Has measuring mitochondrial health always seemed out of reach? Not anymore! In this Longevity episode, I am joined by Dr. Hemal Patel to discuss groundbreaking research that allows us to assess mitochondrial function through a simple at-home blood test.  We discuss how practices like meditation, breathing exercises, and even attending immersive retreats can dramatically improve mitochondrial health in as little as a week. We also dive into cell membrane composition and Dr. Patel's personal story of how he integrates meditation into his nightly routine for better sleep and creativity! Dr. Hemal Patel is a Tenured Professor and Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of California, San Diego, and has a dual appointment as a VA Research Career Scientist and VA Research Pharmacologist at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. He is also the Chief Scientific Officer for Versea Discovery. He has made seminal contributions in shaping new investigation areas on defining the impact of membrane structure on cell, organ, and organismal physiology and metabolism with implications for cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury, heart failure, diabetic cardiomyopathy, aging, pulmonary hypertension, cancer, and neurodegeneration.    Shop the Mescreen test and use code Longevity to save $100   Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible: Element Health: Use code Longevity when shopping at https://elementhealthsupply.com to save on your orders.  Neurohacker Collective: Visit http://qualialife.com/nathalie and use code NATHALIE  Berkeley Life: Head to Berkeleylife.com/Nat to browse their products and purchase your bundle at a discount.                                                                   Find more from Mescreen:  Website: https://mescreen.com/  use code Longevity when shopping!    Find more from Nathalie: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmholC48MqRC50UffIZOMOQ  Join Nat’s Membership Community: https://www.natniddam.com/bsp-community  Sign up for Nats Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/i7d5m0  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathalieniddam/  Website: www.NatNiddam.com    Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/biohackingsuperhumanperformance  What We Discuss: 03:23 The Symbiotic Relationship Between Mitochondria and the Gut Microbiome 07:47 Genetics and Lifestyle Factors Influencing Mitochondrial Function 12:13 Measuring Mitochondrial Function: A Non-Invasive Approach 28:56 The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and the Importance of Balance 31:18 Mescreen Test: Measuring Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Function 33:46 Improving Mitochondrial Function: Lipid Support, Autophagy, and Antioxidant Balance 36:33 The Significance of Cholesterol in Membrane Stability 38:34 Hypoxic Breathing: Activating an Endogenous System for Resilience 46:01 Choosing High-Quality Fats for Optimal Mitochondrial Health 49:28 The Transformative Power of Meditation and Dr. Joe Dispenza's Retreats 56:04 The Importance of Personalized Mitochondrial Health