Minding your mitochondria | Dr. Terry Wahls | TEDxIowaCity

Summary

This inspiring talk by a former Taekwondo national champion turned physician narrates her battle with multiple sclerosis. After traditional treatments failed, she self-experimented with a diet rich in nutrients for brain and mitochondrial health, inspired by hunter-gatherer diets. The result was a remarkable recovery, leading her to advocate for a nutrient-dense diet to prevent and combat chronic diseases, emphasizing the importance of food in maintaining health and vitality.

Takeaways

• 🥋 The speaker was a national Taekwondo champion who became a physician and later faced a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS).
• 🏥 After being diagnosed with MS, the speaker sought treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, taking the latest drugs and undergoing chemotherapy but still experienced a progression of the disease.
• 🧬 The speaker turned to self-experimentation based on medical research, focusing on nutrients like fish oil, creatine, and co-enzyme Q to protect mitochondria in the brain.
• 🔬 The Institute for Functional Medicine's course on Neuroprotection expanded the speaker's understanding of brain cell biology and the importance of myelin for brain health.
• 💊 The speaker emphasized the role of B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and iodine in maintaining healthy myelin and neurotransmitters.
• 🥦 The importance of a diet rich in green leaves, sulfur-rich vegetables, and brightly colored fruits and vegetables was highlighted for their nutritional benefits.
• 🍲 The speaker advocated for a hunter-gatherer or Paleo diet, which is high in nutrients and can support brain and mitochondrial health better than conventional diets.
• 🌊 Seaweed was mentioned as an essential part of the diet due to its iodine and selenium content, which are vital for brain health and detoxification.
• 📉 The typical American diet was criticized for its lack of essential nutrients, leading to various health issues including chronic diseases and developmental problems.
• 🚶‍♀️ The speaker's personal dietary changes led to significant improvements in their health, including regaining the ability to walk and bike after being severely disabled by MS.
• 🌱 The speaker concluded with a call to action, urging the audience to make informed dietary choices for optimal health and to consider the broader implications for society.

Q & A

What is the speaker's background before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis?

The speaker was a national Taekwondo champion, went to medical school, became a physician, had a son and a daughter, and then developed a chronic disease.

What did the speaker do after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis?

The speaker sought treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, took the latest drugs, underwent chemotherapy, and used a motorized tilt-recline wheelchair, but still experienced a progression of the disease.

What was the speaker's initial approach to self-treatment based on research?

The speaker began self-experimentation by translating mouse-sized doses of fish oil, creatine, and co-enzyme Q into human-sized doses to protect brain mitochondria, which slowed the decline of the disease.

How did the speaker's understanding of brain cell biology and neuroprotection evolve?

The speaker learned more about brain cell biology and neuroprotection through the Institute for Functional Medicine's continuing medical education course on Neuroprotection.

What role does myelin play in the brain, and how is it affected by multiple sclerosis?

Myelin is a substance that insulates the connective wiring in the brain. Multiple sclerosis damages myelin, affecting the brain's function.

What nutrients are essential for the production of healthy myelin, according to the speaker?

For healthy myelin production, the brain needs B vitamins (B1, B9, B12), omega-3 fatty acids, and iodine.

What is the significance of mitochondria in the body, and what did the speaker learn about their needs?

Mitochondria manage the energy supply for cells and are critical for life. The speaker learned that mitochondria need B vitamins, sulfur, and antioxidants to thrive.

How did the speaker's diet change to focus on nutrient-rich foods for brain and mitochondrial health?

The speaker designed a diet based on the hunter-gatherer model, emphasizing three cups each of green leaves, sulfur-rich vegetables, bright-colored produce, grass-fed meats, organ meats, and seaweed.

What is the speaker's view on the typical American diet and its impact on health?

The speaker believes that the typical American diet, rich in processed foods, leads to nutrient deficiencies and contributes to the rise of chronic diseases.

What evidence does the speaker provide to support the nutritional benefits of a hunter-gatherer diet?

The speaker cites research showing that hunter-gatherer diets exceed the recommended daily allowances of key nutrients two to tenfold, providing more nutrition than diets promoted by major health organizations.

What personal transformation did the speaker experience after adopting the new diet, and what were the results?

The speaker transitioned from being severely disabled and wheelchair-bound to being able to walk without a cane, bike, and even participate in a trail ride in the Canadian Rockies.

What is the speaker's call to action for the audience, and what is the underlying message?

The speaker challenges the audience to become modern-day hunter-gatherers, eat for their mitochondria, and embrace the healing power of food as a means to improve individual and public health.