Increase Your Mitochondria, Your Body Will Thank You | The Acid Drop 

A low sodium diet is only for people that are mainly sedentary. For those of us who exercise and stay active, a higher sodium (sea salt) diet is much more preferred.

Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell…

My takeaway is; 1. We have evolved to fatten up in the fall and hibernate through the winter. 2. The deeper we dig into things, the more questions we come up with.

Lower Fructose, Lower Sodium + Fasting for Autophagy/Mitophagy. Result = Lower Free Radicals, lower Oxidative Stress, lower Uric Acid. Thanks Dr PerlMutter, you advice is powerful as usual.

This study is incredibly interesting re fructose but I can’t see it tells us anything about sodium. The comparison was low sodium vs low sodium with high fructose. Unless you also compare with medium and/or high sodium combined with low or high fructose only the data on fructose is meaningful.

Most nutrition for mitochondria is NIR .near infrared from sunlight especially morning and evening when the uv index is low ,below 3

You are a true life saver Dr. Pearlmutter. I am always blown away by your depth of knowledge and how simply you explain it to us. May you be blessed in all things good.

David Perlmutter should win a Nobel Prize. Incredible video.

To several who noted, yes there have been follow-ups showing NaCl is the bigger player in this. Just remember if you cut out or cut way back on Iodized Salt, you must supplement with Iodine....

Great presentation, Dr.Perlmutter! Please present more factors/studies how to improve mitochondrial function- would be highly appreciated.

Excellent and interesting presentation! Thanks for the many ways you help all of us learn. You're a great teacher. 🙏

Central nervous system neurons have a lot more than 1,000 mitochondria! The range is between 2,000 and 2,500. Cardiomyocytes also contain about that same number. Highly physiologically active cells found in the kidneys, liver and spleen generally number over 1,000 mitochondria. Although it's been a while, the director of the mitochondrial lab I worked in said that the current (2010) estimate of mitochondria in the ovum is 250,000. However there was speculation that the number may be as high as 1 million. Note that mitochondria compose 10% of human body weight. The number of mitochondria in the human body is roughly 10^17.

High salt and fructose intake are a marker for a diet high in processed food. However seems to me that fructose is the driver not the salt. See Richard Johnsons' research on fructose.

Thank you very much doctor.🙏 This is the clearest and most useful clip on "polyol pathway" mechanism. Such understanding provides for important direction for elimination diets. It was my good health fortune to have listened in.

Wow! I heard that salt could cause oxidative stress but didn't understand why and it gives the answer, thanks for it.

So, low sodium = no significant change. Low sodium/ low fructose = significant positive change. Why didn't the study include the effect of low fructose in isolation? Also, am curious on the effects this would have on subjects not overweight-- of normal healthy weight?

Didn't know there was a test for Mitochondrial density, appreciate the info.

Please continue with U tubes. I'm a naturopathic person with HSV and I research mitochondrial support and thymus regeneration. I will watch mito u tubes more than once as I am getting very familiar with specific medical terms. Appreciate you Bonnie

Thank you Doctor Perlmutter. Excellent presentation.

I love these theories about early man that are pure speculation, but are used to explain current medical theories. It's like being a weatherman.

I kept walking past your book until late last month. Gout hit my ankle again. Coincidentally our health group, we had others gout confirmed by labs. Found your RU-vid’s Now our group of 300 owns 30meters and wow… 75% (roughly) have levels over 7. Ordered bulk Quercetin Glycine and Potassium Citrate to start.

I am retired, and I don't buy very many new books now-a-days !, But I bought 'Drop Acid" yesterday ! (It cost $ 31.76 ) Thanks for your sincere efforts to help us all !

I'm confused. It seems that many respected doctors & researchers have - in recent times - indicated that salt is of no concern because the body knows how to deal with excess salt/sodium.

Many thanks for the information. From another video I was told that the intake of sodium (preferably in the form of sea salt or Himalayan salt, as these are rich in many other minerals) should be counterbalanced by the right amount of potassium (leafy salad, avocados, bananas etc.) and that half a teaspoon per day, especially when transpiration is increased, is a good thing to add.

