The Importance of Omega-3 & CoQ10
For optimal health, sometimes we need to support our real food diets with dietary supplements. Why? Because our food alone likely won’t cover optimal levels of all the essential vitamins and minerals. Even further, outside influences like our environment, certain medications, and even lifestyle factors like stress can deplete nutrients. For heart health (and other reasons!), we like to highlight these two important supplements: Omega-3 and cCoQ-10. Let’s take a look at each one:
Benefits Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
It's one of our most popular products for good reason. Literally everyone needs omega-3s, and most everyone doesn't get enough from fish (mainly salmon, mackerel and sardines) to maintain a healthy level of omega-3s in their body, which is where the supplement comes in.
Simply put, omega-3 fats help to reduce inflammation in various parts of the body. Inflammation is often the root of many problems for our health. Omega-3’s can be very effective in reducing pain and inflammation for people with joint pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, cardiovascular issues and even Alzheimer's, which is considered inflammation of the brain.
Keep in mind that the Standard American Diet is very high in damaging Omega-6 fats and oils, with a ratio of around 15:1 Omega-6 versus Omega-3’s! Consuming more Omega-3 fats from diet and supplementation will help balance the Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio.
How To Take It
As a start, our nutritionists, from our sister company Nutritional Weight & Wellness, recommend supplementing with 1,000 mg of omega-3 and going up to 3,000 mg daily.
It's recommended to take it with meals throughout the day; for instance, if you're taking 3,000 mg daily, you could take one softgel with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. NuriKey’s Omega-3 1000 is a great option for those who want to add this into their routine.
Some people who have more chronic health conditions may benefit from supplementing with more than 3,000 mg a day. Some of these health issues might include heart disease, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, Crohn’s or Alzheimer’s and NutriKey’s Omega-3 Extra Strength is a great option. Omega-3 Extra Strength has all the essential fatty acids shown to support multiple body systems but with less capsules for the same benefits and our nutritionists typically recommend one to two per day. An added benefit, Omega-3 Extra Strength is lemon flavored – some report fishy burps after omega-3, but the lemon in extra strength takes care of that unpleasant moment.
If you’re not a fan of the softgels or have kiddos who could benefit from adding in an omega-3, NutriKey’s Omega-3 Extra Strength LIQUID is for you! It has a natural lemon flavor and provides 2400 milligrams of EPA and DHA per teaspoon. Some of our clients take it straight up and some add it to a smoothie!
“Taking one tablet a day reduced inflammation and pain in my knee that I struggled with for over six months. I am sold on this product.” – Nichole Q.
“Myself and my daughter have liked this change for fish oil! It’s a great flavor!” – Jenna D.
“I take this for heart health, brain health, and have found out it is also an anti-inflammatory. I wouldn't want to be without it.” -Christine H.
Benefits Of CoQ10
CoQ10 is not as well-known as omega-3 fatty acids, but it’s essential for the health of virtually all human tissues and organs. Unfortunately, as we age, our bodies naturally produce less and less CoQ-10. This contributes to why we may experience lower energy with age. CoQ10 ignites the mitochondria in our cells, which are like little furnaces. These furnaces produce energy in the form of ATP, which is important since 95% of the body’s energy is made that way. We’ve also heard of CoQ10 being compared to the spark plug in your body: without it, you’re not going anywhere. CoQ10 is also an antioxidant that also supports metabolism, immune function, cardiovascular and gum health.
We’ve had many clients take CoQ10 to counteract the side effects of cholesterol lowering medications, such as aching muscles, general fatigue, and memory issues. Many people aren’t aware that certain statin medications stop the liver's production of CoQ10, leading to the unwanted side effects listed above. In fact, when a statin is prescribed in Europe, they also prescribe CoQ10. Those with diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, or other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and ALS may also benefit from a supplement since they tend to have low levels of CoQ10 to start.
How To Take It
Our nutritionists over at Nutritional Weight & Wellness suggest supplementing with 100 or 200 mg daily and NutriKey has a CoQ10-100 or CoQ10-200 to meet your individual needs. If you’re on a statin drug, take at least 200 mg in the morning or early afternoon (any later in the day it might disrupt your sleep). You’ll start to notice CoQ10 working if you feel more energetic with less muscle pain.
“I have been taking NutriKey COQ 10 since starting atorvastatin. No muscle aches or other side effects. I am very pleased with this supplement.” -Lynn L.
“CoQ-10 plus fish oil are what I attribute as my main reasons for reduction in cholesterol - back into healthy territory. And my good cholesterol has risen substantially.” – Larry H.
Pair Your Supplements With Real Food
To reduce inflammation, increase energy, support healthy cholesterol numbers, and love up your heart (as well as other health concerns!), practice eating an anti-inflammatory diet of real, nutrient-dense foods. To increase your body’s ability to navigate the world and your health with more ease, add in high-quality supplements like Omega-3s and CoQ10 to give your body all the tools to thrive.