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The "Magic Pill", Reality or Fantasy
By John Scott, CISSN, CNS, SPN posted 2009-06-28 |
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John Scott's Nitro - The "Magic Pill", Reality or Fantasy
Why do some people
tend to look like they age slower and retain a faster metabolism? Why does it
take most people more effort to do the same physical activities as they get
older? Is there a common link?
The magic pill doesn't exist but
cutting-edge science has made a breakthrough and found the link. Inside the
cells of our bodies are tiny organelles called mitochondria. These are tiny
cellular "factories" in muscle tissue that turn nutrients (food) into energy.
Muscle tissue is filled with mitochondria. The more mitochondria you have, the
more energy your body produces. Interestingly, the mitochondria are the ONLY
place inside your body that can burn fat. This is why the more muscle you have,
the more fat you can burn.
This is one of the reasons athletes and
active individuals tend to be leaner. However, the process of creating energy
also causes damage to these powerhouses. This oxidative damage, over time, makes
them less efficient. The resulting lower-energy output per cell contributes to
body fat gain, a decline in muscle mass, and it takes greater physical effort to
perform the same activities as you get older. In fact, some scientists believe
that the cumulative damage to the mitochondria (mitochondrial aging) is the root
cause of the aging process itself. They also believe it can be a leading cause
of degenerative diseases and cancer.
Author Dr. Nick Lane, in his book
"Power, Sex and Suicide; Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life," says
mitochondria are possibly the basis for Darwin's theory of natural selection and
evolution itself. He states, "The importance of these tiny structures inside our
cells is beyond imagining. Insight into mitochondria has shed light on how
complex life evolved, why sex arose (Why don't we just bud?), and why we age and
die. These findings are of fundamental importance to understanding life on
Earth, but also in controlling our own illnesses and delaying our degeneration
and death." He further tells us that mitochondrial DNA is passed down almost
exclusively via the female line. This is why it has been used by some
researchers to trace human ancestry daughter-to-mother, to "Mitochondrial Eve,"
potentially giving us information about our evolutionary history. As Dr. Lane
eloquently points out, the importance of the mitochondria is staggering. The
evidence suggests that if a person improves their mitochondria, they may be
leaner, more energetic, have less disease, and live longer.
So, how can
you improve/increase your mitochondria?
Evidence shows that consistent
exercise has a large impact on improving the health and quantity of cellular
mitochondria. There is also mounting evidence that targeted nutrition plays a
significant role in protecting these vital powerhouses. Research has shown that
protecting against oxidative damage or stress within the cell may have
considerable benefit in their long-term health and efficiency. This may
translate to people feeling and looking like they are 10 or more years younger
than their biological age. Further studies have found that supplementing with
certain natural ingredients, such as R-lipoic acid and superoxide dismutase (as
well as potent adaptagens like rhodiola rosea), produces noticeable benefits.
Moreover, supplementing with a targeted combination of nutrients may make it
possible for athletes over 40 to compete at the same metabolic level as
20-year-old athletes. This is a very compelling reason to pay more attention to
nutrition as we age.
Although the magic pill doesn't exist
yet, continuous research points to a universal truth - whoever has the best, and
most, mitochondria may win today's athletic battle and, eventually, win the
evolutionary war.
Click here for more
information on the mitochondrial supplement
MytoChargeTM
John Scott is the Founder & CEO of
John Scott's Nitro. He is a lifetime, drug-free athlete, trainer, sports
nutritionist, and the leading expert on improving athletic performance with
supplementation.
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