"When most people think about fiber, they picture its role in digestion-keeping things moving smoothly through the gut. But according to Stanford professor and protein chemist Daria Mochly-Rosen, Ph.D., fiber's benefits go far beyond the digestive tract. In a recent episode of the "mindbodygreen" podcast, Mochly-Rosen noted that fiber also plays a crucial role in keeping our mitochondria-the "powerhouses" of our cells-working efficiently."
"Mitochondria do much more than generate energy; they regulate how our cells communicate, repair and respond to stress. When these tiny organelles are functioning optimally, we feel alert, energized and resilient. When they're struggling, the effects are hard to miss: fatigue, brain fog and inflammation often follow. And surprisingly, what we feed our gut microbiome has everything to do with how well our mitochondria perform."
Fiber supports mitochondrial health by feeding gut bacteria that produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that fuels gut mitochondria, strengthens the intestinal barrier, and reduces inflammation. Healthy mitochondria optimize cellular energy production, nutrient breakdown including beta-oxidation of fatty acids, cellular signaling, repair, and stress responses, which supports alertness, focus, and resilience. Low fiber diets lower butyrate production, weaken the gut barrier, and allow toxins and inflammatory molecules into the bloodstream, contributing to fatigue, brain fog and systemic inflammation. Consuming diverse plant fibers, resistant starches, and pairing them with protein and antioxidant-rich foods nourishes microbiota, increases butyrate, and sustains mitochondrial function.
Read at Natural Health News
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