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For years I’ve been passionately searching ways to improve mitochondrial function. One of the most important items I learned involves the food you eat every day.

While many people still cling to the idea that carbs and glucose are the ideal way to fuel their bodies, dietary fats are actually your metabolism’s preferred fuel. You can see the evidence by studying our evolutionary roots!

Through the years I’ve also been personally applying the research and testing dietary strategies to burn fat as my primary fuel.

Seeds, like flax, hemp, and chia, are good sources of healthy fat

It’s very clear to me that most people would benefit from getting 60 to 85 percent of their calories from fat – quality fat.

And that’s where many people stumble… they don’t know where to find all the good fats.

Along with the outdated myth about using carbs to be the primary fuel for your body, another old wives’ tale that’s dying a slow death is the idea that vegetable oils are good for you.

Because most vegetable oils are processed, and some, like soy and canola oil, are made from genetically engineered plants, most vegetable oils are not good sources of healthy fats!

Even seemingly healthy organic flax seed oil is a processed vegetable oil that can damage your health.

Ideally, your daily fats should come from eating organic whole foods like avocados, coconut oil, raw cacao butter, grass fed butter, pastured egg yolks, and nuts like macadamia and pecans because they are high in fat and low in protein and carbs.

Seeds are also a great source of healthy fats, especially these ancient, yet little known gems that I’m about to introduce you to…

Hidden Sources of Mitochondria-Loving Fats That Even Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen Appreciated

Black seed oil was discovered in the tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen.

Black seed, which includes black cumin and black sesame, has a long history of use in traditional health systems.

In fact, since 1964, 656 peer-reviewed studies have referenced this mysterious black seed…

The oil from black seed, or specifically Nigella Sativa or black cumin, was found in the tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen, dating back to thousands of years ago!

What’s especially unique about black seed is its ability to influence a wide range of biological pathways and functions, including:

• Blood pressure
• Heart health
• Colon health
• Fasting glucose
• Pulmonary health
• Opiate addiction
• GI and digestive health
• Kidney and liver health
• Immune health

Black sesame seeds have the highest oil content of any seed – 50 percent of their weight, and abundant omega-3 fats. A great source of magnesium (one ounce provides about 128 mg), sesame also contains plentiful lignans – plant compounds that act like antioxidants and are important for cellular and mitochondrial health.

Many people use the extracted oils of these two black seeds, but I believe the whole unprocessed seeds offer more potential benefits.

Black Cumin: Black Gold for Your Healthy Cells and Mitochondrial Function

The most abundant active plant chemical in black cumin is thymoquinone, a powerful antioxidant. Other bioactive compounds in the seed include α-hederin, alkaloids, flavonoids, antioxidants, and, of course, fatty acids.

While I particularly like black cumin seeds for their healthy balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats, I also am keenly interested in their thymoquinone content.

Research has recently shown that this unique substance and its derivatives are potent antioxidants that actually target mitochondria – that is, they penetrate cell membranes and accumulate in the cells’ mitochondria where they’re able to scavenge destructive ROS (reactive oxygen species) and free radicals.

Black Cumin, or Nigella Sativa, seeds contain potent mitochondria-targeting antioxidants

You can benefit from black cumin’s potential benefits in multiple ways.

A popular ingredient in North Indian, Pakistani, and Iranian cuisines, black cumin’s taste is described as “warm and slightly bitter”, resembling a blend of thyme, oregano and nutmeg.

I add a small scoop of black cumin seeds to my smoothie each day. They can be sprinkled over a salad or added to casseroles, stir-fries, salad dressings, and baked goods. Try mixing them with lemon, chopped cilantro and tahini for a delicious topping or dip for fresh vegetables.

Black cumin can be made into a hot soothing beverage. Pour hot water over a tablespoon of seeds and steep for 10 minutes for a rejuvenating cup of black cumin tea. You can even add a few seeds to your favorite tea or coffee for an exotic kick!

High in Lignans and ALA, Flax May Be the World’s First Cultivated “Superfood!”

Flax seeds are best known for their fiber and omega-3 fats

Flax seeds are small, brown-colored seeds that happen to be the richest source of ALA, or alpha-linolenic acid, a plant-based essential omega-3 short-chain fat that your body can’t make.

Not only do flax seeds contain higher levels of omega-3s than any other plant food, they also have a higher ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats – very important to your health!

They’re also the best source of lignans of any food. Lignans are unique polyphenols that provide antioxidant benefits for cellular and mitochondrial health, hormone regulation, and healthy aging.

