Reengineering Life, Mind and Spirit

Today, I looked in the mirror and was really happy to be alive!!!  I took all my meds that they tell me I will be on for the rest of my life, and I took inventory of all the bruises I have as a result of being on Effiant - a very strong blood thinner they needed to help dissolve the clot as they couldn't do a stent in my artery at the time.  Am hoping noone thinks my husband beat me LOL!!

One thing I have realized as an escapee from the ICU is that our life here on earth is an incredible gift.  If we get too caught up in the day-to-day and forget to live in the moment, we miss millions of synchronistic messages that our creator has sent to us - as well as the beautiful spring lilacs, the love our dogs have for us, the affectionate kiss from our spouse, and the precious moments spent with our aging parents.   When it all comes to an end, if we don't slow down and pay attention - we will exit this planet with a vague sense of having missed some momentous - like what was REALLY important in our daily lives. 

So many of us spend our lives in profound anticipation of something really grand happening - so much so that we miss ALL that is truly grand happening every day around us.  This morning - I smelled my lilac bushes, took the time to walk through my garden to see the new plants emerge, and enjoyed every interaction with all of my amazing coworkers and family members.  Two months ago, I couldn't have said the same.

What is great about your life?  What day to day miracles are you missing?  Wake up - smell the flowers, pet your animals and kiss your spouse before it is too late....

Another great supplement recommended by my Sutter cardiologist during my recent hospital "vacation"was CoQ-10.   This is not one that I have taken in the past with any regularity - as I thought heart disease would be the very last thing that I would ever have to suffer through.  Not so!

What is CoQ-10?   It is a co-enzyme (a substance that assists other enzymes with critical body processes) and an antioxidant; your body uses it to produce energy and it is found in every cell you have!  Think of it as a little mini generator inside your cells, without it, your cells couldn't do their jobs.  If you are on statin drugs to control cholesterol (and I now have been added to the many who have to take them), you should supplement with CoQ-10 as these drugs reduce the amount of natural CoQ-10 in your body by blocking their synthesis.   CoQ-10 levels also decrease with age.  

The cardiologist recommended that I visit Dr. Weil's website to learn more about these supplements.  Per Dr. Weil, CoQ-10 helps you have a healthy heart in several ways.   It supports blood vessel wall health, overall heart muscle health, overall circulatory health, and assists in maintaining the normal oxidative state of LDL cholesterol.   It also may help with migraines, and of all things, sperm motility.  It shows promise in the treatment of high blood pressure as well.  Dr. Weil recommends 90 to 120 mg of CoQ-10 if you have heart issues or are on statin drugs.

How can you get it from food?  CoQ-10 is found in its heaviest concentration in heart tissue (gnaw on those giblets!), but can also be gotten from sesame oil, canola oil, beef, chicken, herring, rainbow trout, broccoli, and cauliflower.  

If you take supplements, it is best to take them with food as CoQ-10 requires oil for absorption.