Coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone, is a substance with antioxidant properties and essential for energy production in cellular mitochondria, being essential for the functioning of the body.
In addition to being produced in the body, coenzyme Q10 can also be obtained by eating foods such as bean sprouts, almonds, peanuts, walnuts, green vegetables such as spinach or broccoli, poultry, meat and fatty fish, for example.
- It is very important to maintain healthy levels of this enzyme.
- Due to the functions it performs in the body and the benefits it presents.
- Some of the benefits of coenzyme Q10 are:.
Coenzyme Q10 is essential to produce energy (ATP) in cells, essential for body functioning and for effective exercise. In addition, it reduces oxidative stress, which affects muscle function, improves performance and reduces fatigue.
Coenzyme Q10 prevents the formation of ateroscleric plaques in the arteries, responsible for the development of cardiovascular disease and contributes to the improvement of heart function.
Some people with high cholesterol, who take medications such as a statin, may experience a decrease in coenzyme Q10 as a side effect. In these cases, it is important to strengthen your intake with food or supplements.
For its antioxidant properties, coenzyme Q10, when applied to the skin, helps protect it from oxidative damage caused by free radicals, as well as providing energy. In addition, the coenzyme Q10 contained in the creams also helps protect against sun damage and the development of skin cancer.
As age advances, coenzyme Q10 levels tend to decrease and make cells more susceptible to oxidative damage, especially the brain, due to the presence of high levels of fatty acids and oxygen.
Thus, coenzyme Q10 supplementation helps restore healthy levels of this molecule, providing energy to brain cells and preventing oxidative damage, thus preventing the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
As already mentioned, with advanced age, levels of coenzyme Q10 in the body decrease, leaving you more prone to oxidative damage, more specifically, sperm and eggs. For example, coenzyme Q10 supplementation may help improve fertility, as they have been shown to protect sperm and male eggs in women from oxidative damage.
Due to its antioxidant properties, coenzyme Q10 helps protect cellular DNA from oxidative damage, aiding in cancer prevention.
Some of the foods rich in coenzyme Q10 are
It is important for the person to know that to enjoy the benefits of coenzyme Q10, these foods must be integrated into a healthy and varied diet, discover other foods rich in antioxidants.
In some cases, when recommended by your doctor or nutritionist, it may be beneficial to take coenzyme Q10 supplements, which you can easily find at pharmacies. There are different supplements that contain coenzyme Q10, which may contain only this substance, or be combined with other vitamins and minerals, such as Reaox Q10 or Vitafor Q10, for example.
Generally, the recommended dose can vary between 50 mg and 200 mg per day, or at the discretion of the doctor.
In addition, there are already creams with coenzyme Q10 in the composition, which help prevent premature aging of the skin.