Your Mitochondria Love the Light — How Sunlight Regulates Cellular Energy Part 3: Photobiomodulation, the Krebs Cycle, and Supercharging Your Cellular Energy

Light Meets Biochemistry — What Is Photobiomodulation?

Photobiomodulation (PBM) may sound complex, but it's actually quite simple. It's the use of specific wavelengths of light—primarily red and near-infrared—to stimulate healing and energy production at the cellular level. This accessible and straightforward tool can help restore mitochondrial function and support metabolic pathways, including the Krebs cycle.

During photomodulation, photons from the sun, near-infrared light, or tools like laser therapy enter the tissue and interact with an enzyme called cytochrome c oxidase, a component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. I know, I'm nerding out on you for just a bit. However, this information is crucial to understand when it comes to health. Because, at the end of the day, our health is determined by the health of our mitochondria.

When red or near-infrared light hits this enzyme, it enhances ATP production, increases oxygen efficiency by producing free nitric oxide (NO), modulates reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reduces inflammation—all without the need for drugs or supplements.

The Krebs Cycle: Where Nutrients Become Energy

To understand why PBM matters, let's quickly revisit your cellular powerhouse:

The Krebs cycle (also called the citric acid cycle or TCA cycle) is a series of chemical reactions that occur in the mitochondria to convert food—carbohydrates, fats, and proteins—into usable energy (ATP).

But here's the catch: It's important to remember that you play a crucial role in your own health. You can eat the cleanest ketogenic diet, take mitochondrial supplements, and exercise regularly, but if your mitochondria are damaged or sluggish, the Krebs cycle can't run efficiently. This is where your understanding of sunlight and light therapy, (photobiomodulation), becomes empowering.

sunlight, the skin, mitochondria and the electron transport chain

How Photobiomodulation Enhances the Krebs Cycle

PBM supports mitochondrial and Krebs cycle function by:

• Stimulating cytochrome c oxidase: This enzyme is essential for the final stage of ATP production. PBM enhances its activity, facilitating the efficient transfer of electrons down the respiratory chain.

• Increasing oxygen utilization: PBM enhances your mitochondria's efficiency in utilizing oxygen, a crucial requirement for generating energy through the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.

• Releasing nitric oxide helps dilate blood vessels and improve circulation, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to cells, which are essential raw materials for the Krebs cycle to run smoothly.

• Reducing oxidative stress: Light therapy triggers the production of antioxidants within the mitochondria, thereby lowering inflammation that would otherwise impair metabolic pathways.

Who Benefits from Photobiomodulation?

PBM can be beneficial for people dealing with:

    •    Chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia

    •    Neurodegenerative conditions (like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's)

    •    Metabolic dysfunction (insulin resistance, prediabetes)

    •    Chronic inflammation or autoimmune disease

    •    Long COVID or post-viral syndromes

    •    Cognitive decline or brain fog

    •    Pain and musculoskeletal injuries

Essentially, any condition involving mitochondrial dysfunction, which is a primary cause of most modern chronic diseases.

How to Use Photobiomodulation in Practice

Home Devices: Red light panels and handheld near-infrared devices are now widely available. Aim for:

    •    Wavelengths: 660 nm (red) and 850 nm (near-infrared)

    •    Timing: Start with 5–10 minutes per session, 1–2x daily, depending on the area being treated

    •    Distance: Generally 6–12 inches from the skin

    •    Areas to Target: The brain, the skeletal muscles, the heart, and areas with inflammation or pain, such as joints. Did you know that there are over 37 trillion cells in the body, each containing mitochondria. Muscle Cells, Heart Cells, and Brain Cells are the most mitochondria-dense cells in the body.

Natural Sunlight: The light of sunrise and sunset, with its beneficial red and near-infrared wavelengths, is a timeless and powerful source of health. And, the sun's light is free and effective! Make it a point to connect with this natural source of energy consistently during these times.

PBM + Functional Medicine = Targeted Mitochondrial Rehab

Think of Photobiomodulation as cellular rehab therapy. It bridges modern science with ancestral wisdom: your body is built to respond to light. Combined with foundational functional medicine principles that support mitochondrial health—such as nutrient repletion, circadian alignment, blood sugar control, and stress reduction —you can restore your body's ability to produce energy, age well, and heal.

Light IS energy- And YOU are a light being!

If you're ready to dive deeper into a functional approach to your wellness, I'm here to help, schedule a consultation with me.