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Dear healthwellness82@gmail.com, You probably take a daily dose of vitamins and maybe other supplements, but sadly you still may be missing out on an important nutrient for great health. Cardiologist Peter Langsjoen, MD, shares surprising information on the little-known but powerful antioxidant that can give you more energy and help with chronic conditions, from high blood pressure to migraines. Cookout season is just around the corner, but if you’re already dreading the idea of cleaning a filthy grill coated with burned-on-bits of grease and food, you’ll appreciate this advice from Gary Wiviott, coauthor of Low & Slow: Master the Art of Barbecue in 5 Easy Lessons. He shares his best cleaning secrets that will make your cleanup easier... leave your grill sparkling... and make your food even tastier. Fire it up! All the best,  Jessica Kent Editor BottomLineSecrets.com Exciting New Health Benefits of CoQ10 Peter H. Langsjoen, MD Until recently, the dietary supplement coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was recommended primarily for people who wanted to avoid the side effects of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, including muscle pain and weakness. Now: Researchers are discovering that CoQ10 may confer a variety of other health benefits that are unrelated to statin use. To learn more about the latest developments in this research, Bottom Line/Health spoke with Peter H. Langsjoen, MD, one of the world’s foremost CoQ10 researchers... * WHAT IS CoQ10? CoQ10 is a vitamin-like substance that plays a key role in the production of energy in every cell in the body. Discovered in 1957, the substance is naturally present in such foods as organ meats (including cow’s liver and kidney), and, in smaller amounts, in beef, sardines, mackerel and peanuts. Because CoQ10 appeared to be everywhere in the body -- or "ubiquitous" -- it was fittingly dubbed ubiquinone. Without adequate levels of CoQ10, the body’s organs and systems, including the immune system and nervous system, will not function optimally. UNEXPECTED HEALTH BENEFITS Increasing scientific evidence now offers support for the use of CoQ10 supplements to help treat... Heart disease. CoQ10 is involved in creating 90% of cellular energy in the heart. Research has shown that people with heart failure (inadequate pumping action of the heart) have lower blood levels of CoQ10, on average, than people without heart failure -- and the lower the CoQ10 level, the worse the problem. Recent research published in the journal Biofactors showed that the ejection fraction (the amount of blood pumped with each heartbeat) in heart failure patients who took CoQ10 supplements rose from an average of 22% to an average of 39% after six to 12 months. Important: Because statin medications deplete the body’s supply of CoQ10, ask your doctor about adding CoQ10 supplements (to help protect the heart and counteract statin-related side effects) to your regimen if you take one of these drugs. High blood pressure. CoQ10 can also help improve high blood pressure (hypertension). Studies have shown that about half of people using one or more drugs for high blood pressure can stop taking at least some of their medications after taking CoQ10 supplements for about five months. Cholesterol. CoQ10 also acts as a powerful antioxidant. It is transported in the blood (along with cholesterol and other fat-soluble nutrients) and helps protect cholesterol from damaging oxidation, which plays a role in atherosclerosis (fatty buildup in the arteries). Fatigue. Because CoQ10 is part of the body’s energy-producing processes, it is particularly valuable in reducing fatigue -- even among people with severe fatigue, including that caused by such conditions as chronic fatigue syndrome. Migraines. In one study, 32 people who took CoQ10 supplements for three months had only half their usual number of migraines. Neurological disorders. Some of the most promising recent research involves the ability of CoQ10 to slow the progression of degenerative neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease (a genetic disorder). How to Use CoQ10 SAFELY People who eat organ meats at least once or twice weekly usually have healthy CoQ10 levels. But other adults can improve their blood levels of CoQ10 by taking supplements. Work with your doctor to find an optimal dose. For best absorption, do not take more than 180 mg at one time. CoQ10 is fat-soluble (dissolves in fat), so it is best to take the supplement with meals that contain at least a little bit of fat (any type). In some people, CoQ10 may cause temporary side effects, such as nausea and other gastrointestinal disorders... dizziness... insomnia... or headache. However, these side effects are rare. If you experience side effects, try a different CoQ10 formulation. Caution: One case study suggested that CoQ10 may act like vitamin K, lessening the blood-thinning effect of warfarin (Coumadin). But a controlled trial subsequently found no such effects. Nevertheless, people taking warfarin or any other blood-thinning medication should consult a doctor before taking a CoQ10 supplement. After a few weeks of taking CoQ10, anyone who uses a blood thinner should have his/her prothrombin time (a measure of clotting ability) checked. Also important: Because CoQ10 may cause your blood pressure and/or blood sugar (glucose) level to gradually improve, your doctor may want to adjust the dosage of any medications you may be taking to control elevations of either. FINDING THE BEST PRODUCT One reliable producer of CoQ10 is the Japanese company Kaneka, which sells CoQ10 in the US under many different brand names, including Healthy Origins (888-228-6650, www.healthyorigins.com) and Jarrow Formulas, available through ProVitaminas (800-510-6444, www.provitaminas.com). Kaneka uses a yeast fermentation process with 99.9% pure natural CoQ10. In addition to CoQ10 supplements, you may see products labeled "ubiquinol." Ubiquinol is a more bioavailable (absorbable) -- and more expensive -- form of CoQ10. However, if you take CoQ10, your body will naturally convert it to ubiquinol. While most healthy adults readily absorb CoQ10, patients with advanced heart failure absorb ubiquinol about four times better than CoQ10. If you purchase ubiquinol (not CoQ10), test it for freshness (in case it has deteriorated during storage or shipping). What to do: Cut one capsule in half, and look at the color of the contents. Cream-colored is good -- orange or brown means that the product has become oxidized. Whichever form you choose, shop around -- a month’s supply of a high-quality supplement can cost $20 to about $60. *Dr. Langsjoen has no financial interest in any company that manufactures or sells CoQ10 supplements. Bottom Line/Health interviewed Peter H. Langsjoen, MD, a cardiologist in private practice in Tyler, Texas, who specializes in noninvasive treatment. He is an active researcher and world-recognized expert in the biomedical benefits of CoQ10. A fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Langsjoen was a founding member of the International Coenzyme Q10 Association, www.icqa.org.   