Nutrition and Mito

Why a healthy diet is so important when you have mito

Eating a wide variety of nutritious food is important when you have mitochondrial disease (mito). A healthy diet can improve your health, give you more energy and help your mitochondria function well.

Key Points

Eat a wide range of healthy foods
Eat regular meals
Have breakfast every day
Avoid fasting or dieting unless under medical supervision
Have liquid meal supplements if needed
Limit your caffeine intake
Eat low GI foods
Cook meals in bulk
Plan your shopping trips
Order meals online to save time and energy
Stock up your pantry to have easy meals on hand

Download the Nutrition and Mito fact sheet for more information and practical tips

Find out how to eat well, even when you’re low on energy

It’s important to have a healthy diet to keep your body healthy and give you lots of energy. A good diet can help your mitochondria function well.

When the mitochondria aren’t able to produce enough energy from food, a nutritious diet will help you get as much energy as you can.

If you have mito, you might have some ups and downs with your diet. It’s common for people living with mito to sometimes experience nausea, reflux or difficulty swallowing. At times like that you might have a low appetite.

But when you are feeling well, it’s important to fuel your body with healthy, nutritious foods.

Below are some practical tips to eat well even when you’re low in energy.

Tips for Eating Well

1. Eat a Variety of Foods

Eat a wide variety of foods from the following five food groups so you get all of the micronutrients your body needs:

Vegetables and legumes
Fruit
Carbohydrates
Protein
Dairy

2. Eat small, regular meals and snacks

3. Have a good breakfast

4. Don’t skip meals

5. Have liquid meals if needed

6. Keep caffeine in check

7. Eat low GI foods

Tips for saving time and energy

When you’re living with mito, you may have days when your energy levels are low. Here are some to shop and eat well, and to plan in advance for days when your energy levels are low.