Hello everyone. This is a guest post from Healthspan.
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Nothing beats a great workout, except on those days when you don’t have the energy for one press up, let alone reps of 10! Our busy lifestyles can leave us fighting fatigue, but if you’re lacking stamina at the gym, another force could be in play – a lack of co-Q10.
What Is Co-Q10?
Co-Q10, or coenzyme Q10, is a natural compound found in the body which helps cells produce energy. This substance, which has similar properties to vitamins, is located in mitochondria cells, also known as the power plants of cells. Co-Q10 helps these cells produce ATP, a form of energy which is vital for them to function.
However, there’s only so much co-Q10 our body can produce and this supply declines with age. Therefore, we need to find ways to boost our co-Q10 levels. There’s another reason why this could be beneficial – co-Q10 is a strong antioxidant which helps protect the body against harmful bacteria.
So, where can we find extra sources of co-Q10? Small traces of it can be sourced from foods such as fish, liver and beef, but it’s also available in supplement form.
Five Ways Co-Q10 Could Improve Your Fitness
1. Strength & Stamina
Tests have indicated taking co-Q10 supplements could improve your strength and stamina. Results of a study on 25 elite cross-country skiers in Finland revealed 94% of participants taking co-Q10 reported a significant improvement in their physical performance. They also saw increases in both their maximum oxygen consumption and stamina.
2. Reduce Fatigue
Co-Q10 could also help reduce fatigue levels after strenuous exercise. A study of cyclists in Japan showed participants who took co-Q10 every day experienced less fatigue and a shorter recovery time after training.
3. Aid In Weight Loss
Excess body weight can seriously damage your health and lead to inactivity. Co-Q10 could help the body convert fat and carbohydrate into cellular energy, which in turn strengthens your body’s metabolism, helping you lose weight. The benefits are greatly improved when the supplement is taken alongside a healthy diet and a proper exercise routine.
4. Prevent Muscle Damage
Too much strenuous exercise could lead to muscle damage caused by oxidative stress. However, co-Q10 could help prevent this. A trial involving 20 ultra-runners who took part in a 50km race revealed those taking co-Q10 had dramatically lower 8-OHdG levels (high levels are a strong sign of oxidative stress), compared to those taking a placebo. Therefore, co-Q10 could help protect you against serious muscle injuries and inflammation.
5. Help Improve Muscle Mass
As you grow older your metabolism slows. This causes your muscle mass to decrease and could lead to inactivity, weakness and frailty. However, studies at the Centre for Molecular Biology and Medicine in Australia suggest co-Q10 could help slow this process down, keeping energy levels high to strengthen your muscles and maintain your fitness.