This month we are focusing on CoQ10, our most recently added product. I thought it would be useful to share some of the science behind how CoQ10 is produced in the body.

CoQ10 is made in all cells of the body in varying quantities and is necessary for the synthesis of ATP, the source of energy that fuels the biochemical processes of life. Research indicates that the average person requires a daily replacement of approximately 500 mg of CoQ10. Even more may be needed in people who expend more biochemical energy on a daily basis whether due to disease processes such as diabetes and neurological issues or due to excessive stress and over-exertion. Most people only obtain about 5 mg per day of CoQ10 from food, so the rest is made up from the body’s own endogenous production. CoQ10 synthesis requires at least seven known vitamins (B2, B3, B5, B6, folic acid, and C) so a deficiency in any one of these nutrients can slow production of CoQ10. There’s one more reason to eat a nutrient dense diet! The biochemical pathway that produces CoQ10 is closely intertwined with the pathway that produces cholesterol, so those on cholesterol-lowering medications (particularly statins, which directly block this pathway) are particularly vulnerable to CoQ10 deficiency. To help boost your levels of CoQ10, be sure to eat a balanced whole foods diet to encourage your body’s own production of this important nutrient, and consider adding a CoQ10 supplement.

For more on the science behind CoQ10 including clinical recommendations, pharmacology, and research-based indications see the article Coenzyme Q10 from the journal American Family Physician.

NOTE: This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner. If you are on prescription medications and/or are under the care of a physician, please consult with them before taking nutritional supplements.

We at Marilyn Farms are excited to announce the addition of two new CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10) supplements to our product line: CoQ10—30, in a 30 mg dosage and CoQ10—100, in 100 mg dosage. CoQ10 is a potent antioxidant of all fatty body tissues, especially the heart, brain, and kidneys. It is also important in energy production occurring in the mitochondria (the energy powerhouses) of the cells. There are few foods that contain CoQ10 in considerable amounts, but organ meats are one of the richest sources. Natural production of CoQ10 declines with age. Here are a few of the many amazing benefits of CoQ10:

• CoQ10 is one of the most widely used anti-aging supplements.  Its strong antioxidant properties have been indicated to be useful in treating and preventing ailments associated with aging including joint pain and skin wrinkles.
• Deficiency in CoQ10 is strongly associated with weakness and fatigue, as well as chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. For people taking cholesterol-lowering statin medications, an unfortunate and inevitable side effect is interference of CoQ10 metabolism, often causing symptoms of fatigue and aching muscles called rhabdomyolysis. Many scientists recommend taking at least 30 mg of CoQ10 daily when taking a statin drug.
• Heart muscle is especially rich in CoQ10. The relationship between heart muscle cells and CoQ10 is so important that CoQ10 can actually help to reverse damage in heart muscle due to heart attack!
• Adequate levels of CoQ10 in the bloodstream prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Oxidized cholesterol, not necessarily just cholesterol itself, is most likely to stick to vessel walls and cause problems.
• CoQ10 helps to protect the nervous system. Research has shown very strong results in CoQ10’s ability to protect against the slow deterioration and oxidative stress on nerves, the brain, and the eye (especially the optic nerve). CoQ10 has been found to be beneficial for those with Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, and Alzheimer’s. It may also be protective against the process of developing cancer.

• CoQ10 is especially important in maintaining oral health. Deficiency in CoQ10 is associated with gum disease

It’s February—happy American Heart Month! Here are five important (yet simple) dietary ways to love your heart. Enjoy!

1.     Eat six to eight servings of colorful vegetables each day (a serving of vegetables is half a cup). Choose fresh, frozen, or home canned (in glass jars) over canned vegetables in metal cans. Eat a variety of colors to be sure you’re getting an assortment of nutrients—the compounds that make vegetables colorful actually have different health benefits! Vegetables can be easily and healthfully enjoyed raw, lightly steamed with olive oil or grassfed butter, or stir-fried with your favorite protein source.

2.    Eat two to three cloves of garlic daily, or if you’re not a fan of garlic take a daily garlic supplement in pill form. Garlic contains compounds which have been shown to reduce the formation of unwanted blood clots—an important benefit in preventing heart attack and stroke.

3.    Eat two tablespoons of raw walnuts each day. Walnuts are significantly higher than other nuts in omega 3 fats, the type of fat that has been shown to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. They taste great on their own as a snack, or can be chopped up and served over oatmeal or salads.

4.    Eat one tablespoon of cold pressed olive oil daily. Olive oil is a rich source of antioxidants and monounsaturated fat, two key ingredients that have been found to keep cholesterol levels in balance and prevent heart disease.

