A: ATP
As Shawn Stevenson puts it, Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is the “universal currency of your body”. ATP:
- DRIVES NERVE IMPULSES: an example of a nerve impulse is when you touch a hot stove, nerve cells in your fingers will ignite, sending impulses through the nerves in your hand/palm...up your arm, shoulder, & neck... to quickly reach your brain! The brain will then message back down to the hand using the same path signalling the hand to pull away from the heat (see depiction below).
- FUELS YOUR IMMUNITY: some immune-system-cells (called macrophages) devour the bad guys (i.e.: “toxins”) in our body’s fluid!! The macrophages’ primary job (with help from its whole white-blood-cell squad of course 👯) is to be on high alert for the particles floating in our blood and fluids that could be damaging, and eat them up so they cannot cause us harm.
- ...and so much more 🤩
Where is ATP produced?
ATP is produced in a variety of ways, but most notably by your mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the cell! (for some of us, mitochondria might be the only thing you remembered from Biology 101 three million years ago). The mitochondria produce this coveted ATP by taking your fat cells and glucose (i.e.: sugar & carbs you consume) then “burning them” (source).
ATP is produced primarily in these mitochondria. So, when our mitochondria are unhealthy / malnourished, they aren’t able to generate as much ATP that our cells are demanding in order to keep us alert, strong, and functioning optimally! More specifically, they won’t be able to gobble up as many fat cells and glucose to make this necessary energy. So, in summary, it’s vital to keep those mitochondria happy & fed in order to feel 100%.
MUST TRY
RECIPES
Check out some of my nutrient-dense recipes, like the Pokè Bowl and Vegan Carrot Cake Muffins on my site.
MUST TRY
WORKOUT
Here's a quick High Intensity Circuit that'll have you dripping sweat! All you need is a light set of weights (8-15 lbs) and your body!
