Today I wanted to tell you about an important player in our bodies that you might not know about. I’m talking about Coenzyme Q10 or C0Q10. Even if you’ve never heard of it before, this enzyme is hugely important for many of our body’s normal daily functions. If you don’t already know, recent studies are showing that CoQ10 decreases blood sugar, decreases Hemoglobin A1C, alters insulin sensitivity, and many more benefits. Here’s a few more research-confirmed benefits from having the appropriate amounts of CoQ10 in our bodies:
- Sustains Natural Energy
- Reduces Free Radical Damage
- Can Improve Heart Health and Offset Effects of Statin Drugs
- Slows Down Effects of Aging (Including Skin Changes)
- Protect Against Cancer
- Protect Cognitive Health
- Could Improve Male Infertility
- Helps Treat Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Now I know, you might be saying to yourself, “I’ve never heard of this and it doesn’t sound very natural.” That’s because the world of science is very slow. CoQ10 was actually discovered in the 50’s. It is an essential nutrient that exists in every living animal on our planet. CoQ10 works like an antioxidant, meaning it eliminates bad things from our systems. CoQ10 is most present in the tissues of our hearts, livers, kidneys, and pancreas, living in the mitochondria of those cells.
I know I might’ve lost some of you with that last little section so here are some natural food sources that contain CoQ10:
- Grass-fed beef
- Herring
- Free-range chicken
- Rainbow trout
- Sesame seeds
- Pistachio nuts
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Cage-free eggs
- Sardines
- Mackerel
- Organ meats, like giblets and liver
One of the studies I mentioned above is from the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. This study tested the significance of determining if supplementing with CoQ10 would improve blood sugar control in patients with diabetes.
The researchers involved diabetic women and gave them 100 mg of CoQ10 vs. placebo for 12 weeks. At the conclusion of the 12 weeks, blood pressure was reduced in the CoQ10-treated group compared to the placebo group. What was more surprising was the fasting blood sugar and insulin sensitivity was also improved in the CoQ10 group.
CoQ10 deficiency is associated with many health problems, and supplementing with CoQ10 has been shown to help with heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, migraine headaches, and statin-induced muscle aches and pains.
CoQ10 is also very safe. I’ll routinely have patients take 100 mg to 300 mg per day. However it is important to check there are no adverse side effects with medications you’re currently taking.