“Energy is not a luxury—it’s the language your body uses to say ‘Yes, I’m alive.’”
— Dr. Mary Louder
In a world where many of us are waking up tired, slogging through fatigue, or dragging bodies that feel older than they are, one truth rises from the roots of functional medicine:
Your mitochondria are calling. And they need love.
Why Mitochondria Matter (And Why They’re in Crisis)
Mitochondria are often taught in biology class as “the powerhouse of the cell.” But let’s go deeper. These tiny organelles—microscopic but mighty—generate ATP, the cellular currency of energy. From your brain fog to your aching joints, your mood swings to your immune flares, mitochondria are the unsung heroes (or the quiet culprits) behind how vibrant or drained you feel.
Now add in long COVID, chronic infections, environmental toxins, poor sleep hygiene, ultra-processed diets, and let’s not forget: the burnout tsunami of midlife for women.
It’s no wonder we’re seeing an explosion of interest in mitochondrial rejuvenation. This isn’t about biohacking to “do more.” It’s about restoring a deeper life force—a return to cellular sacredness.
Genomic Perspective: When Energy is Written in Your DNA
What if your energy story isn’t just lifestyle... but lineage?
Thanks to advances in genomic testing (such as our 3 x 4, and New Amsterdam test), we now understand that your genes can influence mitochondrial efficiency—how you detoxify, how you manage oxidative stress, and how well you convert food into fuel.
Key genes we consider in practice:
- NQO1 – involved in CoQ10 and antioxidant cycling
- SOD2 – manganese superoxide dismutase; protects mitochondria from ROS (free radicals)
- PGC1α – the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis
- COMT and MAO – methylation genes affecting neurotransmitter breakdown and energetic tone
***Patients with sluggish variants often feel it before they see it: tired despite “normal labs,” wired but exhausted, sensitive to meds or stress.***
The good news? Genes are not destiny. The help tell the story and help create the blueprint for your health. In this case, they are not diagnostic; they are guidance. When combined with functional medicine, your genes then allow us to modulate their expression through lifestyle, nutrition, and targeted supplementation.
TRICKS OF THE TRADE:
The Lifestyle Protocol: Syncing with Your Circadian Power Grid
Before we dive into capsules and compounds, let’s get honest.
No supplement can outrun:
- blue light at midnight
- a breakfast of sugar and caffeine
- chronic fight-or-flight mode
- sleep debt masquerading as productivity
Your mitochondrial recovery begins with rhythm—specifically, circadian rhythm. These internal clocks regulate not just sleep but hormone release, detox, even mitochondrial gene expression.
Here’s where to begin:
The Mitochondrial Rhythm Reset (MRR) – Dr. Louder’s Foundations:
- Rise With the Sun: Morning sunlight cues mitochondrial activity.
- Eat Within 10–12 Hours: Give your body fasting intervals to restore.
- Move Gently, Often: Mitochondria thrive under hormetic stress like walking, resistance training, and infrared sauna—not overtraining.
- Breathe for the Parasympathetic: Coherent breathing (5-6 breaths/min) downregulates inflammation, boosting mitochondrial repair.
- Honor the Wind-Down: No screens after 9pm. Magnesium, journaling, a warm bath—whatever slows the river.
WHEN RUN DOWN…GET THE MUSHROOMS OUT 🍄
The Adaptogenic Allies: mycoVim™ and the Functional Fungi Revolution
Now let’s talk about the earth-grown adaptogens designed to support mitochondrial resilience. Adaptogens are nature’s modulators—they help the body adapt to stress without overstimulating. In the mitochondrial matrix, they: reduce oxidative damage, support ATP synthesis, buffer cortisol surges, stabilize neurotransmitter balance
Enter: mycoVim™
Our mycoVim line draws on the wisdom of medicinal mushrooms, long revered in ancient medicine and now validated by emerging science. Here’s how specific mycoVim products support cellular energy:
mycoVim Core Support Energy Blend
Cordyceps militaris – Boosts oxygen utilization, shown to enhance mitochondrial ATP production in skeletal muscle.
Rhodiola rosea – Modulates AMPK pathways, improves physical and mental endurance.
B-complex with bioactive forms – Crucial mitochondrial cofactors (B2, B3, B5)
“Patients report this formula as a gentle ‘wake up’—not a jolt like coffee, but a return of steady power,”
mycoVim MitoDefense – Using two individual functional mushroom formulas.
Reishi + Lion’s Mane – Anti-inflammatory, neuroregenerative; helps reduce brain fog while protecting neuronal mitochondria.
Alpha-lipoic acid – Regenerates antioxidants like glutathione, supporting mitochondrial detox.
PQQ – Stimulates new mitochondrial growth (biogenesis).
“Think of this one as mitochondrial nourishment for the brain, heart, and immune system.”
I have received a lot of questions about NAD+, Red Light, and Hydrogen
Great questions.
Functional tools like: NAD+ precursors (e.g. NMN, NR), Red Light Therapy (660nm / 850nm wavelengths), and molecular hydrogen tablets are all showing promise in clinical literature. They’re tools we may layer in once the foundations (rhythm, sleep, blood sugar, stress) are stable. And they work best when guided by a clinician who understands their timing and synergy.
Example: NAD+ without sufficient methylation support? Recipe for anxiety and insomnia. Red light too late at night? Disrupts circadian melatonin.
This is why a personalized protocol is essential—especially for women navigating perimenopause or chronic fatigue.
A Patient Story: “Tara’s Return to Fire”
Tara, 47, came to our practice after three years of post-viral fatigue, hormone chaos, and a sense of being “disconnected from her spark.” Labs showed sluggish thyroid, borderline insulin resistance, and significant mycotoxin exposure. Genetic testing revealed COMT slow variants and low antioxidant enzymes.
Together, we created a plan:
Restored circadian rhythm with light and food timing.
Started low-dose mycoVim Energy and MitoDefense blends.
Added targeted red light therapy and limbic retraining.
Six months in, Tara’s words say it best:
“It’s like the lights turned back on inside my cells. I didn’t just get energy—I got hope.”
The Sacred Reframe: Energy as Devotion, Not Optimization
Let’s be clear—this isn’t hustle culture in disguise. Mitochondrial rejuvenation is not about “biohacking your way to 5am workouts and inbox zero.”
It’s about returning to your sacred spark.
Your energy is the currency through which you love, parent, create, heal. And when that energy returns—gently, honestly, root-first—you don’t just function again. You flourish.
Ready to Begin? Here’s what you can do right now:
Explore the mycoVim line – thoughtfully formulated to support mitochondrial resilience from the ground up.
Schedule a strategy session and see about working together. Or, if you're already a patient, schedule a session with me through your patient portal.
This isn’t about adding one more thing to your plate. It’s about giving your cells what they’ve been asking for all along.
With care and cellular reverence,
Dr. Mary Louder, DO
Integrative Physician | Osteopath | Story Listener
Founder, mycoVim™