by Melissa Chichester
The human body is pretty incredible when you take a look at all of the nutrients that help us flourish throughout our lives. One of those amazing nutrients is coenzyme Q10 (Co Q-10), a fat-soluble substance naturally found and produced by the human body. This is one of the most important components of the body when it comes to helping you age gracefully.*
Concentrated in the heart, kidneys, liver, and pancreas, Co Q-10 is an essential component to health, as it is needed by every cell in the body. Co Q-10 acts as an antioxidant in the body as it fights free radicals that contribute to aging and cell damage.* The active form of Co Q-10 is called ubiquinol. All animals (and this includes humans) can create Co Q-10. Some people have a little more trouble than others producing this coenzyme, and with age, it can naturally decline.
Knowing about where Co Q-10 is found in the body, it probably isn’t surprising that common food sources of this nutrient are organ meats, like hearts, livers, and kidneys. There are other food sources of Co Q-10, including beef, chicken, pork, sardines, soybean oil, oranges, and spinach.
One of the major roles of Co Q-10 is that it assists with converting food into energy in the body.* This energy is what helps to fuel our bodies, something we don’t always think about on a daily basis, especially since this process begins deep within our cells, inside of the mitochondria. You might remember from science class that mitochondria are known as the “powerhouses” of our cells. This means that they act like microscopic digestive systems within our cells, converting food into nutrients the body can use. Co Q-10 also helps other enzymes properly do their jobs. This process has a chain reaction that positively influences other parts of the body, including the heart.*
Most people already know Co Q-10 plays a role in supporting heart health.* It also plays a part of the energy production process within the heart and muscles. In addition to Co Q-10 promoting cardiovascular wellness, it also helps maintain normal blood pressure levels already within a normal range.*
Because Co Q-10 declines with age, some individuals over the age of 40 may have trouble maintaining levels of this enzyme. This is especially true for people taking statin medications.
Statin medications are typically prescribed to people with high cholesterol, and they tend to lower Co Q-10 levels in the body.
Co Q-10 supplements may counteract this impact from statin medications and help replenish Co Q-10 levels in the body.*+
Co Q-10 truly keeps the body nourished from the inside out! In addition to serving as an antioxidant for cells, Co Q-10 is an ingredient in many skincare products and serves as an aging biomarker for the skin. Every day, the skin is exposed to stress from the environment, the foods we eat, sweat, and more. These external factors can influence the health of the skin. The antioxidant properties of Co Q-10 may help skin maintain its radiance as it ages when a Co Q-10 cream is applied topically.
+Note: Coenzyme Q-10 is not intended to serve as a replacement for Statin therapy, nor should you discontinue taking any prescribed medications while supplementing with Coenzyme Q-10.
