You probably haven’t heard of Ubiquinone before? Well, Ubiquinone, also known as Coenzyme Q-10, is a vitamin-like substance that is made naturally in the body. Ubiquinone acts as an antioxidant that protects cells from the effects of aging and has been use in medicinal practices for decades. Read on to learn more about its health benefits and natural food sources!

This week’s Nutrients by the Alphabet: Ubiquinone

That’s right, in this new series – Nutrients by the Alphabet – you will learn all about important nutrients (vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants), their health benefits, and easy and delicious ways to get more of the good stuff with a fun recipe to try each week (courtesy of my awesome student-intern from Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School – Shelby Persechino)!

So, what are the health benefits of Ubiquinone?

Ubiquinone has been shown to protect your heart and prevent cardiovascular disorders since it lowers blood pressure, lowers high cholesterol levels, and prevents a second heart attack. Ubiquinone can slow the progression of early Parkinson’s disease and improve symptoms in people with nerve problems caused by diabetes, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy, or macular degeneration (age-related vision loss). Ubiquinone has also been used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Ubiquinone has been routinely used to treat muscle breakdown that occurs as a side effect of using statin medications. Within cells, Ubiquinone helps transport proteins across membranes and separate certain digestive enzymes from the rest of the cell, which helps maintain optimal pH. As an antioxidant, Ubiquinone reduces free radical damage by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, which occurs when cell membranes and low-density lipoprotein are exposed to oxidizing conditions that enter from outside the body. Ubiquinone also slows down effects of aging by maintaining a fast metabolism, strength of muscles, strong bones, youthful skin and healthy tissue. Now can you see why Ubiquinone is so important for optimal health and longevity!?

So, how much Ubiquinone do you need and where can you find it?

There is no RDA for Ubiquinone, but experts recommend that adults take at least 200 milligrams daily to experience the health benefits. You can find Ubiquinone in grass-fed beef, herring, free-range chicken, cage-free eggs, sardines, and mackerel, rainbow trout, sesame seeds, pistachio nuts, broccoli, cauliflower, oranges, and strawberries.

Looking for a delicious, gluten free recipe to increase your Ubiquinone intake? Try this Rainbow Trout Baked in Foil with Tomatoes, Garlic, and Thyme from Cooking.