Mitochondria, Food and IBD
Our colon (organs) needs energy to function, to digest. That energy comes from the nutrition in the food we eat. That energy is produced in our mitochondria. The more energy a tissue or organ demands for proper function, the more mitochondria it's cells contain. Our mitochondria give off free radicals and pathogens producing that energy. Overproduction of these by-products in our cells cause inflammation. If we consume empty calories our mitochondria still function but not properly. (Like filling your tank with water instead of oil) Overgrowth of bacteria cause mitochondrial dysfunction. Bacteria such as E.coli, Staphlococcus aureus and Enterococcus can come from under cooked food, especially meat. Candida albican can come from excessive consumption of sugar.
The next time someone tries to tell you that what you eat has nothing to do with your IBD, remind them how the cells in our body function, remind them what they need to function, remind them that mitochondria contain our DNA, that our gut bacteria and digestive system are crucial to our well being and that there IS a valid connection between diet and IBD. Sure everyone’s equation to their health crisis differs and many factors correlate with one another, but to deny the role of diet is to deny the truth. If the argument is “It’s in my genetics!”, let it be known that disease has a genetic component but whether those genes are activated or stay dormant depend on the environment of your cells. If you’ve had a life time of depriving your cells, do you really think 1 month, 6 months, 1 year of detox will reverse all that negative accumulation? There is no quick fix to healing.
