I can't wait to hear more about the practical ways we can maximize and even enlarge our "max capacility". Life is totally a shifting of resources internally and I love how the mitochondia speak to this and the brain controls the shifts. Who ever thought that the brain did that? AMAZING! I feel resources shift when my daughter is struggling and my mental energy goes to how I can best help her. I feel exercise and physical work shifts as I get LESS fatigued. I'm not in love with travel, but when I have to I get sick every time. When I'm sick my body and brain shuts down to hibernate. Sleep is my great, energy restorer. My body tells me how much and when and I've learned to listen. Looking forward to everything on this topic. It really pulls together so much for me.
But the mentioned principles are necessary but not sufficient principles/aspects of life. The sufficient aspect is that living organisms have a mind, a psyche and, moreover, something that animates inanimate matter (i.e. the body), an organizing principle traditionally referred to as the "soul". Something that continues to live on after death, even without a biological body. As long as this is not taken into account in these discussions, it remains a disguised materialism or physicalism.
What we need instead is a post-materialist worldview that takes up and expands upon central elements of vitalism.
Dr Fs. Has some of this been established in Ancient Eastern practices? When Martin talks about energy flow I can't help but think about (Chi, Qi, Shakti, etc), although I have very little experience with these practices.
Really thought-provoking perspective. You emphasize an important principle that is easy to overlook: health is not simply the absence of disease, but the capacity to generate, allocate, and recover energy. Sleep, nutrition, movement, stress management, and meaningful relationships all influence how efficiently our biological systems function. I believe it’s important for us to distinguish metaphorical concepts of “energy” from measurable physiology. Mitochondrial function, metabolism, autonomic balance, and inflammation provide tangible mechanisms through which lifestyle and environment affect vitality. The challenge is translating broad concepts into interventions supported by evidence and meaningful outcomes. Perhaps one of the most important goals of longevity medicine is not merely extending lifespan, but preserving the energy, resilience, and capacity that make those years worth living. Thanks for sharing this insightful piece.
For me, it is like a Beethoven symphony. Every instrument plays a part, from oboe to piano to violin. If one is missing, the energy, the music, changes. A well-trained ear can hear that.
The question is how do we feel and monitor our energy shifts and then re-regulate them, as conductors of one of the most beautiful orchestras in life?
Really thought-provoking perspective. It emphasizes a principle that is fairly easy to overlook: health is fundamentally about the ability to generate, utilize, and recover energy. Sleep, nutrition, movement, stress regulation, and social connection all influence how efficiently our biological systems function. I believe it’s very helpful for us to distinguish metaphorical concepts of “energy” from measurable physiology. Mitochondrial function, metabolic flexibility, autonomic balance, and inflammation provide tangible mechanisms through which lifestyle and environment shape vitality. The challenge is translating broad concepts into interventions supported by evidence. Perhaps one of the central goals of longevity medicine is not simply adding years to life, but preserving the energy, resilience, and capacity that make those years worth living.
I would love to see studies on how music. In one case the compositions of Mozart, actually disappeared a brain tumor. This is an external energy that enters the entire bodily system and takes it to a different energy level.
I can't wait to hear more about the practical ways we can maximize and even enlarge our "max capacility". Life is totally a shifting of resources internally and I love how the mitochondia speak to this and the brain controls the shifts. Who ever thought that the brain did that? AMAZING! I feel resources shift when my daughter is struggling and my mental energy goes to how I can best help her. I feel exercise and physical work shifts as I get LESS fatigued. I'm not in love with travel, but when I have to I get sick every time. When I'm sick my body and brain shuts down to hibernate. Sleep is my great, energy restorer. My body tells me how much and when and I've learned to listen. Looking forward to everything on this topic. It really pulls together so much for me.
Thank you, Angela.
Sleep is the best way to conserve energy, to shift resource allocation, and to heal.
I’m glad these principles resonate with you. They have changed my life.
Yes, good approach.
But the mentioned principles are necessary but not sufficient principles/aspects of life. The sufficient aspect is that living organisms have a mind, a psyche and, moreover, something that animates inanimate matter (i.e. the body), an organizing principle traditionally referred to as the "soul". Something that continues to live on after death, even without a biological body. As long as this is not taken into account in these discussions, it remains a disguised materialism or physicalism.
What we need instead is a post-materialist worldview that takes up and expands upon central elements of vitalism.
Agreed on all points. More on this in the ENERGY book.
Great. Looking forward reading the book!
Dr Fs. Has some of this been established in Ancient Eastern practices? When Martin talks about energy flow I can't help but think about (Chi, Qi, Shakti, etc), although I have very little experience with these practices.
It's hard not to see a connection between Chi and mitochondrial networks.
Philip Ball’s How Life Works is one of the best books I’ve read in my entire life. Surely it was the best of 2025.
Really thought-provoking perspective. You emphasize an important principle that is easy to overlook: health is not simply the absence of disease, but the capacity to generate, allocate, and recover energy. Sleep, nutrition, movement, stress management, and meaningful relationships all influence how efficiently our biological systems function. I believe it’s important for us to distinguish metaphorical concepts of “energy” from measurable physiology. Mitochondrial function, metabolism, autonomic balance, and inflammation provide tangible mechanisms through which lifestyle and environment affect vitality. The challenge is translating broad concepts into interventions supported by evidence and meaningful outcomes. Perhaps one of the most important goals of longevity medicine is not merely extending lifespan, but preserving the energy, resilience, and capacity that make those years worth living. Thanks for sharing this insightful piece.
For me, it is like a Beethoven symphony. Every instrument plays a part, from oboe to piano to violin. If one is missing, the energy, the music, changes. A well-trained ear can hear that.
The question is how do we feel and monitor our energy shifts and then re-regulate them, as conductors of one of the most beautiful orchestras in life?
I'm very excited to see the progress we can make as humanity by combining this new approaches and principles with the power of AI.
Really thought-provoking perspective. It emphasizes a principle that is fairly easy to overlook: health is fundamentally about the ability to generate, utilize, and recover energy. Sleep, nutrition, movement, stress regulation, and social connection all influence how efficiently our biological systems function. I believe it’s very helpful for us to distinguish metaphorical concepts of “energy” from measurable physiology. Mitochondrial function, metabolic flexibility, autonomic balance, and inflammation provide tangible mechanisms through which lifestyle and environment shape vitality. The challenge is translating broad concepts into interventions supported by evidence. Perhaps one of the central goals of longevity medicine is not simply adding years to life, but preserving the energy, resilience, and capacity that make those years worth living.
Thanks for sharing this insightful piece!
I would love to see studies on how music. In one case the compositions of Mozart, actually disappeared a brain tumor. This is an external energy that enters the entire bodily system and takes it to a different energy level.
Brilliant! I'm looking forward to the post on Mitoception
Love the cubic phase mitochondria image. Sending this to Barry.