Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is the substance that each cell in your body uses to produce energy. Your body uses CoQ10 for protection as an antioxidant, digestion, cell growth and other vital processes.

In the Merriam-Webster’s Medical Desk Dictionary, it says that CoQ10 is a “ubiquinone of humans and most other mammals that has a side chain with ten isoprenoid units and possesses antioxidant properties.” This definition may not make much sense to you if you don’t read medical dictionaries in your leisure time, but the key text is that it possesses antioxidant properties.

What are antioxidants, really?

A lot of people have heard that antioxidants are good for them, but do not really know why. Antioxidants are made up of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that protect the body from free radicals. According to the American Dietetic Association, free radicals may play a big part in heart disease and cancer. It is interesting to note that CoQ10 is found to be low in people with cancer, various heart conditions, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and people with other health problems. I believe that this is not just a coincidence.

Antioxidants are important.

How to get CoQ10

CoQ10 can be found in moderate amounts of chicken, meat, and fish. It can be found in fruits and vegetables as well, but in very small amounts. The primary source of CoQ10 is made by the body. However, many people do not get the CoQ10 that they need. CoQ10 production decreases with age and certain cholesterol lowering drugs hinder production of CoQ10 as well. There are many other reasons a person may not have the CoQ10 that they need. Therefore, it is a good idea to consider a quality CoQ10 supplement.