What is Coenzyme Q10 (COQ10) and why do I need it in my diet?

What is coenzyme Q10?

Coenzyme Q10 is a substance that is quite similar to a vitamin and can be found in every cell in the body.  Your body makes COQ10 naturally and it helps your body to produce energy and also aids the growth and development of cells.  COQ10 is a component of the electron transport chain and generates energy in the same way as the majority of your body – through a process called ATP.  This ability to generate energy, makes COQ10 a valuable player for maintaining many healthy organs, particularly the heart, liver and kidneys, as these organs have the highest energy requirements.  COQ10 also has some antioxidant functions and the enzymes contained within it, contribute to the digestion in food in the body.  From this, we can see that COQ10 plays an important role in your body, but it can also be found naturally in a number of foods, to help increase this energy contribution level.

Foods containing COQ10

Below is a list of some naturally occurring foods that contain coenzyme Q10.

• Organ meats – heart, liver, kidney
• Beef
• Soy oil
• Sardines and Mackerel
• Peanuts

COQ10 is a great antioxidant

Including some of these foods in your diet will bring many health benefits of COQ10 to your body, including added energy, digestive power, cell maintenance and antioxidants.  It’s not just these foods however, as you can enjoy the great benefits of coenzyme Q10 in the Linwoods milled flaxseed, nuts and COQ10 mix.

While COQ10 occurs naturally in the body, the levels of the substance contained in our body declines with age.  This makes foods like those previously mentioned, and the Linwoods flaxseed, nuts and COQ10 mix important in helping the body maintain adequate levels.  Co-Q10 is a highly effective antioxidant and contributes to the production of energy in every cell in the body. One serving (30g) of the Linwoods flax seed and nut mix gives you 30mg of COQ10.

It has also been claimed that COQ10 can help in the prevention of certain diseases including heart disease, cancer and muscular dystrophy.