Written by BJ Malimban
Being a life-long athlete, who also went to school for Kinesiology and Sports Nutrition, I have always been passionate about finding ways to improve my athletic performance and pass that knowledge to other athletes. Most athletes are aware that the foundation to increasing their performance relies heavily on their sport-specific training, diet, strength training, and recovery. From extensive research and self-application, I have found that fortifying the body with certain supplements can really help take your game to the next level. Through this VDN blog series, I am going to go over a variety of different supplements that can help make you the best athlete you can be.
UBIQUINOL: TURBO-CHARGE YOUR PERFORMANCE AND LIFE!
Ubiquinol is the reduced, active antioxidant form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Produced naturally within the body, ubiquinol is CoQ10 that has been converted into a substance necessary for use in cellular energy production. In addition to its critical role in energy production, it is one of the most powerful known lipid-soluble antioxidants available, protecting the body’s cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and free radicals. Ubiquinol is produced by endogenously within our bodies, but supplementing and providing the body with higher amounts of this anti- oxidant has been shown to be very beneficial. Playing sports, especially ones that really push the body/heart such as football, basketball, sprinting, etc. puts a lot of oxidative stress on the body. Supplementing with ubiquinol can help aid in combating this stress and really fortify your heart
in order to keep you pushing and getting better. Through my personal use of 200mg of Ubiquinol a day I have noticed a higher threshold in cardiovascular performance and noticeable increase in recovery from bouts of high intensity movements such as sprints. Ubiquinol is great of increasing power output, which can benefit athletes who compete in CrossFit, powerlifting, strongman, or Olympic weightlifting. Supplementing with Ubiquinol is also very beneficial for your overall health due to it supporting your heart tremendously. When shopping for this supplement look for companies that carry the trademark Kaneka form of Ubiquinol, which through studies and personal use is the best on the market in my opinion.