| Reader, Today's chronic diseases are a direct result of the unnatural world we live in.
You see, in the past two centuries, we've turned our planet into a place that's unnatural, foreign, and downright toxic to our bodies.
And it's damaging your mitochondria.
Many studies have demonstrated that oxidative overload not only causes damage to organs and tissue — resulting in various diseases — it also leaves your poor mitochondria without defense.
Causing them to age before their time.
When this happens, down goes your energy production... and up goes your inability to rejuvenate and repair your body.
And it leads to the number one complaint of aging among my patients.
If you're in that group, you already know what I'm talking about.
It's fatigue.
But you have the power to rejuvenate these microscopic energy powerhouses that are found in each one of your cells.
Researchers have now discovered that your mitochondria hold the secret to preventing — and in some cases reversing — these awful debilitating conditions that strike from middle age onwards.
You see, mitochondrial decline isn't just a byproduct of aging — it's the source of the aging process itself. Organs and organ systems fail, and diseases begin to strike when your mitochondria begin to fail.
Scientists have found faltering mitochondria emit signals that spread malfunction to other cells, disabling healthy mitochondrial activity that can trigger the onset of disease.
The good news is that you can rejuvenate the mitochondria in aging human cells to prevent disease from taking hold.
That's where a unique postbiotic molecule called Urolithin A comes into play...
Multiple studies over the past decade reveal that Urolithin A (UA) clears away defective mitochondria that signal to mitochondria in neighboring cells to malfunction.
This clearing away of malfunctioning mitochondria is known as mitophagy. This clean-up process rejuvenates and extends the life of mitochondria that are failing.
The health benefits include... - Fights frailty and improves muscle strength2
- Combats cancer3
- Protects against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's4,5
- Improves heart health6
- Enhances your gut health7
- Fights obesity and type 2 diabetes8
- Reduces wrinkles and other skin aging9
- Extends lifespan by 19%10
What The Heck Is Urolithin A? UA is a metabolite that's formed by your gut microbiome when you digest specific types of plant antioxidants called ellagitannins.
These bioactive polyphenols, which have long been known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects, are found in just a handful of fruits, nuts, and seeds.
The fruit with the most potent levels of ellagitannins by a long shot is the pomegranate, which has a higher concentration of ellagitannins than any other fruit.
Pomegranates contain a unique ellagitannin, called punicalagin, which is not absorbed intact into the bloodstream but is digested and metabolized into urolithins by your gut microflora.
Researchers in Switzerland first identified digested punicalagin from pomegranates back in 2016, as a source of UA and a rejuvenator of mitochondria.11
Pomegranates, which already have a reputation for being a "superfood" because of their ability to lower blood pressure and strengthen bones, are great either in their whole fruit or juice form.  Pomegranates are a great natural source of urolithin A. | The problem is that not everyone has the right mix of microflora in their gut to produce enough UA. That's why I always recommend my patients take UA supplements along with an ellagitannins-rich diet.
Studies show that UA supplements are safe and that seniors who take them perform better in physical endurance tests.12
You can buy UA supplements in pill and powder form.
I recommend 1,000 mg per day. 2 More Ways To Improve Mitochondrial Health A couple of weeks ago, I shared my protocol to help you increase and improve your mitochondrial health. Here are two more ways… - Take the antioxidant builder n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC): This is another amino acid that's also a powerful antioxidant. NAC helps make glutathione, the body's most powerful antioxidant. Glutathione is the main line of defense for mitochondria. It helps prevent and repair oxidative damage, thus protecting your mitochondria.
Studies show it also protects your telomeres from oxidative damage.13 So, it throws a one-two anti-aging punch.
I advise supplementing with 500 mg per day.
- Don't forget this energy-increasing amino acid: Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) plays a crucial role in making energy in your cells. It transports fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they are burned for fuel. It also carries toxic waste out before it can do damage.
But as you age, carnitine levels in your tissues drop. That's why you need acetyl-L-carnitine. Your body converts L-carnitine to ALC. Studies show when your mitochondria slow down, ALC can fire them up again. Studies also show ALC reverses the malfunction in mitochondria as you age.14
The best source of L-carnitine is grass-fed red meat. But you can also supplement.
I suggest taking at least 500 mg of ALC every day on an empty stomach. Look for a formula with only L-carnitine and not D-carnitine, as D-carnitine is synthetic.
To Your Good Health, 
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References: - Cheng X and Ferrell JE, "Apoptosis propagates through the cytoplasm as trigger waves." 10 Aug 2018;361(6402): 607-612
- Ryu D, et al. "Urolithin A induces mitophagy and prolongs lifespan in C. elegans and increases muscle function in rodents." Nat Med. 2016;22(8):879-88.
- Rogovskii VS. "The therapeutic potential of urolithin A for cancer treatment and prevention." Curr Cancer Drug Targets. 2022;22(9):717-724.
- Jayatunga DPW, et al. "Therapeutic potential of mitophagy-inducing microflora metabolite, urolithin A for Alzheimer's Disease." Nutrients. 2021 Oct 23;13(11):3744.
- Wojciechowska O, et al. "Urolithin A in health and diseases: prospects for Parkinson's management." Antioxidants. July 2023;12(7):1479.
- Liu S, et al. "Urolithin A induces cardio protection and enhanced mitochondrial quality during natural aging and heart failure." BioRxiv, 2023.08.22.554375.
- Nishimoto Y, et al. "Effect of urolithin A on the improvement of vascular endothelial function depends on the gut microbiota." Front Nutr. 2023 Jan 5;9:1077534.
- Toney AM, et al. "Urolithin A, a gut metabolite, improves insulin sensitivity through augmentation of mitochondrial function and biogenesis." Obesity. Feb 2019
- D'Amico D, et al. "Topical application of Urolithin A slows intrinsic skin aging and protects from UVB-mediated photodamage: Findings from Randomized Clinical Trials." medRxiv 2023.06.16.23291378
- Ballesteros-Álvarez J, et al. "Urolithin A reduces amyloid-beta load and improves cognitive deficits uncorrelated with plaque burden in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease." GeroScience. 2023;45:1095-1113.
- Ryu D, et al. "Urolithin A induces mitophagy and prolongs lifespan in C. elegans and increases muscle function in rodents." Nat Med. 2016;22(8):879-88.
- Singh A, et al. "Orally administered UA is safe and modulates muscle and biomitochondrial biomarkers in elderly." Innovation Aging. 2017;1(1):1223-1224.
- Ludlow A, et al. "Telomeres shorten in response to oxidative stress in mouse skeletal muscle fibers." J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2014;69(7):821-30.
- Kidd P. "Neurodegeneration from mitochondrial insufficiency: nutrients, stem cells, growth factors, and prospects for brain rebuilding using integrative management." Altern Med Rev. 2005 Dec;10(4):268-93.
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