Energy drinks are often marketed as a healthy and youthful way to boost mental alertness and physical performance. In reality these drinks are loaded with caffeine, additives and sugar that can be seriously damaging to the body.
Side effects of the over-consumption of energy drinks include heart palpitations, hypertension, insomnia, anxiety, and headaches. These conditions could worsen overtime, leading to complications of the heart, liver, and other vital organs.
A better alternative – What is Q10?
CoQ10 is found concentrated inside the mitochondria, or ‘powerhouses’ of the cells where it plays a vital role in the creation of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the body’s energy ‘currency’. Unfortunately, levels peak in our mid twenties and steadily decline thereafter. It is further depleted by stress and intense exercise. Organs that work the hardest and burn the most calories, such as the heart, kidney and liver, have the highest natural concentrations of CoQ10.
Pharma Nord Q10 has antioxidant properties, so it may help prevent damage from free radicals and could also boost the immune system. Free radicals are unstable molecules that form as a result of dietary or environmental toxins. Free radicals can damage your cells over time, and endurance athletes who put extra demands on their body may be more susceptible to their damaging effects, which might cause diminished health, slower recovery after exertion and sore muscles.
How Q10 boosts energy
CoQ10 is essential for generating the energy that keeps us alive. The body burns fats and carbohydrates to produce a unit of energy called ATP.
ATP is the only form of energy the cells can use directly. To churn out ATP, mitochondria have to break down fats and carbohydrates with the help of electrons. CoQ10, which is a fat soluble nutrient, is able to transfer the necessary electrons through the lipid membrane of the cell. Without Q10 there is no energy produced.
Efficient production of ATP helps endurance athletes, who put a lot of demand on their energy systems, go harder and farther before fatiguing. Studies have shown its potential to boost performance, shorten recovery time and reduce levels of fatigue.
What do the studies say?
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in 2008 in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Baylor University scientists found that supplements of 100 and 200 milligrams increased CoQ10 levels in muscles and prolonged the length of exercise in healthy adults. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study from researchers at the University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan, published in 2008 in Nutrition, showed that 300 milligrams of CoQ10 helped cyclists achieve higher velocities for longer periods of time and recover from fatigue more rapidly.
A competitive edge for athletes
Q10 can increase energy and stamina while reducing blood pressure and muscular dystrophy. It’s no wonder that the fitness community have embraced the nutrient. Athletes in particular, have reported that the supplement improves breathing capabilities and gives them a competitive edge.
Food sources of Q10
Although Q10 can be found in some animal products such as fish, beef and chicken, the amount is negligible. A serving of beef contains just a few milligrams of CoQ10.
This isn’t nearly enough to replicate the benefits of supplemental doses similar to those used in studies above.
What to look for in a supplement
The quality of Q10 supplements varies greatly. As the nutrient is fat soluble, it should always be dissolved in a lipid for proper digestion. Q10 Pharma Nord can document its bioavailability (absorption in blood) in over 100 scientific studies.
For this reason, it has become the official reference product of the International Coenzyme Q10 Association (ICQA), who coordinates Q10 research worldwide.
Written by Veronica Burke, Health & Nutrition Coach, Marketing Coordinator Pharma Nord, www.pharmanord.ie