I read your book, "Drop Acid," and I'm skeptical of subclinical hyperuricemia in the absence of excessive carbohydrates. Are you sure the "independent" risk factors of UA are really independent at the subclinical level? I suspect there are cofactors that are not accounted for, as carnivores would all be suffering the consequences, and there have been plenty over the ages. I think fructose (or excessive other carbohydrates), for example-even in high fiber foods-is a likely cofactor, for sodium too. I'm sensing a potential plant-based bias and/or dependence on low-quality epidemiological studies. PS: My suspicion is that people who strictly control carbohydrates may not need to worry about subclinical hyperuricemia, and that in that context, sodium is also not an issue. I can't prove it, but I'd like you to tell me if you know why that's wrong-because we're both after the truth.

💖 Thank you for a very helpful and informative video..your delivery of info is really great...

I had no idea that Willem Dafoe knew so much about mitochondria. 😜

Excellent video. Thank you

So mitochondria dna has increase after 8 weeks of low sodium and fructose diet. Did this translate to the participants feeling to have more energy or had any measured weight loss? Just an increase in mitochondrial dna on it's own doesn't appear to be a useful effect otherwise?

Doctor, in the study they isolated low sodium but not low fructose separately, this is incomplete, I would be interested in a further study.

Great presentation!

why did the study fail to look at just Fructose w/o a change in Salt ? did they cherry-pick it out?

Thank you Doctor! Liked and Subscribed. Just started reading your Grain Brain book... fascinating! Keep up the great work!

Fascinating. Thank you

very informative ... well presented

Thanks a lot for the advice

Thanks Dr I have mitochondrial disease and I am conscious of everything in my diet.

Interesting that fructose over 20 g can have such a profound effect. That would put a limit of about 4 fruits. We are now close to realize that exaggerated fruit eating is unhealthy! On the other hand, 6 g of sodium, or about 12 g of salt, most people stay below that when using it naturally to taste. And even above that, it seems to have little bad effect. Was it even sugnificant? The researchers should have tested fructose alone!

I would have found additional interest in seeing the results of a group that was only low fructose.

Why do scientists so often mix multiple variables into studies? Did I miss something? Where is the study of low sodium on mitochondria and low fructose on mitochondria? What sense does it make to introduce another variable? Apparently sodium had minimal effect, but fructose was a significant difference.

Agape 💙 .Dr. David. Ty 4 telling me the truth. I'm on it.

QUESTION: How do we know which is the cart and which is the horse? Do people with low mitochondrial function feel energy-starved and need to eat carbs for energy, so that's how they gain weight? Rather than mitochondrial function declining as a result of weight gain?

This was powerful info

Contradictory to what many find.

Thank You! Always interesting and informative. What the Swedish news used from this study was the sodium angle...and how much salt there is in processed meals...

great info.

Would you PLEASE post the link to this study in the lowbar? Thanks!

@DavidPerlmutterMD Would you consider doing a video on how to improve mitochondrial efficiency as well ? Thank you for the amazing content that you create to educate us. Much appreciated ! :)

Letting sodium and fructose relative to what? What was the baseline level for the folks who experienced the decreases?

Interested if instead of lowering sodium you raised potassium and magnesium

The study was from 2013, have there been follow ups to confirm the finding? Also why not have seperate studies on fructose and salt? is there a synergy between them?

Hi doc, great presentation. What blood test reveals the mitochondrial count in the white blood cell?

Did they not control for only low-fructose? I saw only the comparison between low-sodium and low-sodium, low-fructose.

