"I'm tired..." It's not physical exhaustion, but overload here.

Many people sleep excessively or exercise on weekends to relieve accumulated fatigue. However, the cause of fatigue may not be physical strength but rather 'mitochondria.' This article explores the causes that hinder mitochondrial energy production and ways to resolve them.

Fatigue occurs when the activity of mitochondria in the body is overloaded. Mitochondria are present in an average of 200 per cell in our body, totaling about 1 quintillion throughout the entire body. Mitochondria are the 'power plants' of our body. They convert glucose in the blood into energy sources. To produce ample energy sources, sufficient oxygen is necessary. Without oxygen, converting glucose into energy sources reduces energy production to one twentieth. As a byproduct, lactic acid, a substance that causes pain, is also produced. When energy production decreases, even slight activity can cause fatigue and concentration declines. When lactic acid, a pain-inducing substance, is produced, the body can ache and fatigue can feel more intense.

The main causes of mitochondrial overload include stress, lack of sleep, obesity, and hypothyroidism. When under stress, hormones like cortisol are secreted, which excite the body, leading to increased blood pressure and faster breathing. As a result, the body's energy consumption naturally surges. To meet this increased demand, mitochondria try to produce more energy quickly, but since oxygen is insufficient during this process, energy production decreases.

If you have hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland secretes less thyroid hormone, which is necessary for smooth metabolism in the body. As a result, mitochondrial metabolism slows down, and the body cannot produce enough energy, leading to fatigue. In people who have gained weight, the many fat cells secrete substances that cause inflammation. When inflammation occurs in the body, our immune system becomes active and requires a lot of oxygen. Because of this, energy production in the mitochondria occurs with insufficient oxygen, reducing energy output and causing fatigue.

To relieve fatigue, you must first identify and eliminate the cause. Consistent exercise also helps. During exercise, a substance called myokine is secreted from muscles, which helps eliminate inflammatory substances in the body. When inflammation in the body is reduced, less energy is spent fighting inflammation, thereby decreasing fatigue.

Walking in the sunlight also helps to escape from chronic fatigue. When exposed to sunlight, the body synthesizes vitamin D, which suppresses inflammation in the body and boosts immunity. Endorphins released while walking also have a stress-relieving effect. It is also good to frequently eat berries such as grapes, raspberries, and cranberries. The high levels of resveratrol in berries activate mitochondrial function.