If you’ve read any of my previous blogs, you know that I’ve been trying out different wellness products. This is how I learned about a nutrient that’s valuable to all of us in one way or another.

I ordered these gummies off the internet a couple of weeks ago because, like our patches, their products had specific wellness goals. So just as our products help you sleep or reduce anxiety, they had a line of products that improved immune functions or had anti-inflammatory properties.

I bought the variety pack which came with one called “anti-aging” which I assumed was more gimmicky than the rest until I read what was in it. It was called CoQ10, and here’s what I learned.

C0Q10 is friendly to every diet, which is awesome. You can get it in a variety of meat, fruits, and vegetables, but here are a few great sources to get you started.

CoQ10 for meat eaters

• Organs (kidney, liver)
• Fatty fish
• Meat and poultry

CoQ10 for vegetarians and vegans

• Soybeans
• Broccoli
• Nuts (especially peanuts)
• Oranges and citrus fruit

Does CoQ10 have any side effects?

In some cases, overuse of the antioxidant has led to some side effects, but it could be because it’s combined with other regimens. The side effects include:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia

There have been studies to suggest that CoQ10 supplements can reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulants like warfarin.

Your body creates less CoQ10 as you get older, so it’s important to make sure you’re eating properly so your body has enough to function properly.

Deficiency can be caused by poor diet, genetic conditions, and side effects from statin treatment.

A shortage of CoQ10 can cause a lot of problems and can be life-threatening. The short-term effects are that the deficiency can affect brand and kidney function, along with maintaining and repairing your cells, which means fatigue and muscle weakness.

Eventually, this can lead to chest pain, heart failure, and seizures.

But wait, there’s more

Now, I know I’m not writing about anything that’s not widely known in the medical community, but it’s been interesting to read about just how many areas are possibly affected by a lack of this antioxidant.

Studies are happening that could help with several widespread physical and mental health issues like:

• Depression
• Cardiovascular disease prevention
• Huntington’s
• Parkinson’s
• Neurocognitive problems

So I’ll invite you to do more research on your own.

Supplements for this antioxidant and pretty easy to come by in the U.S, and they’re available in quite a few forms. Oral varieties include oils, pills and (as I noted at the start), gummies. But they’re also available in a variety of other forms.

As always, consult with a physician if you think it’s a good fit for you because they might react differently based on your lifestyle and your medication.