I used to believe the plant-based narrative — fiber, antioxidants, eat the rainbow, detox with greens. But the deeper I dove into mitochondrial biology, the more it became clear: plants are not foundational fuel. They’re stress signals, not building blocks. Animal foods are the only source of bioavailable retinol, DHA, B12, heme iron, choline, structured fats — the raw materials your mitochondria need to build energy, regulate hormones, and repair at the quantum level. If you’re living on plants