CoQ10 or Ubiquinol?

If you know what CoQ10 and/or Ubiquinol are, you've probably asked this question. If you have no idea, you'll learn a little something today. 

What is CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10 or Ubiquinone)? This is a naturally occurring compound found in every cell in the body. It plays a key role in producing energy in the mitochondria, the part of a cell responsible for the production of energy in the form of ATP. 

Where is it found or made? Some CoQ10 is made in the liver and it is found in most food sources including meat, fish, whole grains, nuts and green vegetables. But, from the age of 20, cell levels of CoQ10 naturally start to decline so that cells do not receive all the energy they need.

Jarrow QH-absorb Ubiquinol (made with KanekaQ10™)

Why do people take supplemental CoQ10 or Ubiquinol? Because CoQ10 is made primarily in the liver, as is cholesterol, when people take statin drugs to reduce or stop the production of cholesterol (both good and bad), they also hinder the production of CoQ10. Why is this a problem? Because without CoQ10, heart failure can occur. CoQ10 is thought to increase energy production in the heart muscle, increasing the strength of the pumping action.

CoQ10 is also used for the following:

• Cardiomyopathy
  
• Heart Attack Prevention and Recovery
  
• High Blood Pressure
  
• Diabetes
  
• Gum Disease
  
• Kidney Failure
  
• Migraine
  
• Counteract Prescription Drug Effects
  
• Parkinson's disease
  
• Weight loss

Life Extention Ubiquinol (made with KanekaQ10™)

What is the difference between CoQ10 and Ubiquinol? Ubiquinol is the reduced or active form of CoQ10, so it yields the same benefits of CoQ10, but with improved absorption. So in essence, you get more bang for your buck. CoQ10 itself can be activated in the body, but this activation can be less efficient in some people, making Ubiquinol the preferred form (it's the form I always recommend).

Ubiquinol costs more, but it's the more absorbent form. 

ReserveAge Ubiquinol

Just a little heads up for purchasing Ubiquinol: a superior source is one from KanekaQ10™. It is the only yeast-fermented all-natural CoQ10 available today. 

KanekaQ10™ is the most thoroughly tested and highest quality bio-identical CoQ10 in the world. One line I love that happens to not use KanekaQ10™ is ReserveAge Organics. I love their products and it is still ubinquinol.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I've made so many cookies in my life because I love baking! Today, though, I think I made my best so far. My hubby agreed. It was the best, most moist oatmeal raisin cookie I've ever tasted. I mean WOW!!! Seriously. I wish I could give one to you right now.

Since I can't, I'll give you the recipe so you can make this delectable cookie yourself.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) of Smart Balance EVOO butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cup organic cane sugar
• 1 organic egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp of sea salt or Himalayan salt
• 3 cups of uncooked rolled oats
• 1 cup of raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
2. In a large bowl, mix softened butter and sugar until creamy. Add in egg and vanilla. Mix well.
3. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt into mix. Stir well. Stir in the oats and raisins.
4. Drop the dough in tablespoons onto a pan. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes. Take out and cool.
5. Eat and enjoy the most delicious cookies ever!!!

I made bread from scratch!!!

I'm so excited right now because after quite a few hours, I finished my first loaf of 100% whole wheat bread from scratch and it was delicious!!!

Here's what I did:

Mix 1 cup of 100% whole wheat flour, 1 cup of warm water and 1 packet of organic dry yeast (I used Rapunzel Rize, because I really like that brand). Stir these ingredients and let it rise for 30-45 minutes in a warm place (this is the first of the waiting game).

After pre-mix has risen, mix 2 additional cups of flour, 2 tbsp EVOO, 2 tbsp organic cane sugar, 1-1/2 tsp of sea salt of Himalayan salt. Knead dough and let rise again for 1-2 hours.

Knead again and form into a loaf. Drop it into a greased pan. Let it rise again until it doubles in bulk, about 1 hour.

