Co-Enzyme Q10 – You Need It!by
Margaret Durst Previously by Margaret Durst: Raw Apple Cider Vinegar – Good for Just About Anything!
Coenzyme Q10 provides energy for the body’s cell growth and maintenance. It is a valuable antioxidant that is normally produced by all cells in the body, but is much more abundant in the heart, liver and immune system. As we age, our ability to produce Co Q10 seems to decline. Low levels of Co Q10 have been linked to several chronic diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, congestive heart failure, and cardiovascular disease. Low levels of Co Q10 are also linked to people with severe allergies, auto immune disorders and muscular dystrophy. There are a number of scientific studies showing that Co Q10 may be effective against diseases such as heart disease, heart failure, breast cancer, Parkinson’s, high blood pressure, and Alzheimer’s. For the cardiovascular system, Co Q10 stabilizes heartbeat in arrhythmia patients, prevents atherosclerosis in the arteries by preventing oxidation of LDL cholesterol, improves blood circulation, assists the heart to function normally in the presence of blood clots, alleviates congestive heart failure, improves 91% of heart attack patients within 30 days of initial Co Q10 supplementation, lowers blood pressure, improves the heart’s ability to survive and produce energy in limited oxygen situations, helps to prevent stroke, counteracts the toxic effects of ischemia on the brain and heart, and normalizes heart function in mitral valve prolapse patients.
For the immune system, Co Q10 can double the body’s level of protective antibodies, alleviate allergies, suppress proliferation of cancer cells, boost immune system chemicals that attack cancer cells, increase the body’s resistance to virus, and greatly enhance the general function of the immune system. In terms of metabolism, Co Q10 increases energy production in the body improving athletic performance and also alleviating chronic fatigue syndrome. Co Q10 also helps to reduce blood sugar levels by 20 to 36 percent in diabetes patients. The nervous system is another area benefiting significantly from Co Q10 supplementation. Nervous system disorders helped by Co Q10 include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia. For those of you without a chronic disease, Co Q10 retards the aging process within the brain and increases energy within the brain. Benefits of Co Q10 are not limited to the inside of the body. Co Q10 also helps the skin and is an effective therapy for psoriasis. Topical Co Q10 improves the visual appearance of the skin and helps to prevent and treat wrinkles. For supplementation, soft gels (as opposed to dry capsule form) are better utilized in the body. The latest trend in Co Q10 is Ubiquinol, which is what the body makes when we take ordinary Co Q10 or ubiquinone. Ubiquinol is more expensive per milligram than the ubiquinone form or Co Q10, but each milligram of ubiquinol is equivalent to 2-10 times the same amount of Co Q10. Buy the largest milligram you can afford. The clinical trials tend to use 100 to 150 milligrams per day, with some of the studies using 200 to 1200 milligrams depending on the condition. Note that CoQ10 is one of the supplements where quality really matters. Cheap CoQ10 tends to be crystallized and not useful to the body. Instead of wasting your money on the cheap stuff, buy quality to get the benefits of this incredible supplement.
July 4, 2012 Margaret Durst owns The Green House, a vitamin, herb and health food store in Mason, Texas. Copyright © 2012 Margaret Durst
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