Main List of Projects

Spanish Version

Mitochondria: Creating the Energy to Heal

How to Power Up Your Mitochondria for Vitality, Disease Prevention and Healing

Life is an electrical process. At the center of it all are mitochondria — tiny organelles inside our cells that convert food into usable energy in the form of ATP.
This energy powers nearly every function in the human body: movement, thought, cellular repair, and growth.
The more efficiently we support our mitochondria, the more we support our health.

"When mitochondria struggle, chronic disease follows. When we nourish them, healing begins."

The Role of Electrons

Electrons are the fuel of life. Mitochondria extract them from food, but that process creates metabolic waste — mainly positive ions, which are missing electrons.
These reactive ions damage nearby healthy tissue by stealing their electrons, creating what we call inflammation — a hallmark of nearly every chronic disease.

The key to preventing this inflammation is twofold:

🔬 Mitochondria and Light:

Mitochondria convert nutrients like glucose and fatty acids into a form of usable energy called ATP (adenosine triphosphate) through a process known as oxidative phosphorylation.
This process doesn’t require light — it's powered by chemistry inside the cell.

However, recent research shows that red and near-infrared light (600–1100 nm) can directly enhance mitochondrial function, especially in stressed or damaged cells.

This is the basis for red light therapy (photobiomodulation) and the recommendation to receive natural sunlight — especially during sunrise and sunset, when red and NIR light are most abundant.

Benefits include:

In summary: Mitochondria don’t require light to function, but under the right conditions, light can supercharge their output and help restore balance in the body.

9 Practices to Support Mitochondrial Health

  1. Sun Exposure at Moderate Angles:
    Aim for times when your shadow is your height or longer (30–45° sun angle).
    When your shadow is twice the length of your height then you are getting sunlight at a safe intensity and with the best spectrum for maximum benefit.
    This provides both red/NIR light and modest UVB for vitamin D synthesis — both critical for mitochondrial and immune function.
    At sunrise and sunset, there is no UVB light reaching the earth, but red/NIR is still reaching the earth and helping your mitochondria produce more energy with less inflamation.
    Red and NIR light when seen at sunrise and sunset, are important signals for your body's circadian rhythm which is key for both physical healing and psychological well being.
    So seek every opportunity to watch the sun rise and set.
  2. Grounding: Standing barefoot on natural earth allows you to absorb electrons from the ground.
    Earth is negatively charged — it acts as a source of antioxidant electrons that neutralize positive ions.
  3. Ketogenic Diet with Greens for Fiber: Sugar produces a very high amount of positive ions when metabolized and protein creates a moderate amount when metabolized.
    When the body is in ketosis, metabolizing fat (really metabolizing ketone bodies) produces no positive ions.
    This lowers inflammation and supports cleaner energy metabolism.
    Ketosis is typically achieved when very little or no carbohydrates are consumed for a period of 24 hours.
    At this point, the liver will convert fat to ketone bodies and this will be used by the mitochondria for fuel.
    Ketone bodies burn clean. Fat does not burn clean. So if the body is not in ketosis, then there is no benefit to eating fat.
    The benefit of a high fat diet is only achieved when little or no carbohydrates are consumed. Otherwise, you are causing more harm than good.
    Also, the fat consumed must be from animal sources (meat, fish, eggs, cheese).
    Fats from seed oils are poison.
    While there are many health issues with seed oils, perhaps the least known and most damaging to mitochondria are the high levels of deuterium in seed oils.
    Deuterium wrecks your mitochondria, and seed oils have a much higher deuterium content compared to animal fats, especially grass-fed animal fats.
    Plants, including those used to produce seed oils, tend to store more deuterium in their cellular structures, particularly in their fruits and seeds.
    This also explains why grass fed beef and dairy and free range chickens and eggs have much less deuterium than grain fed beef and chicken.
    And while green leafy vegetables have much less sugar than seeds and vegetables, they also contain much less deuterium.
    This makes greens the only choice for fiber.
  4. Intermittent Fasting: Fasting promotes fat metabolism (ketosis) and initiates autophagy (cellular cleanup), which enhances mitochondrial efficiency and removes damaged cells.
    Avoid breaking a fast with carbs. This can cause a dangerous insulin spike.
  5. Red Light at Night: Blue and white light disrupt circadian rhythms. Use red-filtered light at night to signal the body that it’s time for repair, not activity.
  6. Prioritize Sleep: Deep sleep is when the body repairs mitochondria and clears cellular debris. Red light in the evening and early sleep timing support melatonin production.
  7. Cold Showers: Anecdotal evidence suggests cold exposure activates mitochondrial biogenesis and improves metabolic flexibility.
  8. Meditation: Reducing mental stress lowers cortisol, reduces sugar in the blood, and preserves energy for healing. Quieting your thoughts is a gift to your mitochondria.
  9. Prayer: For me this just means taking the time to appreciate God's blessings and to listen for thoughts which come from the Holy Spirit.
    I always meditate before prayer so that my mind is quiet enough to hear God.
    I alway know when God is talking to me because the thoughts from Him are always filled with love and a sense of peace.

These practices are simple, free, and deeply human. They connect us to the earth, the sky, our biology, and the divine — and they give our mitochondria the support they need to help us heal.

This is not just an experiment. It is an act of faith in God, nature, in light, and in life itself.

Chronic Diseases Linked to Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Scientific research increasingly shows that impaired mitochondrial function is involved in a wide range of chronic diseases.
Because mitochondria are responsible for energy production in nearly every cell of the body, their dysfunction affects tissues with high energy demands
Tissues like the brain, heart, muscles, liver, and immune system.
Supporting mitochondrial health through light exposure, diet, fasting, sleep, and other natural means may help prevent or even reverse many of these conditions.

🧠 Neurological Disorders

❤️ Cardiovascular Conditions

🦠 Metabolic and Endocrine Diseases

🧍‍♀️ Autoimmune and Inflammatory Conditions

🦴 Muscular and Skeletal Disorders

🧬 Mitochondrial Genetic Disorders

🧓 Age-Related Degeneration

Improving mitochondrial health isn't a cure-all, but it's a foundational step toward preventing many of the modern ailments that stem from energy failure, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
It reconnects us with the natural rhythms and inputs our biology evolved to expect — and that may be the most powerful medicine of all.

Can Supporting Mitochondrial Health Help Prevent Cancer?

Yes, emerging evidence suggests that improving mitochondrial function may play a key role in preventing cancer. While cancer is a complex, multifactorial disease, researchers are increasingly recognizing that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to its development, progression, and resistance to treatment.

🔬 How Mitochondria Are Linked to Cancer

🌱 Ways Mitochondrial Support May Reduce Cancer Risk

Intervention Potential Anti-Cancer Benefits
Fasting / Ketogenic Diets Reduce glucose availability, support apoptosis, shift metabolism toward fat-burning and oxidative phosphorylation
Red / Near-Infrared (NIR) Light Therapy Enhances mitochondrial electron transport, reduces oxidative stress in damaged tissues
Exercise Increases mitochondrial number and efficiency, boosts antioxidant defenses
Good Sleep / Circadian Alignment Improves mitochondrial DNA repair and immune cell function
Earthing (Bare Feet on Ground) Reduces inflammation and normalizes electrical potential across membranes
Nutritional Support (CoQ10, PQQ, ALA) Protects mitochondria from damage and supports energy metabolism

📚 Supporting Research and Experts

While mitochondrial support is not a replacement for medical screening or treatment, it may serve as a powerful strategy for prevention — helping the body eliminate abnormal cells, maintain healthy immune function, and prevent the metabolic imbalances that underlie many forms of cancer.