The element of fire is central to your life. Each of the 75 trillion cells in your body has a furnace burning deep inside them. The powerhouses within your cells are your source of energy. They keep metabolism, movement, thinking, feeling, and so much more happening. Without them, your heart couldn’t beat, your muscles couldn’t contract, and your gut couldn’t digest.
These powerhouses are called mitochondria. They are like mini organs within your cells that we have known for a long time are at the centre of energy production. They take chemical sources of energy like glucose or ketones and oxygen in, and they release carbon dioxide and water, alongside releasing energy in a form your cells can use, known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This process is vital to your overall well-being, as it fuels every activity your body performs, from the simple act of blinking to the complex processes of thought and emotion.
More recently, we have learned that there is much more to these amazing structures than just energy production. They carry a specific type of DNA that only comes from your mother’s side, sense and respond to stress, and influence your cellular DNA.
Recent research has found that your moods can impact how your mitochondria transform energy. In one study, emotions people felt on Tuesday nights influenced the energy transformation capacity of mitochondria in blood immune cells measured on Wednesdays. The study provided the first directional evidence that mood may affect mitochondria.
But mitochondria are not just energy factories. They are also crucial in signalling pathways, helping to regulate the balance between cell survival and cell death, a process essential to maintaining health and preventing disease. When these tiny powerhouses are not functioning optimally, the consequences can be profound, contributing to conditions ranging from chronic fatigue to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
The influence of your emotional state on mitochondrial function is particularly fascinating. The study you mentioned not only opens new avenues of understanding in the connection between mental and physical health but also suggests that managing stress and fostering positive emotional experiences could have a direct impact on cellular energy production and overall vitality.
This is a powerful reminder of the intricate connection between mind and body. Just as we need to nourish our bodies with the right foods and exercises to keep our mitochondria—and thus our entire system—functioning at its best, we must also cultivate a healthy emotional life to ensure that our inner fire burns brightly and steadily.
So next time you find yourself feeling stressed or down, remember that your emotions are not just fleeting experiences but are also influencing the very engines that keep your body running. Taking steps to maintain a positive mood could be as crucial as eating well and staying active for keeping your mitochondria, and by extension your whole self, healthy.
References:
A Mitochondrial Health Index Sensitive to Mood and Caregiving Stress
Biological Psychiatry Volume 84, Issue 1, 1 July 2018, Pages 9-17
