What is CoQ10 & What Does it Do?
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a natural enzyme that we make in our bodies, and it is also an enzyme that we can get from various foods. Plus, like many other enzymes, if we don’t get enough we can use supplements to increase the amount that is inside of our bodies. However, what does CoQ10 do for the body and why do we need so much of it?
CoQ10 is found in every cell of the body, and it is a powerful antioxidant, which has a lot of benefits on its own. There are particles inside of the body known as free radicals, and they are harmful whenever their levels become too high inside the body. Then they start attacking the body and damaging cells, while also causing several illnesses.
The more antioxidants and CoQ10 that you have inside of the body, the less damage the free radicals can cause. You need a lot of it, and whether you get it from food or supplements, it can do a lot to help keep your body healthy. Here are some of the benefits it can give your body.
What Can CoQ10 Do To Your Body?
It Can Support The Body After Heart Attacks And Heart Failure
Some clinical studies have shown that taking CoQ10 after a heart attack can reduce the chest pain, as well as the risk of subsequent heart attacks as well. Additionally, the risk of death from heart failure was reduced as well. If you also have congestive heart failure, then the low blood pumping of your heart can be caused by low CoQ10 levels in your body.
Heart failure can also lead to blood pooling in the lungs and legs, as well as other parts of the body. However, studies have shown that CoQ10 supplements can reduce swelling, the pooling of blood, and it can reduce the shortness of breath as well.
Now, to be clear some of the studies have shown that CoQ10 had no effect on the symptoms of heart failure as well, and it is recommended that CoQ10 supplements be taken in addition to conventional forms of medication as well.
It Can Reduce High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol
If you suffer from high blood pressure, then after a few weeks (around 4 to 12), you might notice that CoQ10 has affected your blood pressure and brought it down to acceptable levels. Many researchers have stated that CoQ10 has the potential to lower systolic blood pressure by up to 17 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 10 mm Hg. The study did involve small numbers of people though, so make sure you are talking to your doctor and not seeking to treat your blood pressure yourself.
Additionally, if you have high cholesterol, then you often have low levels of CoQ10 to go with it, and CoQ10 is proposed as a treatment for high cholesterol. Additionally, if you are on Statin Therapy to reduce your cholesterol, there can be some pretty severe side effects that can stop people from continuing with their Statin therapy. However, taking CoQ10 supplements is enough to reduce the muscle pain and fatigue that comes with the statin therapy as well.
It Can Improve Heart Health Before Surgery and During Chemotherapy Treatment
If you need to have heart surgery at all, studies have shown that introducing CoQ10 before a heart surgery, such as a bypass surgery or a heart transplant, will help to reduce damage and strengthen the heart function. It can also prevent irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) while you are in the midst of recovering from the surgery.
If you are taking chemotherapy treatments, certain drugs can cause heart damage during the treatment. However, some studies have shown that CoQ10 can prevent heart damage caused by chemotherapy related drugs, although for both of these more studies are needed. Always talk to a doctor or healthcare provider before you start taking any additional supplements before surgery or while dealing with chemotherapy.
How To Take CoQ10
If you are taking medical CoQ10, then you can have it in several forms, and it really depends on what form you want to take the medication in. For example, you can take your CoQ10 in soft gel capsules, hard shell capsules, tablets, or even as an oral spray. Just make sure to take it with food, as it is fat soluble and is better when taken with a full meal. Plus, it will certainly help you in remembering your dose!
As long as you listen to your healthcare provider and take the correct dosage at the correct time, you will be all good. Then you can start to see all the coq10 benefits in your life, not the least of which is going to be some amazing health!
