In last week’s blog, we announced that Marilyn Farms now carries CoQ10 in two different dosages. This week, I thought it would be important to discuss how the benefits of each dosage. Please note that this is not an indication for these specific products, but for CoQ10 in general as a compound.

The benefits of 30 mg of CoQ10 daily:

• Recommended by some scientists as a supplement for anyone over 40 years old, since CoQ10 production in the body declines as we age.
• Especially recommended for people on low-dose statin therapy, or those on blood pressure medications such as Atenolol.

The benefits of 100 mg of CoQ10 daily:

• Recommended for those with neurological issues, eye issues, or premature wrinkling of skin.
• Especially recommended for people on high-dose statin therapy.
• May be beneficial for those with heart disease.
• Suggested for anyone with a history of cancer.

There is currently no contraindication for CoQ10 and it has been shown to be beneficial in doses all the way up to 1200 mg per day for people with severe neurological issues such as Parkinson’s disease.

NOTE: As with any nutritional supplement, please consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner prior to making it a part of your routine—especially if you are taking prescription medications. This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

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

Vitamin E (in my humble opinion) is one of the most misunderstood nutrients out there. Here are a few helpful facts about the different forms of vitamin E that are intended both to educate you on this important nutrient and make you more interesting to talk to at parties. Enjoy!

• There is a huge difference between natural and synthetic vitamin E, and most supplement companies do not clearly label whether you are buying natural or synthetic versions. To be sure you are buying natural vitamin E, turn the bottle around and look for d-alpha tocopherol, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate, or d-alpha tocopheryl succinate on the label. Synthetic vitamin E carries the prefix “dl”.
• While your body can use both natural and synthetic vitamin E, natural vitamin E contains the molecular form that is most efficiently used. It takes three times as much synthetic vitamin E to achieve the blood levels achieved by natural and your body gets rid of synthetic vitamin E three times faster than natural.
• “Vitamin E” actually covers an entire family of antioxidants: four tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-) and four tocotrienols (alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-). Alpha-tocopherol is the most commonly found supplemental form of vitamin E because it is the form that is actively maintained in large quantities by the body and therefore appears to have the most significance to human health.
• Gamma-tocopherol, the form of vitamin E that is maintained in the second largest quantities in the body, has been found to have potent antioxidant qualities in test tube studies but its specific function in the human body is still not completely clear. A 2000 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that increased blood levels of alpha-tocopherol and adequate tissue levels of selenium significantly reduced the risk for developing prostate cancer but only when blood levels of gamma-tocopherol were also high.
• Vitamin E in all forms can effectively decrease blood clotting by platelets—an important benefit in the prevention of heart attack and stroke, but this also makes it an extremely important thing to communicate to your doctor prior to taking vitamin E if you are on blood thinners or are planning to undergo surgery.

For more information on vitamin E, including dosage, food sources, and vitamin E’s role in cardiovascular health, prevention of cataracts, diabetes, and other interesting interactions please see the Linus Pauling Micronutrient Information Center’s entry on vitamin E.

Study reference: Helzlsouer, et. Al. “Association between alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, selenium, and subsequent prostate cancer.” J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000 Dec 20;92(24):2018-23.

Hawthorne, the main ingredient in our Heart Health tincture, is an herb that is most commonly indicated for—you guessed it—heart health. Below are just a few of the amazing benefits of hawthorne.

Hawthorne:

• Is reported to increase the body’s ability to utilize oxygen, which can in turn improve athletic performance.
• Is the source of a compound that strengthens blood vessels—so much so that hawthorne extract is currently being studied for its use in diminishing varicose veins.
• May help the heart to use calcium more efficiently, resulting in a more even and controlled heartbeat.
• Has been found to have a mild blood pressure lowering effect without the side effects commonly found in other agents used to lower blood pressure.
• Contains flavonoids that may protect blood vessels and heart muscle from damage.

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.

There are simple things that you can do to ensure that you live free from the common ailments that afflict much of the world today, such as heart disease and stroke. Just like taking care of your car, preventive maintenance for your body is an important component of living a healthy lifestyle.

One of the greatest ways that you can keep your body tuned up is to optimize your circulation system. The easiest way to do this is to move your body. We are all descendants of cave men that had to “use it or lose it” if they wanted to stay alive.  Although we don’t have to run after our food to catch it these days, we are not much different from them in that our bodies are built to move vigorously and consistently.

Another way to help your circulation system is to include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet and if you’re going to eat meat and dairy products make sure they are organic and not full of pesticides, antibiotics and hormones.

A third way to keep your circulation system free from all blockages is to take a great herbal heart tincture as a regular tonic, such as MFC’s  “Heart Health”.  From the description: “The herbs in this formula have been known to help reduce the risk of heart attack, regulate cardiac rhythm and generally tone the circulatory system.”
 
Remember, maintenance is what you do on a regular basis, even when nothing’s wrong with your car — or your body.

Information on the herbs in Heart Health:

-Hawthorne, known to ancients as the traditional “heart herb”, helps to promote a steady heartbeat and is coupled with other powerful heart-healthy herbs to help reduce cholesterol as well. Hawthorne strengthens the heart and promotes a strong, regular heartbeat. In addition, Hawthorne may help reduce chest pain and arrhythmia and prevent stress-related heart attacks.
-Garlic affects the circulatory system by lowering blood levels of sugar and LDL (harmful cholesterol). Garlic may also reduce blood pressure and raise the level of HDL (good cholesterol).
-Motherwort is an all-purpose heart tonic, helping to regulate the heartbeat.
-Gingko leaf has antioxidant properties, enhances heart efficiency and gradually tones blood vessels.
-Red clover blossoms have an inherent ability to remove toxic waste from the blood.
-Ginger root and Cayenne pepper are two of the best-known circulatory and herbal cardiac tonics.
-Cactus grandiflora, a cardiac tonic and regulator, increases the heart s ability to pump stronger without increasing the heart’s oxygen demand.

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!