| Complaint of my patients is fatigue. Friends April 7th 2025 When it comes to aging, the number one complaint of my patients is fatigue. This is probably something you can relate to… A century ago this wasn’t the norm. But today, this constant state of low energy is a direct result of the unnatural world we live in. You see, in the past two centuries, we’ve turned our planet into a place that’s unnatural, foreign, and downright toxic to our bodies. And it’s damaging your mitochondria. Many studies have demonstrated that oxidative overload not only causes damage to organs and tissue — resulting in various diseases — it also leaves your poor mitochondria without defense. Causing them to age before their time. When this happens, down goes your energy production – and up goes your inability to rejuvenate and repair your body. Leading to crushing fatigue… And an increase in chronic diseases. But you have the power to rejuvenate these microscopic energy powerhouses that are found in each one of your cells. Researchers have now discovered that your mitochondria hold the secret to preventing — and in some cases reversing — these awful debilitating conditions that strike from middle age onwards. You see, mitochondrial decline isn’t just a byproduct of aging — it’s the source of the aging process itself. Organs and organ systems fail, and diseases begin to strike when your mitochondria begin to fail. Scientists have found faltering mitochondria emit signals that spread malfunction to other cells, disabling healthy mitochondrial activity that can trigger the onset of disease. The good news is that you can rejuvenate the mitochondria in aging human cells to prevent disease and exhaustion from taking hold. That’s where a unique metabolite called Urolithin A comes into play… Multiple studies over the past decade reveal that Urolithin A (UA) clears away defective |
This clearing away of malfunctioning mitochondria is known as mitophagy. This clean-up process rejuvenates and extends the life of mitochondria that are failing.
The health benefits include…1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
- Fights frailty and improves muscle strength
- Combats cancer
- Protects against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
- Improves heart health
- Enhances your gut health
- Fights obesity and type 2 diabetes
- Reduces wrinkles and other skin aging
- Extends lifespan by 19%
UA is a metabolite that’s formed by your gut microbiome when you digest specific types of plant antioxidants called ellagitannins.
These bioactive polyphenols, which have long been known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects, are found in just a handful of fruits, nuts, and seeds.
The fruit with the most potent levels of ellagitannins by a long shot is the pomegranate, which has a higher concentration of ellagitannins than any other fruit.
Pomegranates contain a unique ellagitannin, called punicalagin, which is not absorbed intact into the bloodstream but is digested and metabolized into urolithins by your gut microflora.
Researchers in Switzerland first identified digested punicalagin from pomegranates back in 2016, as a source of UA and a rejuvenator of mitochondria.
Pomegranates, which already have a reputation for being a “superfood” because of their ability to lower blood pressure and strengthen bones, are great either in their whole fruit or juice form.
The problem is that not everyone has the right mix of microflora in their gut to produce enough UA. That’s why I always recommend my patients take UA supplements along with an ellagitannins-rich diet.
Studies show that UA supplements are safe and that seniors who take them perform better in physical endurance tests.
You can buy UA supplements in pill and powder form. I recommend 1,000 mg per day.
2 More Ways To Improve Mitochondrial Health
Here are two more ways you can boost your mitochondrial health – and your energy.
- Supplement with this energy-increasing amino acid: Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) plays a crucial role in making energy in your cells. It transports fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they are burned for fuel. It also carries toxic waste out before it can do damage.
But as you age, carnitine levels in your tissues drop. That’s why you need acetyl-L-carnitine. Your body converts L-carnitine to ALC. Studies show when your mitochondria slow down, ALC can fire them up again. Studies also show ALC reverses the malfunction in mitochondria as you age.
The best source of L-carnitine is grass-fed red meat. But you can also supplement.
I suggest taking at least 500 mg of ALC every day on an empty stomach. Look for a formula with only L-carnitine and not D-carnitine, as D-carnitine is synthetic. - Energize your mitochondria with this Arctic flower. Rhodiola Rosea is a tough little yellow flower. Native to the Arctic mountains of Eastern Siberia, it’s a great herb for enhancing mitochondrial energy production.
I’ve seen the power it has to energize my patients. In just a few months, they are visibly younger and stronger. And they tell me they feel that way, too.
You can find Rhodiola tea in health food stores. Or you can take it in capsule form. It’s also called golden root or roseroot.
But make sure you get a formula with enough of the herb’s active compounds. Look for an extract standardized to contain at least 3% rosavins and 1% salidroside. That’s the same ratio found in the natural root.
I recommend taking 250 mg a day on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning because of its stimulating effects.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References:
- Ryu D, et al. “Urolithin A induces mitophagy and prolongs lifespan in C. elegans and increases muscle function in rodents.” Nat Med. 2016;22(8):879-88.
- Rogovskii VS. “The therapeutic potential of urolithin A for cancer treatment and prevention.” Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2022;22(9):717-724.
- Jayatunga DPW, et al. “Therapeutic potential of mitophagy-inducing microflora metabolite, urolithin A for Alzheimer’s Disease.” Nutrients. 2021 Oct 23;13(11):3744
- Wojciechowska O, et al. “Urolithin A in health and diseases: prospects for Parkinson’s management.” Antioxidants. July 2023;12(7):1479
- Liu S, et al. “Urolithin A induces cardio protection and enhanced mitochondrial quality during natural aging and heart failure.” BioRxiv, 2023.08.22.554375
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