There are certain foods that support our health—and others that may be harming it without us realizing it. One factor that isn’t widely talked about is deuterium, also known as “heavy hydrogen.” It can slow down the nanomotors in our mitochondria—those tiny energy powerhouses inside each of our cells.
While our bodies are capable of making deuterium-depleted water, high levels of deuterium from food can cause problems. When we consume foods high in deuterium—especially without regular sunlight exposure to help deplete it—we may feel tired, gain weight, or experience other signs of poor health. Over time, this can contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction, and even diseases like cancer.
Eating seasonally, in natural sunlight, and choosing the right foods can help. Here are six common foods high in deuterium that you might want to limit or avoid:
6. Oats
Oats contain about 141 parts per million (ppm) of deuterium. They’re also often contaminated with glyphosate unless they’re organic. While popular, they’re not ideal from a mitochondrial health perspective.
5. Potatoes
At 143 ppm, potatoes are another high-deuterium food. Many people blame carbs for bloating or low energy, but it could actually be a deuterium issue. These effects can also contribute to insulin and leptin resistance.
4. Beet Sugar
Often found in processed foods, beet sugar clocks in at 146 ppm. Like other sweeteners, it requires more sunlight exposure to metabolize properly.
3. Wheat Flour
Wheat flour comes in at 150 ppm. Many people have sensitivities to wheat or gluten, but the real culprit might be the deuterium—or even glyphosate contamination in non-organic wheat.
2. Corn
Corn has 155 ppm of deuterium. Whether it’s popcorn, corn oil, corn flour, or high-fructose corn syrup (which is in nearly every processed food), corn is everywhere—and it’s often genetically modified unless organic.
1. Coconut Water
Surprising to many, coconut water tops the list at 156 ppm. While coconut oil and coconut flesh are generally healthy, the water contains most of the deuterium. It’s especially worth reconsidering if you don’t live in tropical regions where coconuts naturally grow.
What Can You Do?
If you’re concerned about deuterium and mitochondrial health, one of the best things you can do is get safe sun exposure. Natural sunlight helps your body deplete deuterium and improve mitochondrial function.
