Heart Attacks | A Metabolic Plan

DHEA & CoQ10 – In the News

Filed under: Health Care; Tagged as: Alternative Health Care, Antioxidant Effects, Breast Cancer, Coenzyme Q10, CoQ10, Energy Production, Extreme Stress, free radicals, Heart Attacks, high blood pressure, Increasing Energy, Managing Diabetes, National Cancer Institute, Prostate Cancer, Veteran's Administration, Yale University

It seems that alternative health care is getting some press these days. Earlier this week, Yale University and the Veteran’s Administration Center for PTSD released information about the testing they have done and the benefits of using DHEA to prevent and relieve stress in soldiers. This was a small study but they tested soldier’s ability to cope with extreme stress and found they were greatly improved in their performance when their levels of DHEA were higher.

The other big news is that the National Cancer Institute has FINALLY released a report that shows that Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 may play a role in the treatment of certain types of cancers. There have been many small, independent studies done on CoQ10 which have shown significant health benefits for some types of cancer including melanoma and breast cancer. However, to have the National Cancer Institute actually print a report on this is a very positive event as they are generally opposed to alternative medicine.

So what is CoQ10?

Coenzyme Q10 occurs naturally in every cell and is part of a class of substances called enzymes. The role of enzymes is to facilitate and act as an catalyst for chemical reactions in the body such as transforming fats and sugars into energy. Because it is essential to the production of energy at the cellular level it is of particular importance for athletes and bodybuilders. CoEnzyme Q10 also has powerful antioxidant effects which destroy free radicals. Many studies are discovering that CoQ10 is beneficial in helping to prevent heart attacks and high blood pressure as well as treating Parkinson’s disease, managing diabetes, increasing energy and stamina, and improving the immune system.

Is a CoQ10 supplement necessary?

Organs that use the most energy (like the heart and liver) have the highest concentrations of CoQ10 and as we age, the body’s production of CoQ10 can decrease as much as 72% in the heart. Also statins (used to reduce LDL and cholesterol levels) deplete CoQ10 levels. Statins are some of the most prescribed drugs on the market.
If you’re middle-aged or older, supplementing with CoQ10 can be crucial to maintaining good health. While CoQ10 studies are ongoing for the treatment of diseases, such as migraines, asthma, breast and prostate cancer, and HIV/AIDS, there is certainly a large amount of evidence of it’s benefits in the area of prevention. Not only is heart health affected but one of the most valuable benefits is CoQ10′s ability to help regulate high blood pressure, a common problem aging adults face. New research indicates that CoQ10 may be a safe and effective alternate or adjunct therapy for hypertension.

CoQ10 may even enhance the effectiveness of some blood pressure medications. In numerous clinical studies participants taking supplements were able to take lower dosages of the drugs.

People under the age of 18 or those on medications should not take a CoQ10 supplement without consulting a doctor first. The side effects of CoQ10 supplementation are rare although it may interfere with some prescription drugs such as blood thinners and beta-blockers.

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The big buzz for this week is the swine flu. It’s of concern and it should be. We’re living in a global society and germs are easily transmitted around the world in a very short time. I’ve heard scientists say that while the leading causes of death today are heart attack, cancer, etc., the leading cause in the coming years will be epidemics.
So what can we do about this? Well, just as there are things we can do to lower our risk of heart attacks and cancer, so there are things we can do to improve our immune system to better fight off the germs that can spread so rapidly and cause so much sickness.
Many of the things are the same – like eating right, getting adequate sleep and exercise. But what else can you do? I truly believe that our diet is at the core of our health but I also know that the nutritional value we receive from our foods is not what it used to be for various reasons. So we turn to natural supplements to boost our immune system in times of stress, when it is compromised and needs extra help.

The Vitamin C Booster

Vitamin C has also long been viewed as an immune system booster. For example, vitamin C has been shown to boost antimicrobial and natural killer cell activities and to increase the production of white blood cells. Vitamin C protects cells during the inflammatory response our body has from the attack of foreign invaders.

In fact, Vitamin C is essential for proper immune function. Because the human body cannot manufacture Vitamin C, we are dependent on dietary intake to provide adequate amounts of this essential nutrient. Vitamin C concentrations decline rapidly in blood plasma and white blood cells during infections, suggesting that illness increases one’s need for this nutrient.

Immune-Boosting Power of Beta-Glucan
There many studies showing that Beta-Glucan, a polysaccharide (which is a relatively complex carbohydrate), can be a biological response modifier (BRM) because of its ability to activate the immune system. Beta-glucans improve the body’s immune system defense against foreign invaders by enhancing the ability of our natural killer cells to respond to and fight a wide range of challenges such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. The studies have included issues such as wound healing, infection prevention, arthritis, radiation exposure and even cancer treatment. Studies in Japan have been very encouraging with regard to cancer patients and radiation exposure.

There is a company, who has developed a product (Wellmune WGP®) which includes beta-glucans. They gave it to fire-fighters in Montana a couple of years ago. Obviously, these people are subjected to extreme amounts of toxins from the heavy smoke and fire. What they found is that those who were taking the product with the Beta-Glucans had fewer respiratory issues and illnesses than those without the added boost to their immune system.

Univera has developed a new product to enhance their line of immune products called ImmunoBurst™. It not only contains Wellmune ® but several other ingredients which enhance the immune system – check it out at www.metabolicplan.com.

These supplements are a great addition for people but they don’t replace a healthy lifestyle. What are you doing to improve your health?