Losing energy feels inevitable. Most people first notice gradual energy loss in their 40s, and by age 50, it feels like we’re doing less work and feeling more tired. What gives?
There are some natural reasons why we feel more tired as we age. Muscle mass may begin to decline, making physical activities that were once easy for us seem more challenging. We may also find it harder to get a good night’s sleep, leaving us feeling tired.
However, the real cause of energy loss is found deep inside our cells. We’ll talk about what cellular energy is, why it’s important, and what you can do to keep it firing on all six cylinders as you age healthfully.
Why Is Cellular Energy Important?
All energy starts in our cells. When we eat food, it’s broken down into fats, proteins, and glucose. These macronutrients are transported to our cells, where the mitochondria convert these compounds into usable energy.
This process is known as cellular respiration. When cellular respiration is working properly, bodily systems work properly. When the system fails, we experience problems, including a loss of overall energy.
How Does Cellular Energy Contribute to Overall Health and Longevity?
The mitochondria in our cells (the batteries) begin to slow down with age. This decline means less cellular respiration, a decline in cellular function, and a decline in the functions of tissues, organs, and systems that rely on this process.
Put simply: when our mitochondria go part-time, we become susceptible to fatigue and diseases.
What Is Cellular Energy?
The conversion of glucose, fats, and proteins into fuel for your cells is the foundation of cellular energy. A special molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is produced within that process.
What Is the Role of ATP in Cellular Energy?
ATP is an energy currency molecule. The glucose in our bloodstream is the main source of energy for the organelles in our cells, but those organelles like it hand-delivered in a nice, neat package called ATP.
The mitochondria in our cells take the glucose molecules and oxygen delivered to the cells and convert them into ATP, then releases that ATP into the cytoplasm of the cell, where it is then picked up by the organelles that need it to carry out cellular functions.
How Is Cellular Energy Produced?
Remember studying cellular respiration in high school? We didn’t remember either. So here’s a short trip down memory lane to explain how glucose is converted into ATP within the mitochondria.
1. Glycolysis
When the cell accepts glucose, it is broken down into a compound called pyruvic acid. This happens outside the mitochondria. This process produces two molecules of pyruvic acid, one molecule of NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), one water molecule (H2O), and one ATP molecule.
2. Citric Acid Cycle
The citric acid cycle, also known as the Krebs Cycle, then takes the pyruvic acid molecules and transfers them to special electron carriers that will be used to help move the ATP molecules across the electron transport chain.
The product of the citric acid cycle is one molecule of NADH, a molecule of ATP, and Flavin adenine dinucleotide, also known as FADH2. It also produces some carbon dioxide, which exits the mitochondria.
3. Oxidative Phosphorylation
The final step in the aerobic process of cellular respiration is oxidative phosphorylation. Electrons are delivered to the mitochondria by FADH2 and NADH. This leads to the phosphorylation of adenosine diphosphate, or ADP. ADP is then converted into ATP. This step creates the most ATP molecules within the cell.
These ATP molecules are then shuttled across the mitochondrial membrane, where they can be used for energy.
What Factors Influence Cellular Energy Production?
If your head isn’t spinning yet, let’s look at what affects this process and learn what we can do to help step up the ATP production within the cells.
Diet and Nutrition
Diet plays a major role in our health and wellness and in cellular energy production.
Our bodies need macronutrients (fats, proteins, and carbohydrates) to begin the process of energy production. Fats are broken down into fatty acids, proteins into amino acids, and carbohydrates into glucose.
Getting the right vitamins and minerals in your diet is essential to support energy production. Vitamin C and magnesium, for instance, or required for the synthesis of carnitine, a molecule required for fatty acid transport in the mitochondria.
Exercise and Physical Activity
Keeping healthy involves getting plenty of physical exercise. Studies show that regular exercise helps cells produce more proteins for their mitochondria. If you’re regularly tired, it can seem hard to exercise at all. Start small, and work up to a manageable level that works for your lifestyle.
Sleep and Rest
Your cells do the majority of their reparative work when you are sleeping. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, your cells will take a hit, and you won’t be able to function well.
Steve Harvey's Green Powder: M-Charge
You can elevate your energy and optimize your health with L’Evate You Vitality Daily Greens. Included in each greens powder we offer is our proprietary mitochondrial-supporting blend of ingredients known as M-Charge.
What Are the Benefits and Unique Features of M-Charge?
M-Charge is a blend of natural ingredients that help support the powerhouses of your cells (the mitochondria).
The Key Ingredients of M-Charge
Want to know the secret behind our M-Charge complex? Here’s our tell-all exclusive.
- ElevATP® - This ingredient supports ATP production, energy, athletic performance, and lean muscle strength.
- Beetroot - Supports ATP production inside the mitochondria and helps increase ATP production during physical activity.
- PQQ - Supports energy production and offers antioxidant protection.
- MLG-50® - Helps support your microbiome, improves antioxidant status, helps keep nutrients bioavailable to your cells, and helps support mitochondrial function.
- Fulvic Acid - Helps support athletic performance, which can translate into lean muscle mass.
How To Incorporate M-Charge into Your Daily Routine
You only need one scoop per day to support your mitochondrial health — we recommend adding it to your post-workout smoothie or using it to start your day.
Not crazy about adding it to water? That’s okay! We’ve got delicious drink recipes that will keep you coming back for more.
For the best results, it’s key to stay consistent. Find what works for you, and stick with it. Whether it’s a smoothie, juice, glass of water, matcha latte, or something else entirely, anything that keeps you committed can help fuel your journey.
What Are Some Additional Lifestyle Tips for Cellular Energy?
Supporting cellular energy means supporting your mitochondria but also supporting your overall health and wellness. Here are some ways to support your health that often go overlooked.
Stress Management
Stress impacts your energy production by causing chronic fatigue. It may also interrupt your sleep. Find healthy ways to handle stress, like yoga, therapy, or exercise.
Hydration
Your cells need water to perfect the process of cellular respiration. Make sure you’re staying hydrated, especially if you’re working out. Six to eight glasses of water per day is a good place to start.
Avoiding Toxins and Pollutants
Environmental stressors called free radicals can cause oxidative stress, damaging your cells and even changing their DNA. That corrupted DNA gets copied to new cells, so avoiding sources of free radicals like UV rays, cigarette smoke, and pollution is essential to protecting your cellular health.
Bottom Line
Cellular energy is the way our body fuels every process. To support cellular energy, we need to support our mitochondria. You can be proactive in the fight to live longer, stay healthy, and increase your energy levels. The M-Charge complex inside every scoop of L’Evate You Vitality Daily Greens helps supercharge your mitochondria and in turn, your body.
Get your energy back! It only takes a few small changes and a healthy scoop of greens powder to get the job done.
Sources:
Keep Your Energy As You Age | Rush System
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Chronic Disease: Treatment With Natural Supplements - PMC
Understanding ATP—10 Cellular Energy Questions Answered - Ask The Scientists
Biochemistry, Oxidative Phosphorylation - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf