What is CoQ10?

Officially known as Coenzyme Q10, CoQ10 is a compound in your body that helps produce energy and protects cells from oxidative stress. Although your body produces it naturally, as you age the production slowly decreases. CoQ10 is stored in the mitochondria which is the part of the cells that produce energy. Deficiencies have been linked to health conditions likes heart disease, brain disorders, cancer and diabetes. There are several natural dietary sources from which you can supplement CoQ10 like organ meats and lentils but many will find it beneficial to their health to supplement the enzyme through a dietary supplement. Continue reading to learn more about the various health benefits CoQ10 has for your health and the best ways how to get them.

Happy Health Heart

Heart failure usually occurs as a result of other heart conditions like high blood pressure. Having a heart condition can lead to increased oxidative damage which can affect the heart in a way that it cannot contract normally, relax or pump blood through the body. Studies have found that patients with heart failure who were treated with CoQ10 were able to improve their symptoms and significantly reduced their chances of dying from a heart problem.

Fruitful Fertility

Research has linked that fertility levels lower in conjunction with CoQ10 levels. This causes the body to become unable to protect the eggs from oxidative damage. Maintaining decent levels of CoQ10 can maintain egg quality and even reverse age-related decline in egg quality and quantity. Likewise, CoQ10 can protect sperm from oxidative damage and and quality.

Cancer Prevention

CoQ10 helps your body fight oxidative damage. If your body is unable to fight oxidative damage, your cells can become damaged which can increase your risk of developing cancer. Maintaining healthy levels of CoQ10 can protect cells from oxidative stress. Studies have found that patients suffering from cancer have lower levels of CoQ10 than those without cancer.

Brain Power

Mitochondrial function generally decreases with age. Mitochondrial dysfunction increases the risk of killing brain cells and can cause diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. The brain is especially vulnerable to oxidative stress due to its high fatty acid content and its need for oxygen. Oxidative damage can increase the development of harmful compounds that can affect your memory, cognition, and physical functions.

Decreased Headaches

When abnormal mitochondrial function occurs it causes increased calcium uptake by the cells which can cause low brain energy and migraines. CoQ10 resides in the mitochondria which can affect mitochondrial function and decrease inflammation that occurs during migraines. Studies have shown that patients who supplement with CoQ10 experienced reduced number of migraines. In addition to treating migraines, CoQ10 is believed to prevent them from occurring.

Decreased Diabetes

Metabolic disease, like diabetes, can be caused by oxidative stress that induces cell damage. Unusual mitochondrial function has been linked to insulin resistance. CoQ10 has been linked to the improvement of insulin sensitivity and the ability to support regulated blood sugar levels.

CoQ10 The Bottom Line

CoQ10 is a coenzyme that has the ability to vastly improve your health. It has been shown to improve heart health, blood sugar regulation, migraines and can boost your brain power. Whether you choose to eat more CoQ10 soluble foods like organ meats or lentils or you supplement, CoQ10 is definitely worth making the effort to maintain healthy levels.

CoQ10 For Heart Health

CoQ10, also known as Coenzyme Q10, is found in every cell of the body. Your body produces it naturally but as you age, your body slows down its production. CoQ10 resides in the mitochondria which is the part of the cell that is responsible for energy production. One of CoQ10’s primary functions is to convert food into energy and protect cells against oxidative stress. It is ranked as one of the best selling supplements on the market, raking in nearly 900 million dollars annually. The reason for its popularity is because CoQ10 has been linked to having the ability to treat Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, brain health and cancer. Although one of the main reasons for its popularity is because of its link to increased heart health. This article is going to take a closer look at the various benefits CoQ10 has for heart health and how to derive from its maximum benefits.

Different Types of CoQ10

There are two types of CoQ10, ubiquinone, and ubiquinol. The antioxidant form of CoQ10 is ubiquinol that is made in the body from ubiquinone. Ubiquinone is the less potent type but is more cost-effective so most over the counter supplements contain ubiquinone as opposed to ubiquinol. Research has linked low blood levels of CoQ10 with lowered levels of good cholesterol that protects the heart from and can subsequently increase the risk for heart disease.

Cardiovascular Disease

Studies have found that supplementing CoQ10 can increase levels of HDL-C and ApoA1 levels which can even be beneficial for people taking statins to protect against cardiovascular disease. HDL-C is a type of good cholesterol which removes bad cholesterol from places it can cause damage. ApoA1 is a component of HDL. It attaches itself to cell membrane and promotes the movement of cholesterol to the outer surfaces of the cell. CoQ10 can also lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers that have been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Low levels of CoQ10 have been linked to tissue damage to the heart during a heart attack.

Muscle Symptoms related to Statin

Statins are a type of medication that is taken for heart health but studies have verified that taking high doses of statins can cause diabetes. Statins work by preventing the process of producing cholesterol molecules which in turn block the precursor of CoQ10. Supplementing with CoQ10 can help people on statins to maintain healthy levels of CoQ10 which can prevent developing diabetes.

After a Heart Attack

Studies have found that taking CoQ10 within 72 hours from experiencing a heart attack and continuing supplementation for a year after can significantly decrease the chances of suffering a subsequent heart attack.

If you are at risk of developing heart disease, maintaining heart health with a CoQ10 is an important option to discuss with your doctor. While you can get CoQ10 through your diet with foods like organ meats and lentils, it may be best to ensure that you are getting the effective amounts through a supplement.