Coenzyme Q10 and L-Carnitine in Cardiovascular Health

The human circulatory system consists of the heart and blood vessels which include veins, arteries and capillaries. The heart is one of the most important organs in our body that pumps blood to our lungs and throughout our body. In the modern day, there are many cases of people suffering from issues related to the cardiovascular system and this has a major impact on the quality of life. Many of these cardiovascular diseases or conditions may be developed due to genetic factors, lack of quality nutrition and diet, excessively sedentary lifestyles and poor weight management. Cardiovascular diseases come in the form of arrhythmias, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke and more. To enjoy life to its fullest and achieve a sense of well-being, it is crucial for every human being to manage their lifestyle properly and take preventive action in the form of proper nutrition, health supplements and herbals. When disease has already struck, one may manage and attempt to reduce the severity of the disease conditions with nutraceuticals such as omega 3 fatty acids, coenzyme q10, lycopene, l carnitine, resveratrol and more.

Cardiovascular health is closely associated with ones level of physical activity, fitness and nutrient intake. The prevalent scientific outlook is that the more physically active a person is, the less chances are of them developing coronary heart disease or related conditions. The benefits of regular exercise are numerous such as reduction of body weight, blood pressure, total cholesterol (LDL or Bad Cholesterol), increase in good or HDL cholesterol and increase in insulin sensitivity. An increased level of activity combined with a healthy nutrition is a potent formula for achieving good cardiovascular and heart health.

A few of the most promising foods for overall cardiovascular health are:

• Salmon

• Walnuts

• Low Fat Yogurt

• Chickpeas

• Oatmeal

• Olive Oil

• Dark Chocolate

• Avocados

• Tomatoes

A nutrient which has emerged over the years as important for cardiovascular health is Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) or Ubiquinone. This is a naturally occurring vitamin like substance that is present in every cell of the human body. Its main function is to help convert food and oxygen into energy. With the ageing process, this substance naturally reduces in the body.

CoQ10 is present in the highest amounts in the heart muscles and acts as a natural anti-oxidant to combat harmful free radicals. CoQ10 may help reduce blood pressure. Furthermore it is more and more common for doctors to prescribe CoQ10 along with statin drugs for those suffering from cholesterol problems as statin prescription drugs reduce the amount of CoQ10 in the body and lead to a lack of energy and muscle loss in the long run. Hence CoQ10 is an essential nutrient to be supplemented for those suffering from diseases related to cholesterol imbalance.