For anyone who has faced the challenge of a life disrupted by a condition such as celiac disease or gluten ataxia, where the presence of gluten in food is a quality-of-life deterrent, it’s good to know there are alternate versions of many popular foods and supplements that are gluten-free. We live in a world where, for millions of people (one in 100 people worldwide are afflicted with a gluten-related condition), gluten-free equates to worry-free or stress-free as a component of a good quality of life.
This is Part 2 of what is now an ongoing series, entitled Gluten-Free Herbs & Supplements, this time focused on ubiquinol. This series is featuring dozens of gluten-free natural remedies that give health-conscious consumers alternatives to alleviate health concerns many people face while navigating around food and natural remedies that contain gluten.
A Quick Review of What Gluten Is
Gluten is a binding protein found in certain types of grain such as wheat, barley, and rice that acts like an edible glue that helps hold foods together, essentially allowing them to maintain their shape. That presence of gluten can, in some people, induce conditions such as autoimmune disorders, abdominal pain and bloating (among other symptoms), as well as congestion and breathing issues.
By sticking to a gluten-free meal plan, those with adverse reactions to gluten can possibly lose weight by consuming gluten-free foods and experience increased energy, but also risk losing a healthy intake of fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients. So there are pros and cons. Just be ready to compensate in how you structure your daily diet regimen.
5 Health Benefits of Ubiquinol/CoQ10
To help untangle any confusion regarding the relationship between ubiquinol and CoQ10, we can start by saying that, in one respect, they are essentially one and the same. CoQ10, which has been described as a substance similar to a vitamin, able to help turn food into energy, comes in two forms: ubiquinone and ubiquinol. The former needs to be converted inside your body to ubiquinol to become fully active and beneficial. That is why acquiring readymade ubiquinol via a supplement has a built-in advantage – it is ready to impart benefits once it goes down your hatch.
Following are summaries of five of ubiquinol’s more noteworthy benefits to your health:
Protect against cardiovascular disease (CVD). CoQ10 supplements (i.e., ubiquinol) have demonstrated an ability to reduce inflammatory biomarkers, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins that increase the risk of CVD.
Reduce side effects of statins. A 2014 randomized clinical study showed that 75 percent of patients using cholesterol-lowering statins reported diminished pain linked to muscle symptoms after taking CoQ10 twice a day for 30 days.
Act as anti-aging agent. Thanks to its antioxidant properties, ubiquinol has shown a capacity to minimize cell damage caused by free radicals, which is a key factor in guarding against age-related deterioration of overall health and physical/cognitive abilities.
Bring down cholesterol levels in diabetics. Such research supporting this premise also suggests that this effect could reduce the risk of heart disease.
Reduce fat amounts in the liver. Although more studies are needed to bear this out, one small study has shown that CoQ10-using consumers had lower amounts of liver fat compared to those who didn’t take CoQ10. This could be a positive sign that suggests ubiquinol/CoQ10 might help prevent or treat a condition known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Ubiquinol in gluten-free form is one more positive breakthrough for people desirous of using natural remedies to perhaps receive its health benefits while greatly lowering the risk of undesirable gluten-associated symptoms. First, though, be sure to discuss its use with your personal physician or other healthcare professional as a precaution to protect your health, especially if you are already on any sort of prescription medication.