By: Esther Vasa
"CoQ10 is intimately involved in the production of energy at the cellular level. Keep in mind that you are only as healthy as your cells and you can only have the energy you need if you can produce CoQ10 in the cell's mitochondria (those little "power factories" you learned about in biology). CoQ10 is fat soluble so take it with your fish oil for even better absorption. If you really want a boost in micro-circulation for cold feet and hands, take it with butcher's broom." -- Craig Stellpflug
 |
| CoQ10 in the Mitochondria |
Check the figure to understand where CoQ10 resides in a cell. Your mitochondria needs CoQ10 to create ATP (Adenosine TriPhosphate). ATP is the "currency" for energy and not the energy itself; energy is stored in the bonds between the phosphate groups and is released when the third phosphate bond is created. When the third phosphate group of ATP is removed by hydrolysis, a substantial amount of free energy is released. The exact amount depends on the conditions. You can think of ATP as a BATTERY that gets charged, and as soon as it is charged, it sets off a spark of energy that can be used to do work, which is "metabolic reactions" in the human body.
So, for healthy cells CoQ10 is a must. As we age, CoQ10 decreases and we need to supplement it. For people like me who can never imagine eating organ meats, supplement is inevitable.
To understand all the health benefits of CoQ10, please check Elna Botes van Schalkwyk's post on CoQ10 and Health Benefits.
