Dementias, including Alzheimer ’s disease, are associated with debilitating memory loss. Inside the body, as memory loss becomes greater, inflammation increases. Inflammation can be likened to a fire, which needs fuel and oxygen. Following this example inside the body, the wood feeding the fire is high stress, poor diet and little exercise. The oxygen fanning the flames comes in the form of uncontrolled free radicals and high levels of insulin. Here are four simple ways to take charge and put out the smoldering coals in the brain before they catch fire:

1. Balance Blood Sugar—You can control the inflammation in your body by simply keeping blood sugar constant. Eat a meal or snack every three to four hours that includes a protein source. Choose appropriate portions of low glycemic foods as carbohydrate sources such as green vegetables and whole grains. Most important, choose foods that are unprocessed or minimally processed.
2. Take Antioxidants—In combination with an active lifestyle, antioxidants are the best defenders against dementia. There are many important antioxidants and it is important to have all of them in your diet or supplement regime. Coenzyme Q10 is especially important as it has been shown to increase brain function in those with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s related dementias and helps the heart muscle function appropriately. CoQ10 is fascinating because it is a vitamin that is used at the end of the body’s process for making energy, called the Kreb’s cycle. Without Coenzyme Q10, the oxygen used to make energy would create even more free radicals and cause increased inflammation.
3. Use the Brains You Have—An extensive web of brain connections is critical in protecting functional memory. The more connections you have, the less likely you will miss one if it disappears. The best way to increase or maintain these connections is to turn off the TV and continually learn. Learning can occur in many ways including: taking a class or taking on a new responsibility/skill at work; playing games, crosswords or cards; reading a book.
4. Healthy Fats—Fish Oils not only improve brain connectivity but also help decrease inflammation when in taken combination with GLA, an anti-inflammatory omega 6 oil. Nordic Naturals Omega 3-6-9 contains a good ratio of fish (EPA/DHA) to GLA fatty acids for brain health.

Anti-aging is a buzz word in holistic communities. How do we turn another calendar year older and have our bodies act, feel—and most importantly—look like we are in our 20’s or 30’s? But do we really want to re-live our 20’s and 30’s or are we just trying to avoid the negative images of aging?

We never want to end up with:

• Wrinkles
• Low energy
• Frailness
• A chronic disease (i.e. heart disease or diabetes)
• Memory problems such as dementia or Alzheimer’s

There are many ways to decrease the risks negative symptoms of aging and one of them happens to be by using Coenzyme Q10. The main function of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is as an antioxidant in making energy (specifically in the form of ATP, the energy molecule) in the body. If we imagine that ATP is gasoline that the body makes for energy, the role of CoQ10 will become clear. To make gasoline with CoQ10 our body spends 2 gallons of gas to produce 38 gallons. Without CoQ10 our body spends the same 2 gallons of gas but only makes 8 gallons. The added energy provided by CoQ10 allows each individual cell to do their job better, but it also helps energize the body as a whole. A little extra energy goes a long way when we are trying to accomplish a multitude of things or just trying to survive the day.

Much of the CoQ10 is made and used by the muscles. It helps keep them alive and working. When our muscles have energy they can exercise more effectively and stay stronger as we age. Many studies have noted that those who maintain lean muscle mass as they age resist the negative side effects of aging particularly frailty, falling, and poorly working heart muscles.

As an antioxidant CoQ10 is a great tool to protect against skin damage and correct damage if it has already occurred. Skin damage is an important risk factor in increased wrinkles. Oral use of CoQ10 has the benefit of being available to your skin on an as-needed basis. Topical CoQ10 products must be reapplied several times a day, like sunscreen. Those who eat an antioxidant-rich diet and take antioxidant supplements have less damage seen on their skin even if sun exposure is more than optimal.

Last but certainly not least, CoQ10 protects against neurological damage caused by oxidative stress (what antioxidants protect against) including where the energy of the cells has been produced without CoQ10. Following our gasoline example above, this means that brain cells had to live too long on 8 gallons of gas instead of 38 gallons. Can you imagine running on low gas for years? Maybe it’s time to be able to fill up the tank again!

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.

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!