Flax seeds are treasure troves for fiber, both soluble and insoluble. In fact, 95 percent of flax seed is fiber!

Like other high soluble fiber foods, when you eat flax seeds, they turn into a thick, gel-like mass, thanks to their high lignan levels.

This “mucilage” gel serves multiple purposes. It can help increase nutrient absorption by delaying the emptying of your food into the small intestine. In turn, this helps you feel fuller longer, and helps you reduce your cravings for carbs and sugar.

Here is a summary of the many potential benefits of flax seeds, courtesy of their fiber, lignans, and omega-3 fats:

• Provides prebiotics, or food for your beneficial bacteria, and promotes their growth
• Supports healthy digestion and helps protect the lining of your GI tract
• Contributes bulk to stool, promoting healthy elimination
• Supports colon health
• Supports healthy normal hormonal balance
• Promotes skin, hair, and nail health and helps reduce dryness and flakiness
• Supports healthy cholesterol levels already in the normal range
• Supports healthy blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity
• Supports weight management
• Helps promote a normal healthy inflammatory response throughout your body

With such an impressive list of potential benefits, it’s no wonder flax seeds have held “superfood” status for so many years!

Both Demonized and Defended for Over 80 Years, Hemp Seeds Emerge in Their Full Glory

Hemp seeds have endured a bad rap for many years, largely because of their association with marijuana or cannabis.

A variety of the cannabis plant, hemp is not a source of tetrahydrocannabinoids (THC).

So, contrary to what some may believe, hemp seeds will not get you high! Instead, they provide an abundance of potential health benefits.

Hemp seeds, or hemp hearts (the hulled seeds), are the seeds of the hemp plant. They are a rich source of GLA, or Gamma-linolenic acid, a building block for prostaglandins, or hormone-like substances that help regulate body temperature, smooth muscle, hormone balance and your body’s inflammatory response.

Hulled hemp seeds have an almost creamy texture

Like flax seeds, hemp seeds also contain abundant fiber, both insoluble and soluble, that can help you feel fuller longer after eating and help ward off unhealthy cravings.

Their fiber also helps promote regularity, feeds your beneficial gut bacteria, and supports your overall digestive health.

Hemp seed excels nutrition-wise, too:

• Ideal 3:1 balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fats
• Complete protein containing all 20 amino acids, including all nine of the essential amino acids
• Good source of manganese, vitamin E, magnesium, and phosphorus

A vital part of my Metabolic Mitochondrial Therapy (MMT) eating plan, hemp seeds are an ideal way to supplement your diet with fiber, minerals, and healthy fats!

The Nearly Perfect Omega-3 Powerhouse: Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are an excellent plant source of omega-3s

Chia seeds are good sources of many nutrients needed for the health of your mitochondria and your entire body:

• Healthy fats (contain up to 40 percent oil, with 60 percent omega-3s)
• Dietary fiber (10 grams in just one ounce!)
• Antioxidants and phytochemicals to help protect your lipids, proteins and DNA from oxidation*
• Minerals, including magnesium, manganese, calcium, and phosphate

Their high concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), second only to flax seeds, makes both flax and chia seeds especially valuable in helping to build your cells’ mitochondrial membranes.

While animal-based omega-3s are important for health, so are the right proportions of omega-6s. Chia seeds have a healthy balance of both.

Increase Your Dietary Fiber with My Go-to Source… Organic Whole
Psyllium Husks

Psyllium husks are an excellent type of soluble fiber

Most people don’t get enough fiber, plain and simple. That’s especially concerning since researchers have found that a diet high in fiber is associated with a lower risk of premature death from any cause!

I firmly believe eating enough fiber is one of the most important things you can do for your health as fiber radically improves your microbiome.

Made from the husks of the plant seeds of the Plantago ovata plant, organic psyllium is a simple and cost-effective way of increasing your body's fiber supply. Taking it three times a day could give you as much as 18 grams of dietary fiber.

Containing soluble fiber, psyllium acts as a prebiotic and helps nourish your beneficial gut bacteria. That, in turn, promotes digestion and absorption of nutrients. And of course, a happy gut supports optimal immune function.

When buying psyllium, always make sure it is certified organic. Psyllium is a heavily pesticide-sprayed crop and non-organic psyllium husks are usually irradiated. Buying organic is your only assurance of protection.

Also, beware of added ingredients and sweeteners that some brands may contain. You want 100 percent pure organic psyllium!