Would you like some house cleaning?

Hi!

It's virtual conference month for me! How about you? Are you learning anything online right now? If so, reply to this email and let me know.

HANDS UP for life long learning! I'd love to know what you've been learning lately.

This week I attended my national accreditation organization, the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology's annual conference.

This is the conference I get to "geek out" at as it is the top researchers across Canada speaking about exercise science. I take what they present and package it into bite size science nuggets to share with my patients and clients and YOU.

The big standout this year was about ENERGY.

How often do we (me included) talk about how we are too tired or lack the energy to exercise? And usually if we do move our bodies we feel more energized afterward?

Turns out the big energy maker in our bodies is the Might Mitochondria in each and every cell in our bodies.

To learn more about this powerhouse organelle, watch this great video that helps explain it more!

When we participate in an acute (meaning one) session of exercise our bodies will build the total number of mitochondria in the cells. It is the total number and size (larger equals more energy production) that provides the ENERGY to move our bodies.

What I wasn't aware of and learned this week was that for every acute exercise bout, we signal mitochondrial turnover. Meaning, it is not only the growth in number and size of this energy provider, it is also the "death" of the poor or non-functional mitochondria in the cell.

So essentially out bodies are able to clear out the garbage mitochondria and build new and better ones with each and every SINGLE SESSION OF EXERCISE.

Cue the fireworks! 🎇 

Our bodies are phenomenal systems that not only adapt but also clean up for themselves. I wish I could train my kids to clean up there left overs after they devour their dinner!

Now I don't have any evidence that this physiological process is linked to post-exercise energy. It is hard to believe that there isn't something to it. I've got some more investigating to do...

So if you need a reason (or another reason) to move your body. Just think how your own body cleans up its own cells, so that YOU can function better!

Again, if you are learning something new virtually, let me know! I get super excited about how we can be life-long learners. Hit the reply button and let me know,

Want to know more? Click here to read and watch a video about the research that is going on in Canada related to the mitochondria and exercise science. 

Stay well and happy moving,
Lisa