Are You or Your Loved Ones Taking Any of These Highly Prescribed Medicines? Filthy Grills Gary Wiviott Grilling can be messy business, and grill cleaning often is neglected. That’s unfortunate, because conscientious grill care improves the taste of grilled foods -- grills coated with baked-on grease and grime impart unpleasant flavors -- and dirty grills tend to break down faster as parts clog and corrode. They even can be safety risks. Accumulated grease suddenly can ignite, burning anyone standing nearby. Whether you’re just an occasional griller or a year-round devotee to a gas or charcoal grill, here’s how to keep your grill clean... EACH TIME YOU GRILL Just before you place food on your grill, use a pair of long metal kitchen tongs to dip a balled-up paper towel into cooking oil, then wipe the oil across the hot bars of the grate. The oil coating makes food and grease less likely to stick to the bars, which makes cleanup easier later. Any type of cooking oil is fine, but grape seed, peanut and canola oil all have relatively high flash points, which reduce the odds that they will ignite. After you remove food from the grill, close the lid and -- if you have a gas grill -- turn the temperature all the way to high. The intense heat will cook off much of the food residue. After five minutes, turn off the heat, and while the grill is still warm but not hot, scrape the grate with a wire-bristled brush. If you use a charcoal grill, you cannot quickly crank up the heat, but you can close the lid for five minutes, then scrape the grate as best you can. When the grate has somewhat but not completely cooled, put on heat-resistant gloves, flip the grate over and scrape the underside with the wire brush. If the grit on your grate proves stubborn, the next time you are done grilling, lay a sheet of aluminum foil over the grate and cook off the residue. The foil concentrates the heat onto the grate. Helpful: For charcoal grills, use natural lump charcoal, such as Royal Oak or Wicked Good. This burns cleaner than other coals, leaving less residue. Warning: If your grill has a drip pan, empty it after every use to avoid grease fires. EVERY 15 to 20 TIMES It’s certainly not the fun part of grilling, but giving your grill a more thorough cleaning every once in a while is important, especially at the end of the season. About every 15 to 20 grillings, after you have scraped the top of the grate and the grate has cooled, take it out of the grill, flip it over and apply a coating of a food-safe cleaner, such as Simple Green (800-228-0709, www.SimpleGreen.com). Wait a few minutes, then scrub both sides of the grate with your wire brush. Rinse with clean hot water or damp-wipe. Also, clean the belly of your grill every 15 to 20 uses. To do so... If you have a gas grill: First shut off the gas supply valves. Remove only the parts of the grill that absolutely must be removed to access and clean the interior. Taking out parts unnecessarily increases the odds that you won’t get everything back together correctly. Also examine the gas jets of a gas grill. If grease or grit is visibly clogging any holes, use a toothpick to very gently clear these blockages. Be careful not to make the holes bigger, because this could disrupt the gas flow and throw off the temperature. If you have a charcoal or gas grill: When the grill is cold, spray the interior basin of the grill and any parts you have removed with Simple Green, wait a few minutes, then use a wire brush, putty knife or steel wool to remove debris from unfinished metal grill components and rinse or damp-wipe. Use a plastic putty knife, wooden spatula or plastic scrubber on any stainless steel, enameled or painted surfaces. Check the inside of the grill’s lid. If there’s a layer of grease or flaky creosote (the flakes may look like peeling paint, but they’re not), spray it with Simple Green and then use a sponge, paper towels, plastic putty knife or wooden spatula to clear it away. Be sure to remove any grease and grime from the channel or edge where the grill’s lid connects to the body of the grill when the lid is closed. Filth here could cause the lid to stick shut, and forcing open the stuck lid of a lit grill can cause a fire. Don’t feel guilty if some grime remains. You don’t have to get all parts of the grill spotless. Most important is to get the cooking surfaces clean and to avoid big buildups of grease or creosote that could ignite. Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Gary Wiviott, a Chicago-based "barbecue life coach" who provides grilling tutorials and demonstrations. He founded the culinary Web site LTHForum.com, won the Chicago Tribune’s 2007 Good Eating Award for contributions to the city’s culinary scene and is author with Colleen Rush of Low & Slow: Master the Art of Barbecue in 5 Easy Lessons (Running Press). www.LowSlowBBQ.com Important: Help your friends get much more out of life -- forward this E-letter to them. Better: Send it to many friends and your whole family. This is a free weekly e-mail service of BottomLineSecrets.com and Boardroom Inc. Boardroom Inc. 281 Tresser Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901-3229 ATTN: Web Team You received this e-mail because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com. Or... a friend forwarded it to you. Disclaimer: Bottom Line Secrets publishes the opinions of expert authorities in many fields. But the use of these opinions is no substitute for legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services to suit your specific personal needs. 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