I’ve always been curious about coenzyme Q10—probably because it sounds more like a laundry detergent than a health supplement. The other day as I was house cleaning, I came across the book YOU Staying Young by Dr. Mehmet Oz, which I forgot we had. I flipped to the index to see what the famous TV host and heart surgeon had to say about coenzyme Q10.

In Chapter 2, Oz and co-author Dr. Michael F. Roizen explain the role of this funny-sounding compound. “Mitochondria (inside cells) convert glucose into electric energy, and one of the molecules carrying electrons in this process is coenzyme Q10,” the book said.

Who knew that coenzyme Q10—usually called CoQ10—is produced by our bodies, found in every cell, and plays such a vital role in generating energy for metabolism?

CoQ10 May Help Prevent Chronic Disease     

Research has found that our naturally produced CoQ10 levels decrease as we age. Scientists have also discovered that patients with chronic diseases such as heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophies, and HIV/AIDS have lower levels of CoQ10 than the general population. That’s why researchers around the globe are studying whether CoQ10 supplementation can help treat, or even prevent, chronic disease.

Study results are mixed so far, but here are some things we know:

• Research suggests that CoQ10 may reduce symptoms related to heart failure. In his book, Dr. Oz says CoQ10 supplements “seems to protect against heart failure and other inflammatory processes by improving the efficiency of the mitochondria.”

• In controlled trials, CoQ10 supplementation has proven beneficial to Parkinson’s disease patients, improving their symptoms and visual function.

• CoQ10 supplementation seems to improve muscular dystrophy patients’ exercise capacity, heart function, and overall quality of life.

Research suggests that statin drugs designed to lower cholesterol interfere with the body’s production of CoQ10, which Dr. Oz says may account for the muscle cramps some statin users experience: “Your arteries are literally being starved of energy and are crying for help,” he wrote. To combat this, he recommends a daily 200 mg dose of CoQ10 for people taking statin drugs.

Can a funny-sounding supplement like CoQ10 be the answer to many of society’s toughest public health problems? Stay tuned for more research results.

- Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus contributor

In much of the United States, houses are closed up tight in the winter. During these frigid months, cooking smells, pet odors, and other “aromas of living” get trapped inside the house. Growing up in Michigan, we used to call it “house-a-tosis”—our word for the stale air that greeted us when we arrived home.

I always suspected house-a-tosis was to blame for the gloomy mood that descended upon us in the wintertime. Being stuck inside with stale air can leave a person longing for Spring, or at least a warm-weather getaway. But if Aruba is out of the question, you can always try a little “home aromatherapy.” I’m talking about fragrances made for the home that can transform stale air and lift your mood, just like a tropical breeze.

Stale air remedies: a booming market

According to a study by market research firm Packaged Facts, home fragrance sales totaled more than $5 billion in 2007 and were expected to reach $6 billion by 2012. In fact, the market for aromatic products that refresh stale air has grown steadily over the decades, driven by pioneers like Claire Burke, an interior designer who began experimenting with herbs and flowers more than 50 years ago to create aromatic sachets for her friends.

Many ways to make stale air smell better

These days, consumers have literally hundreds of home fragrance scents to choose from. They also have a multitude of delivery methods for banishing stale air.  Here are the basic home fragrance categories available today:

• Reed infusers
• Electric fragrance warmers and refills
• Simmering oils (to heat up on the stove or in a special heating vessel)
• Fragrance sprays
• Potpourri
• Scented candles, including tea lights, votives, tapers, pillars, and glass-poured

If stale air is getting the best of you this winter, why not plan a multi-prong attack, using the same scent in different places? For example, if you love the clean scent of citrus and verbena, you could put a reed infuser in the living room, a plug-in fragrance warmer in the study, a spray in the bathroom, and a lovely botanical candle in the bedroom.

Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus Contributor

Ever wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of your dog scratching? It might be a thump, thump, thump or a jingling from his dog tags. Or he may walk into the bedroom and shake himself silly, as if he’s drenched with rain.

Our little terrier has been doing all of that and more lately. I’ve checked him for fleas, ticks, and other menaces. Nothing there. Then I noticed white flakes on his fur. Hmmm, I didn’t know canines could develop dandruff. Turns out, it’s a sign of dry skin in dogs—which can often get worse in the winter months.

