processes in the body that contribute to physical and mental energy. NAD+ declines steadily with age and stress, and supporting its production with NRC has been shown to relieve fatigue and boost energy and support mental function and clarity.
NRC, as a nutrient that easily converts to NAD+ in the cell, offers a straightforward strategy for improving mitochondrial health and energy production. In targeting and supporting energy production in this way, NRC may solve the ‘energy mystery’ and simplify our choice of nutritional supplementation to support true and lasting mitochondrial energy!
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