This study, or at least the way he explained it, seems to have convolved fructose and sodium impact. It should have studied them independently as well as together. That said, we're not ingesting more sodium than people years ago who didn't have these health issues. While there was a surge in HFCS in processed foods, that alone doesn't account for the explosion of chronic health issues that the public is experiencing across the board. This feels like yet another hammer trying to find a nail. More on point research is now showing that glyphosate (Roundup) is responsible for mitochondrial damage, gut flora damage, and damage to cellular protein synthesis and dismantling. Its use in big agriculture - starting in the 90s - lines up with the increase in these diseases. And there is evidence that the company that created Roundup has known about these issues for some time. But, while other countries haven't allowed or are outlawing this toxic chemical, the US government and agriculture industry have been resistant to change. The medical system is looking at everything but the elephant in the room. My conclusion is that it seems to have been compromised by both big pharma and big agriculture which share common ownership. Those of us who are damaged by years of glyphosate ingestion have to reduce our sodium and carbohydrate intake to compensate for the damage this chemical has done to our bodies. But, reducing sodium and carbohydrates won't fix the root cause of the problem. Until it is addressed, eat organic food and avoid processed food. And demand that the elephant be seen.

Lovely info. Can you please mention the test name for mitochondrial density. Thanks.

But wait, 6 grams of salt/sodium is NOT a low sodium diet.

I've read some studies by Rick Johnson. The polyol reaction seems to be key to uric acid levels which in turn prompts conversion of glucose to fructose (and triggering the 'uricase mutation'). His take on it (interview with Dr. Peter Attia) is that it's relative sodium levels - so dehydration can do this as well. His take on it was (paraphrasing) "if you're going to eat something salty, drink liquids first). It's an interesting area. I hadn't made the connection with mitogenesis and mitophagy but how else would an organism reduce energy consumption? Subscribed, BTW.

Sodium causes leptin resistance, thus making people hungry. Fructose causes insulin resistance of the liver, thus making toxin processing more difficult. Combinations might synergize to increase advanced glycation end products and inflammatory processes that induce mitochondrial apoptosis in white blood cells?

Definitely NOT what I thought when I saw “drop acid”. This is really cool though.

Very interesting but what about for those that are not obese? I thought we need salt if we work out a lot, do fasting etc... I do keto ore mostly so sugar intake is very l low.

Thank you

If I read it correctly at 5:20, low sodium was defined as less than 6,000 mg, which is still a lot

thank you

You didn't mention potassium values !!!

Now we need to know what foods not to eat that are high in fructose

How long should it take to drop Uric Acid, say, to 6, from 7, if following the protocol described in your book?

1:51 "...the levels of mitochondria within the red blood cells." You mean the white blood cells, of course, as you say at 2:05.

Thanks

Sodium reduces production of ATP (interferes with the work of the mitochondria) for 3 hours (it takes the body 3 hours to get rid of excess sodium). So if you eat every 3 hours you are basically toast.

Information, great. Skin, glowing. Jawline, sharp.

You are spot on. And anaerobic training can quadruple muscle mitochondrial count.

Thank you for your work on uric acid. In hopes that you will also study the effects of bovine growth hormones in our meat, and the who knows what they are injecting chickens and pigs with, but whatever it is, it's affecting our health in a very bad way. Almost as if they intended to wipe us out... :(

What’s the source of sodium they removed? Table salt? I imagine everything in moderation even applies to things like Redmond’s Real Salt. But specifically calling out the source could help determine if iodized table salt is causing oxidative stress.

very interesting

If my blood test shows low sodium is that the same as reaffirming a low sodium diet? Sodium is a necessary mineral for electrolytes assisting in the electrical aspect of exercise and the heart.

Maybe there's another explanation! Less fructose means a lower energy in the circulating nutrients and thus a compensation to get the work done with lower energy nutrition is a greater number of mitochondria.

So, how does one go on a low sodium (salt) diet and not threaten the essential level of hydrochloric acid in the stomach? I would suggest using chloride forms of minerals such as magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, zinc Cl, etc where ever possible.

I'm wondering just how well the white blood cell mitochondrial density correlates-serves as a proxy for muscle tissues (?). Seeing a 70-fold increase in mitochondrial density sounds like it would mean a fantastic rise in potential muscle cell performance. I know there would still be other muscle performance limiting factors, but at least mitochondrial density should no longer be one.

This seems to me another good reason to cut off fructose. Just wonder why it toke 8 weeks before we see big changes in mitochondria.