Dry Skin in Dogs: Natural Treatment and Prevention

Cold, snow and ice outdoors means our dogs are confined to the heated house most of the time. The air is dry, and without fresh air blowing through the windows, the house can accumulate dust and other allergens quickly. These environmental conditions lead to dry, flaky, itchy skin in dogs, but there are a number of things you can do to make your pet more comfortable:

Get out the brush. Most dogs love a good brushing, especially with a natural bristle hairbrush. To the dog, it feels like a wonderful massage, so it’s a great way to bond with your pet. Regular brushing brings the natural oils out of the skin and removes the dandruff flakes that form when dead skin cells are sloughed off.

Use a gentle dog shampoo. Dry skin in dogs can be made worse by using a shampoo that’s too harsh. Look for an all-natural dog shampoo containing soothing ingredients for irritated skin, such as oatmeal, aloe vera, chamomile, and neem oil.

Don’t bathe too frequently. In the winter, when Fido isn’t playing outside and getting as dirty, warm water baths may be enough. Remember that part of relieving dry skin in dogs is making sure you aren’t stripping the dog’s skin of its natural oils.

Provide skin and coat support. Look for supplements containing natural ingredients to support improved skin tone and a healthy coat in dogs. These formulas come in chicken-flavored chewable tablets or tasty oils that your dog would love to have drizzled on his food. They contain essential fatty acids that can resolve disorders such as dry skin in dogs.

- Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus Contributor

In the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, my husband and I recently began working with a personal trainer/nutrition coach at our local gym. He has taught us some interesting things about what to eat—and when to eat—to burn off fat. Protein powder keeps coming up in the conversation.

“Protein powder? I asked. “Isn’t that just for big-time body builders?”  I’d seen the enormous plastic tubs of protein powder at the vitamin store, with labels showing bulging biceps and “six-pack” abs.

“No, it’s good for anybody who needs an additional source of lean protein,” he said.

Eat a Solid Breakfast with Help From Protein Powder

“Protein powder helps you get the right amount of protein into your breakfast, which is the most important meal of the day,” he said. “You can stir it into your oatmeal, sprinkle it on whole-grain toast, or mix it into a smoothie.”

The trainer told us we should also eat small, protein-based snacks in between breakfast and lunch to keep our metabolism running at peak efficiency. “For example, drink half of your smoothie with the protein powder in it at breakfast, and take the other half with you for your 10 a.m. snack.”

Intrigued, I went to the vitamin store for a closer look at those gigantic protein powder tubs. I bought a sample-sized packet of vanilla-flavored whey protein powder so my husband and I could try it on our morning oatmeal.

The taste was not unpleasant, but it was very sweet—and the vanilla flavoring put me off. We had given up sugary breakfast foods long ago, and even though this stuff was sweetened with sucralose (i.e., Splenda) rather than sucrose or high fructose corn syrup, we agreed to look for an unsweetened, unflavored protein powder. First stop: the Internet.

The Wide World of Protein Powder

Who knew there were so many kinds of protein powder out there? Here are the various categories we discovered in our research:

Whey-based protein powder: Whey is by far the most common protein supplementation source; it’s a byproduct of making cheese from whole milk. Whey isolate and whey concentrate formulas undergo even more processing in the laboratory. Most of the whey powders we found were flavored (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry) and sweetened.

Casein protein powder. Casein is a slow-digesting protein also derived from milk that is used by the body to build muscle. Most are sweetened and flavored.

Egg white protein powder. Egg whites are high in essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and contain no fat or cholesterol. But the majority of these powders are flavored and sweetened. We’d rather just eat real eggs!

Soy protein powder: This product is fast digesting and contains the healthful isoflavones found in soy. It’s a good source of protein for those allergic to dairy products. Some products are flavored and sweetened, while others are not. Check the label.

Hemp protein powder: This one has a nutty, earthy flavor that may not appeal to those who like chocolate and vanilla breakfasts. Unsweetened and rich in protein, hemp powder has Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids and dietary fiber. It’s the winner so far at our breakfast table.

Brown rice protein powder: Made from sprouted brown rice, this product is a nice vegetarian alternative to soy and hemp. Some products are sweetened with rice syrup solids.

Pea protein powder: Peas? Yes, peas! We are eager to try this one next. Turns out pea protein powder is high in essential amino acids, highly bioavailable, and easily digestible—and we did see a few non-flavored, non-sweetened formulas.

By Paula Detwiller, All Vitamins Plus contributor