Have you been getting some extra exercise over the summer months? You're certainly not alone.
Before you start a strict diet where you switch calories on and off, you may want to consider whether the mitochondrial blockage will make it difficult to lose that stubborn fat.
We now know that a complex combination of factors plays a role when it comes to keeping weight stable.
Perhaps most surprising is that it's not just the amount of food you put on your plate that affects your waist size.
You may not be familiar with the term "mitochondria," but according to health experts, these tiny cell components could be the secret to fighting off those extra pounds from summer vacation.
Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells that power all the chemical reactions that keep us alive.
The mitochondria are located deep within these cells, where they create energy known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
The amount of energy they produce keeps your metabolism going, helping you better manage your weight.
Women's health expert Dr Sarah Jenkins says: "Mitochondria have an indirect influence on weight gain and loss.
"They are part of a complex energy production process and if any step in this process is not functioning properly, our cells do not get the quality of energy we need."
Eating the wrong foods can cause the mitochondria to become clogged and sluggish.
Research published in the journal Nature Metabolism shows that being overweight changes the structure of mitochondria, reducing their ability to burn fat.
Here are some of the best ways to strengthen these tiny cell structures and get the best summer body ever.
1. Streamline your macros
Eating too much of one food is never good. To keep your mitochondria functioning properly, it is important to eat a balanced plate full of nutrients.
If we consume too much of one macronutrient (carbohydrates, fat, protein) instead of a balanced diet, it can lead to a blockage of the mitochondria.
By balancing your macronutrient intake, the mitochondria can determine how much and which macronutrients to use. But if our diet is not right, our mitochondria cannot function optimally.
Fasting helps to cleanse your body and use all the stored energy, which can be very beneficial.
Dr Jenkins says: "We then eat more sugary foods or carbohydrates to try to balance our energy levels, but this overwhelms our system with the wrong type of energy.
"Divide your plate into one quarter lean protein like tofu, eggs or chicken, one quarter complex carbohydrates like whole wheat bread, brown rice or brown pasta and healthy fats like avocado or olive oil.
"Spend the remaining half on non-starchy vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale, to maximize your mitochondrial power."
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2. Schedule a workout before breakfast
Exercise is essential to increase mitochondrial activity, so keep moving, but make sure you do it the right way.
Research shows that exercising while fasting can help your mitochondria by prompting your body to efficiently switch from burning glucose to burning fat.
The easiest way to avoid this is to get some exercise before breakfast, if you can tolerate it!
According to a 2019 study by Australian scientists, high-intensity exercise is more effective at boosting mitochondrial activity than low- or moderate-intensity exercise.
3. Plan your meals
Time-restricted eating, where you eat within a specific time frame (for example, 16:8, where you eat all your meals within eight hours), is one way to kick-start your mitochondria into action.
A study published in the journal PLoS One shows that time-controlled fasting helps slow the aging of mitochondria.
Dr. Jenkins says, "Fasting helps clean out your system and use up all that stored energy, so it can be really helpful."
There are many different methods, but for many people it is most feasible to eat all three main meals between 10am and 6pm.
So you start with a later breakfast, an early lunch and an early dinner.
This gives your body enough time to digest the food and switches to fat burning mode.
4. Away with lazy mornings
You may love to laze around in bed watching Saturday Kitchen, but your mitochondria don't!
Our bodies function according to a circadian rhythm: an internal 24-hour cycle that controls various metabolic and hormonal activities.
If this is not in balance, our mitochondria can become slower, so it is a good idea to rethink your daily routine.
Try to go to bed no later than 10pm and get up at 7am to help your body get into a healthy circadian rhythm.
5. Take CoQ10
When it comes to supernutrients, CoQ10 is high on the list.
Concentrated amounts of this vitamin-like compound are found in the mitochondria, where it stimulates energy production.
"Mitochondrial support requires high-quality CoQ10, which supplies the proper energy to the mitochondria," adds Dr. Jenkins.
It is found in food, and liver is considered the richest source.
But if you're not a fan of organ meats (and that's okay), beets, poultry, legumes, and soy products are good sources.
And if you want an extra boost, a CoQ10 supplement may be a solution.