“We are Venom!”
As you may (or may not) know–this famous quote from the Spider-Man-universe-villan Venom refers to the fact that Eddie Brock has now become a symbiote–part human and part alien (hence the referring to itself as “we”). The alien invasion into his body has given him super strength and made Brock a super (anti-) hero. Sounds a bit far fetched, right? Well, not so fast…
The latest research on mitochondria, which we all know as “The Powerhouses of the Cell” from 9th grade Biology class, indicates that they are not human. They have different DNA, and have properties more akin to bacteria or viruses than to human cells. At some point in our superhero origin story, mitochondria found a way into what would become human cells, immediately giving them 10x the energy output that they had up to that point. We are Venom!
If you’ve read the comics or have seen the movies, you know that a major part of life as Venom, is the negotiation between Eddie Brock and his alien invader. They have different appetites, wants, and needs–and for them both to survive and thrive, these all must be negotiated and satisfied. Close parallels can be drawn to our relationship to our own invaders, the mitochondria.
Keeping what’s best for our mitochondria in mind when it comes to diet and exercise proves to be a great recipe for overall health. Dr. Terry Wahls, a medical doctor who was wheelchair-bound with advanced Multiple Sclerosis, turned her entire life around by focusing on her mitochondrial health. She developed a system called The Wahls Protocol that prescribes a certain diet and exercise for optimal mitochondrial health. She now is a very physically active and healthy 67-year-old, with little or no signs of MS. So what do our mitochondria want? Let’s take a look:
What to eat (Basically a Paleo-type diet):
Lots of vegetables, especially dark green, leafy ones
Meat
Fish
If vegan, supplement with Vitamin B12
What not to eat:
Sugar
Dairy
Grains
Legumes
Nightshade vegetables
How to exercise (anything to make you stronger and boost VO2 max):
Resistance training 3x per week
Cardio 3x per week (two days Zone 2, one day more intense intervals)
So, make peace with the little invaders in your cells–they’re trying to help. If you give them what they need, they will help you live a long and healthy life.
Until next time
Scott and Lennart