What Powers Endurance Athletes

For over 40 years, scientists have known that endurance exercise increases the number of mitochondria in muscle tissue. If you regularly engage in endurance training, you could have twice the number of these cellular powerhouses than people who don’t run, cycle or play a team sport where endurance is part of the game.
 
A new study from the University of Southern Denmark has uncovered another difference. After examining 15 elite athletes and 29 people who were only moderately active, researchers determined that the mitochondria structure in endurance athletes can generate 25% more energy than similar cells in people who aren’t as active.