Sunday, November 1, 2009

COQ10 - The Heart Health Antioxidant

Donna Barnett, your "rhyming RN" is back again - this time with COQ10, also known as Coquinone. This is a very critical antioxidant for complete cardiovascular health.

All cells need energy to function. The mitochondria within the cell is where energy is produced. The cells then store the energy in a molecule called ATP. COQ10 is essential in the making of ATP. Heart cells have the highest need for energy and thus have the highest levels of COQ10.

COQ10 is also needed for antioxidant duty, because free radicals naturally occur during the making of energy in the mitochondria.

As we age, our levels of COQ10 decrease. The use of Statin drugs, illness, inadequate levels of Vitamins B, C and Selenium and excessive exercise can also deplete your levels.

In addition, COQ10 works with Vitamin E to increase HDL cholesterol levels. For more information on COQ10 and its significant relationship with Statin drugs, I urge you to read, The Cholesterol Conspiracy, by Dr. Ladd MCNamara. He contends that the muscle aches patients often experience while taking Statin drugs, is do to the depletion of COQ10. If you would like to know how to purchase this excellent book, contact me.

As with all the other antioxidants/vitamins I blog and rhyme about, please buy only supplements that are GMP standard, and guaranteed for potency, quality, manufactuing and bioavailability (how well they are absorbed). Contact me for more information and for what I take.

To your health!