The secret in your cells
Some of the tiniest components of the body can make a huge difference to our wellbeing.
Imagine that your body is made up of about 50 trillion cells and imagine that each cell is a circle. Every cell (circle) in your body is powered by small organelles called mitochondria. Imagine mitochondria represented by a mouse. These mice are essentially the energy factories of the human body. They take glucose from the food you eat and oxygen from the air you breathe and convert them into the energy in your cells.
Mitochondria are one of the most important components of a cell. Without them, many crucial biochemical processes simply would not happen. Not only do they host cellular respiration, the process by which our bodies convert food into energy for the cell, they also send signals to other components of the cell.
As they are so intricately involved in many different biochemical reactions, they tend to generate free radicals as byproducts.
While free radicals do have some important benefits when present in the right numbers, the overproduction of free radicals can lead to the cell being damaged.
Unfortunately, in this world of ours, over-production commonly occurs – to put it simply – due to ‘‘pollution’’. Pollution that we breathe, eat and drink, and that we absorb through our skin.
Essentially, the ageing process, exposure to environmental toxins, nasty chemicals and pollution, as well as a poor diet can all lead to increased levels of free radicals in the body.
Alternatively, this pollution can cause or lead to an underproduction of our body’s own antioxidants, such as coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10).
When these free radicals are left unchecked – or if they are not neutralised by the antioxidant substances we obtain predominantly from our coloured plant foods – this can lead to a scenario known as oxidative stress. Hello, degeneration. Hello, illness. Hello, fatigue.
CoQ10 is a vitamin-like substance found throughout the body, but it is particularly concentrated in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas, which are the organs with the highest energy requirements (other than the brain).
It can be found in small amounts in meat, seafood, and the oils in grapeseeds and olives. It can also be consumed as a supplement, typically in the form ubiquinol.
CoQ10’s primary function is in mitochondria, the energy factories of cells. It’s here that the food we eat is finally transformed into what is called ATP, which is usable energy for the body.
CoQ10 is needed for a crucial step in this process, where it transports energy-carrying electrons. CoQ10 also functions as an antioxidant (by binding to damaging free radicals) in the body, and hence may improve blood vessel tone and even help to reduce blood pressure.
It is particularly important for those who take statin medication, as statins can deplete CoQ10. More and more research is being conducted into the role that specific doses of CoQ10 can play to reduce the risk of heart disease, and stroke in particular.
If the science doesn’t make sense or doesn’t interest you, all you need to know is that CoQ10 is an essential nutrient-like substance that helps the body to yield energy from the food we eat. It appears to become depleted with age and also with a poor-quality diet.
Exposure to pollutants increases our need for CoQ10, and sadly, in today’s world, exposure to excessive amounts is far too common.
In my practice, if clients start taking CoQ10 as a good-quality supplement, they regularly report noticing that their energy levels increase on the days they take it. Their mitochondria is clearly jumping for joy!
Dr Libby is a nutritional biochemist, best-selling author and speaker. She is a regular contributor to Well & Good. Dr Libby is speaking throughout NZ during October and has a new book, Exhausted to Energised, now available in all good bookstores. Details at drlibby.com