CoQ10: What Your Health Regimen Might Be Missing

If you think your diet, exercise, and supplements are getting the job done, you better be darn sure you’re including CoQ10. This miracle nutrient has been shown to help ward off heart disease and cancer . . . making enemies with two of the biggest killers around. So why are you missing out?

Why is CoQ10 So Important?

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10 for short, is found in almost every cell in the body; and it’s quite the powerful antioxidant. While I’m sure you’re familiar with the term, what exactly does an antioxidant do?

Antioxidants act like tiny warriors, fighting particles called free radicals, which can cause a whole host of ills in your system. Free radicals contribute to aging, heart disease, and even cancer. The good news? CoQ10 has been found to help neutralize these pesky bugs and even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

And that cache for cardiac care is turning some heads in the research field.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, studies have shown that CoQ10 supplements could help address (and prevent) things like heart failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and more. Volunteers who took daily doses within three days of a heart attack were less likely to have subsequent issues and/or chest pain. And if taken before heart surgery, there is research indicating a reduction in the damage caused by free radicals, strengthened heart function, and a lesser possibility of arrhythmias during the recovery phase.

More research, revealed in an article from the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, showed the endogenous antioxidant has the potential to be used to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and heart failure.

CoQ10 and Cancer

Your heart isn’t the only thing benefiting from CoQ10. The first tie-in with cancer came when researchers realized Coenzyme Q10 shows the ability to stimulate the immune system and protect the heart from damage caused by chemotherapy drugs.

Specifically, supplements like BioQ8 have presented evidence that suggests analogs of the compound can suppress cancer growth directly, while also aiding anti-cancer activity through its effects on the immune system. To get scientific, analogs, or similar substances, have been shown to inhibit the proliferation and growth of cancer cells transplanted into rats and mice.

That has caused more than a few medical professionals to start touting the benefits of a CoQ10 regimen.

Adding It to Your Day

So . . . if you’ve been looking for the next big thing in holistic medicine, it may already be upon us. If you’re focusing on your diet, staying healthy with exercise and activity, and taking supplements that are proven to improve the quality of your life, why not add an agent that fights heart disease and cancer . . . with a few other unconfirmed tricks up its sleeves.

Because if you could knock two of the biggest killers off the block, that’s a no-brainer. Just ask the cast of “Alien vs. Predator.”


Cited Sources

"Disclaimer." University of Maryland Medical Center. N.p., 2011. Web. 14 Aug. 2012. <http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/coenzyme-q10-000295.htm>.

Sarter, Barbara. "Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing." Coenzyme Q10 and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review. N.p., July 2002. Web. 14 Aug. 2012. <http://journals.lww.com/jcnjournal/Abstract/2002/07000/Coenzyme_Q10_and_Cardiovascular_Disease__A_Review.3.aspx>.

"National Cancer Institute." Coenzyme Q10 (PDQ®) -. N.p., 10 Aug. 2012. Web. 14 Aug. 2012. <http://cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/coenzymeQ10/healthprofessional/allpages>.

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