In the study, did they use fructose in the form of fruits? Would the antioxidants in the fruits reduce the negative effects? On a mostly Vegan diet consisting of potatoes, fruits, veggies and no added salt, my results are: Uric Acid 5.0, HbA1c 4.7% (avg 3 mo BG 86), Chol 185, TG 78.

Once you stop the intake of food within 48 hrs your body will start burning fat and create energy in Ketones. It works for me, I lost 50 lbs and my energy level is higher than ever before. Low carbs diet is the key and exercise.

Very interesting. Now, how are we supposed to apply that information? Are we to weigh out sodium in our cooking and consult a table for the amount of fructose in our fruit? (never mind soft drinks, for those who consume them). Let's make it practical, shall we?

You mention a simple blood draw test to measure mitrocondira in the white blood cells. What is the name of this test? Thank you

Question: I see people including children on you tube videos recording extreme carnival rides like on a slingshot or Rollercoaster and often times they scream and even pass out...just wonder what is the impact on the brain..could they be doing irreparable damage?

I have gone totally off all sugars including fructose since April 2023 . SOmehow though my A1C has come down drastically, for the first time I found that my uric acid levels are elevated to 6.7 . Im completely confused as to what to do what to have how to control this . Could you please advise

Do we know what happened to the energy levels, the blood pressure or cognitive function of the study subjects?

what kind of diet is low sodium and low fructose?

HIIT has been a clear and simple path to increasing my own mitochondria. This stress forces your mitochondria to multiply. Curious if there is any research data on combing both? I have always taken Fish and Flaxseed oil to keep my blood pressure low and scoop up free radicals etc. I am often thought to be 20 years younger then my actual age.

Mindblowing

Thanks for providing the interesting finding. However, what could be the potential links between mitochondria and fructose/salts? It seems to me that conducting a study based on already obese individuals don’t make a lot of sense since they need to reduce daily nutrients intake anyway.

What happens to the mitochondria if the person has a neutropenic fever due to chemotherapy? I had breast cancer and after my first dose of chemo, I got neutrpenic fever after my first dose of chemo. I was told that my neutrophils were 0.5 and normal was 13. I recovered, but I was wondering if that is why I had 'brain fog' afterwords the chemotherapy and radiation. That was 10 years ago. I am currently eating a low sodium and most of all, low sugar (carb) diet. I got off of sugar using monk fruit and now I am trying to eat less real fruit with the exception of a few, like kiwis. I am also taking vitamins such as MNM and trans reseratrol. I am noticing that my I have been retaining information better and memory has improved. Please tell me what you think about this.

DOING INTERMITTENT FASTING, THE LAST THING ONE WANTS IS LOW SODIUM AS YOU EXCRETE MORE SODIUM WHILE FASTING.

I experimented with my own body and salt mixtures and now make and use a mix of 25% KCl and 75% Himalayan salt , all group up and mixed well.

Is salt such a problem. Could you do a book on salt?

I’ve had chronic fatigue years often bedridden housebound it is known the mitochondria can’t produce energy now it’s proven parts of the brain is different too

In addition to many other supplements, I am taking 20 mg per day of pyrroloquinoline quinone or PQQ. Are there good substantive studies done on this compound with respect to mitochondrial function and mitochondrial genesis?

Being on a ketogenic diet gives me mighty chondria.

My mitochondria are doing good thanks but I am worried about my cytosomes and my Golgi apparatus. People are just not taking care of these organelles and there is so little information available could you please help?

Can you do a deep dive on inhalation of Hydrogen Gas relative to its ability to stop free radical damage and protect Mitochondria..?

It is thought-provoking for me. Please advise. - Uric acid is at 7.9. - LDL is high. - I am 50 years old. - I am very active in sports. I cycled 1100 km last month. - I have no symptoms of high LDL or uric acid. - I have been struggling to lose 5 kg of weight for the past year. - I haven't used added sugar for 6 months. - I eat mostly boiled vegetables with olive oil once a day. - I occasionally eat a small amount of fruit (fructose). - I usually don't add salt to my food. Please advise on what I should do to lower my uric acid levels, as I can feel that I am not metabolically healthy anymore. My physician is not very helpful.