Bake at 350ºF for approximately 1 hour or until golden brown. Smell the wonderful scent of a fresh loaf of bread that you just did from scratch and remove from the oven. Let it cool 5 minutes and remove from pan.

Cut and enjoy!!!

Bad Ingredient List

I've been asked several times to post the "bad ingredients list". This list is an easy guide to help give you a jump start on learning to read labels. For decades, the food industry has been able to fool the general public with artificial ingredients and chemicals that can cause serious side effects, allergies and even diseases.

I've composed a basic list that my husband and I live by. We both can skim products in seconds and know whether or not to purchase it. It's great to be in control of what you are consuming and what you choose to buy. If you want to know why a certain ingredient is on my list, just let me know. This list will be updated whenever I find a new synthetic ingredient that should not be consumed.

Bad Ingredients List:

• Phosphoric acid (normally found in carbonated drinks)
• Dextrose (Sweetener)
• Sucrose (Sweetener) 
• Aspartame (Sweetener) 
• Sorbitol (Sweetener) 
• Splenda (Sweetener)
• Artificial Colors
• Artificial Flavors
• Enriched or bleached ingredients
• Sugar
• BHT (Preservative) 
• TBHQ (Preservative) 
• BHA (Preservative)
• Sodium Benzoate
• Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 40
• Vanillin (not to be confused with Vanilla)
• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Corn Syrup
• Nitrates
• MSG
• Soybean Extract (MSG in disguise)
• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
• Autolyzed Yeast
• Hydrogenated Oil

Knowledge is power. Here's to good health =)

Why Organic Food?

Let's focus on two questions that have been asked often in recent years since organic foods have taken off:

1. What is Organic Food?

"Organic" refers not to the food itself, but to how the food is produced. "Organically grown" means foods are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. They are minimally processed, many without added artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation. In short, organic food is grown as naturally as possible.

Organic also means that foods are produced without knowingly using genetically modified organisms (GMOs), a newer concern for many people (myself included). No organic farmer would knowingly purchase seeds that had been genetically modified. "Certified Organic" means that an independent organization (3rd party) has verified that the land where organic food is grown has been pesticide free for at least three years, and the farmers and processors are inspected annually to see that all their practices are being maintained.

Organic Seal

The USDA has changed organic food laws, creating new standards for labeling. To use the term "Organic" on the front of the label (or to use the USDA Organic seal), the company must conform to the following standards:

•  100% Organic: 100% of ingredients in the product are organic
• Organic: 95-100% of ingredients in the product are organic
• Made with organic ingredients: 70-95% of the ingredients are organic
• If a product has less than 70% organic ingredients, it can identify the ingredients as organic in the ingredient list only, not on the front of the package

 2. Why do people choose organic foods:

There is an increasing demand for organic food because consumers are beginning to understand the advantages that organic foods have over non-organic foods:

• Organic foods are safer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 60% of all herbicides, 90% of all fungicides and 30% of all insecticides to be potentially cancer causing. Organic foods do not contains a lot of, or any, harmful pesticide residues that may lead to cancer or other disease conditions. 
• Organic foods are better for the environment. Synthetic pesticides or fertilizers diminish soil quality and leave residues in water and land. Organic farming strives to build and maintain healthy soil. 
• Organic foods taste better. I know this may seem like an opinion, and it is, but usually is very true. Organic farmers are committed to getting the highest quality produce to the consumer. Most farmers who grow organic produce pick the fruit or vegetable when it is in the truly ripe stage, and as a result, at its peak in flavor. 
• Organic foods are nutritionally superior. This, and the first, are the main reasons I've chosen to only eat organic produce. One study found a higher mineral content in organic produce. Another study found a decrease in nutrition content of conventionally grown produce compared to previous years. Because organic foods are grown in healthy soil, they often retain more nutrition that their non-organic counterparts. 

This is just a basic overview of organic foods and why they're so important. Here's to healthy living =)