Mitochondrial Health: How Your Cells Make Energy
By the Mito Renewal Editorial Team · Last updated 5 July 2026
Mitochondrial health refers to how well the mitochondria — the energy-producing structures inside your cells — function and renew themselves. Because nearly every cell relies on mitochondria for energy, their condition is closely tied to how you feel day to day and to healthy ageing. This guide explains what mitochondria do, why their function tends to decline with age, and the everyday factors studied for supporting them.
What are mitochondria?
Mitochondria are tiny structures found inside almost every cell in your body. Their main job is to convert the food you eat and the oxygen you breathe into usable cellular energy (a molecule called ATP). Cells with high energy demands — muscle, heart and brain cells — contain especially large numbers of them.
What is mitochondrial health?
“Mitochondrial health” describes both how efficiently your mitochondria produce energy and how well your cells maintain them — replacing damaged mitochondria with new, functional ones. That maintenance depends heavily on a quality-control process called mitophagy, which clears out worn-out mitochondria.
Why mitochondrial function changes with age
As we get older, two things tend to happen: some mitochondria become less efficient, and the housekeeping processes that clear damaged ones slow down. The result is a gradual accumulation of under-performing mitochondria. This is one of the reasons researchers interested in healthy ageing pay close attention to mitochondrial biology, and to compounds — like Urolithin A — studied for their role in supporting mitophagy.
How to support mitochondrial health
The evidence points to everyday fundamentals first, with targeted supplements as an optional addition:
- Physical activity: exercise, particularly a mix of aerobic and resistance training, is one of the most consistently studied ways to support mitochondrial function.
- Sleep: adequate, regular sleep supports the body's repair and maintenance processes.
- Nutrition: a varied diet rich in plants provides the raw materials your cells need — including ellagitannins, the precursors your gut bacteria use to make Urolithin A (see foods high in ellagitannins).
- Targeted supplementation: some people add a compound like Urolithin A, studied for its role in mitophagy, as one consistent part of a routine.
Where Urolithin A fits
Urolithin A is one of the more genuinely researched compounds in this space, studied for its role in supporting mitophagy. It is not a substitute for exercise, sleep or a good diet — it's a targeted addition some people choose. Mito Renewal Complete provides 500mg per capsule. To understand the compound in depth, read our complete guide to Urolithin A and what the research shows.
Frequently asked questions
What is mitochondrial health?
Mitochondrial health is how efficiently your mitochondria produce cellular energy and how well your cells maintain and renew them over time.
Why does mitochondrial function decline with age?
With age, some mitochondria become less efficient and the cellular processes that clear damaged ones (mitophagy) slow down, leading to a build-up of under-performing mitochondria.
How can I support my mitochondria?
Regular exercise, adequate sleep and a varied plant-rich diet are the best-studied foundations. Some people add targeted supplements such as Urolithin A.
Does Urolithin A support mitochondrial health?
Urolithin A is studied for its role in mitophagy, a key part of mitochondrial maintenance. Human research is promising but still developing, and it is not a treatment for any condition.
This guide is for general education and is not medical advice. Mito Renewal Complete is a dietary supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare practitioner before starting any supplement. See our medical disclaimer.