5.     Eat small, clean fish twice per week. Fish contains protein and heart-healthy fats that fight inflammation. Smaller varieties of fish contain less mercury than larger fish. See www.gotmercury.org for a list of healthy fish choices.

Most people know that Vitamin C is great for colds, but did you also know that it plays a tremendous role in heart health? With our focus this month on healthy hearts I thought it would be fun to share a few facts regarding this incredible supplement.

- Vitamin C helps prevent arterial inflammation and plaque.

- It helps enhance the body’s level of natural glutathione (glutathione is a potent free-radical scavenger known to prevent coronary artery disease.)

 - Vitamin C is crucial for the synthesis of collagen, a part of the connective tissue that strengthens your blood vessel walls. When these walls become irritated they are more likely to allow plaque build-up, permitting noxious toxins to cause inflammatory reactions in the vascular lining.

- Helps repair connective tissue and cartilage thereby contributing to healthy blood vessels.

- At higher doses Vitamin C can help patients coping with arterial fibrillation (AF), the most common kind of arrhythmia.

So, how much Vitamin C is safe to take on a daily basis?

- Most research supports Vitamin C intake of around 200 to 300 mg per day, which for the average person is definitely in the safe zone. In fact, for many people doses below 1,000 mg are probably safe although the research is not as conclusive for this intake level.

- Some researchers, such as the great Linus Pauling, suggest 10,000 mg or more daily for optimum health.  For instructions on determining your own need see our blog on the Vitamin C Flush.

Excellent food sources of vitamin C include: parsley, broccoli, bell pepper, strawberries, oranges, lemon juice, papaya, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, and Brussels sprouts. Marilyn Farms also offers Vitamin C in a variety of formulas including chewable, powder, and Vitamin C 1000. tablets. Visit our website to learn more and take advantage of our February special on this heart-healthy supplement.

Red yeast rice is a type of yeast that has been found to be, in many cases, as effective as statins to lower cholesterol without the negative side effects.  Below is a link to a Discovery Health article that discusses the benefits of red yeast rice in more detail. 

http://health.discovery.com/centers/althealth/cholesterol/cholesterol.html

Red yeast rice can be found in Omega LDL, along with Coenzyme Q10 and fish oil, two compounds that are vital to heart health!

For this week’s entry, I thought to share with you a few interesting facts about cholesterol that will be covered in more detail at our webinar this Saturday (to register click here).  Here they are!

 People with higher cholesterol are more likely to live longer, healthier lives than their counterparts with low cholesterol.
 Cholesterol is absolutely necessary for memory and learning, which may be why two common side effects of statin therapy are memory loss and cognitive decline.
 People with low cholesterol are more likely to experience mood disorders such as depression and exhibit violent behavior.  In fact, some researchers attribute the rise in domestic violence and child abuse over the past 30 years to the increased use of cholesterol-lowering medication.
 Exposure to heavy metals is usually followed by a rise in blood cholesterol, possibly because cholesterol acts as a “raft” to get toxins out of the body quickly.
 Every cell in your body makes cholesterol.  In fact, only 15% of cholesterol in your body comes from your food – the rest of it is synthesized by your body because it is that important!
 Fatty plaques in the arteries are actually a sign that there is underlying inflammation in the body.  Cholesterol rises as a response to this inflammation to try to repair damaged portions of blood vessel walls – cholesterol is NOT the root cause of artery plaques, inflammation is!
 If you are stressed about the results of your cholesterol test, it is likely that your results will be higher than they would be if you weren’t stressed.  Stress causes cholesterol levels to rise, and they may not return to normal for 24 hours or more.   
NOTE: Please talk to your physician before making any dietary or supplement changes.  This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

Here is a great website that was brought to my attention by a fellow researcher:

www.cholesterol-and-health.com

I highly encourage you to look at this website, which gives an accurate view of the benefits of cholesterol.  For more info, please tune into our webinar, “The Truth About Cholesterol,” which will air on Saturday May 16th. 

To register click here.

In late December Marilyn Farms held our first Ask the Nutritionist Webinar with Jessica Forbes, MS CCN.  We had many great questions on a variety of topics including food allergies, blood type diets, bone health, saturated fats, and cholesterol just to name a few.

If you weren’t able to join us live in December, or if you did join us and want to review the information again, you now have the opportunity to download the webinar file and listen to our hour long session of questions and answers. We know you’ll find Ask the Nutritionist chocked full of amazing bits of education and knowledge to help you take continued steps in your journey for health.

Happy listening!

2008-12-20 Ask the Nutritionist.mp3