There is much buzz about coEnzyme Q10 of late. There is excellent evidence building of the immense and varied benefits of coEnzyme Q10, benefits which include heart health, immune system improvement, reduction in high blood pressure, slowing aging processes, improving circulation and the health of various tissues and membranes such as gums and stomach lining. These are hefty claims, of course, and the list here is not inclusive. CoEnzyme Q10, in fact, is on the short list of suggested nutrients for optimum human health according to many experts, including Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Joseph Mercola, and Dr. Andrew Weill. CoEnzyme Q10 is a potent and very important anti-oxidant, which means it helps eliminate free radicals in our cells (ubiquinone oxidoreductase), which cause various diseases and greatly hasten the processes of aging. It helps our organs and tissues repair and protect themselves. It helps maintain optimal energy levels and overall health.

Low levels of ubiquinol, the form our bodies use, are known to be present in people with compromised health, such as those with cancer and diseases of the liver, brain and heart. The question about how to supplement with coEnzyme Q10 then becomes one of dosage and of form. You’ll see the forms ‘ubiquinone’ and ‘ubiquitol’ on shelves; our bodies convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol. According to Dr. Mercola, those under 40 are able to process the common form (ubiquinone), and those over 40 begin to lose this ability, and should thus take a form which is already oxygen converted: ubiquinol. We do have ubiquinone in our bodies, but again it begins to be depleted in our 20′s.

Ubiquinone or ubiquinol coEnzyme Q10 supplements are an essential part of a healthy supplement regimen according to more and more physicians and health experts. See your doctor or health practitioner for blood serum tests and for advice on forms and dosage appropriate for you.

Important note: If you are taking statins, you may already have a coEnzyme Q10 deficiency. Statin drugs have been shown to cause a ubiquinone deficiency and this can exacerbate already worrying symptoms.

Can Alzheimer’s or dementia be prevented or lessened with simple coconut oil? According to Dr. Joseph Mercola on the show Dr. Oz recently, the answer is yes!

We’ve talked about pure organic coconut oil before, and it seems the benefits of coconut oil just keep piling up.

Why and How Coconut Oil Works

According to Joe Mercola, coconut oil is used by our bodies as an alternative fuel to glucose, and as such it provides fuel for our brains when they (our brain cells) are otherwise starving. Studies have shown that memory is improved in both sick as well as healthy brains with the use of coconut oil, and if there is a chance coconut oil really does prevent Alzheimer’s or even lessen symptoms, this is a major breakthrough. Alzheimer’s is a complex disease and has a devastating impact on both sufferers and their loved ones. Any preventive or curative measures we can take, which are approved by doctors and which have shown in tests to have efficacy, are welcomed.

Dr. Mercola, a healthy lifestyle and supplements advocate, was very clear about the fact that as with any herb, pill, or supplement, the purpose is the help bolster an already healthy diet and lifestyle. Coconut oil, normally taken by proponents at about one or two teaspoons per day, is said to be effective for brain power ie. helping with Alzheimer’s and dementia at a much higher dose of approximately three tablespoons per day. Try virgin organic coconut oil for the healthiest choice.

Note that other means of preventing or warding off Alzheimer’s Disease have been postulated as well, including lowering your cholesterol, avoiding diabetes with a healthy diet, avoiding foods such as smoked meats (containing nitrosamines), processed foods with nitrites including many brands of beer, and white foods – white flour, white rice, breads and pastas. These foods are known to have causal links to many other diseases as well, so for your overall health, avoid them and eat more fresh, organic produce. Note that certain vitamins such as folate (folic acid/vitamin b9), Vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids are showing promising signs of preventing Alzheimer’s Disease as well, due to the functions they perform or cause to be performed in the body, eg. preventing plaque formation (which causes alzheimer’s). See this article for more information.