Our body is being pushed to its limits every second. Blood sugar levels must be in step with energy needs, electrolytes must be distributed so that cells do not burst, and blood flow must adapt to the current load. The big concept behind all of these processes is what we call homeostasis .

It is about maintaining a stable environment in the body . Whether it is sport, infection, stress, sleep or food - our organism tends to restore the original balance whenever there is an upward or downward shift. Enzymes and other proteins master the task at the cellular level. The endocrine system uses hormones to regulate larger cell groups and even entire organs (e.g. pancreas, ovaries, thyroid).

The nervous system also contains the control box for things like body temperature, stress response, and breathing. When the body is out of balance, the consequences are all too noticeable: diabetes, arteriosclerosis, dysbiosis, and faster biological aging . But each and every one of us can throw a few more or less heavy weights into the balance so that balance does not remain the exception to the rule.

Nothing works in our body without our fantastic miniature power plants, the mitochondria. The more energy a cell uses, the more mitochondria it normally has. A heart muscle cell has around 5,000 of these energy machines on board. Nerve cells, liver cells and sensory cells are also well equipped. However, it is very unfortunate that mitochondria begin to show signs of fatigue in people as young as 25 .

The performance of our small power plants is measured in the amount of micro batteries produced, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) . Weighed in kilograms, the mitochondria produce about as much ATP as we weigh every day in order to keep all life and metabolic processes running.

At rest, mind you. When we exercise, it increases significantly. Unfortunately, this gigantic energy supply system tends to weaken quite quickly - with devastating consequences for our fitness and ability to regenerate.