Review of Viva Labs CoQ10 with BioPerine, 100mg, 150 softgels

Viva Labs CoQ10 is the first CoQ10 supplement I've tried. I've been a little skeptical about the value of this supplement, so haven't really been interested in actually using it. When I first heard of it, I thought the name was just another marketing gimmick for yet another overhyped supplement. Many of the claims for it sounded absurd, and indeed many of those claims are.

But then I looked into CoQ10, and here's what I found out. First of all, the "Co" stands for "coenzyme." How does this differ from a "regular" enzyme? Well, it's a non-protein compound that an enzyme needs to function. This gives us a good clue that CoQ10 is probably something that lets one or more of the enzymes in your body do their job. This fact could explain many of the claims made for CoQ10.

Second, it's present in every cell of the body. Hmm. That's a good clue that it might be important.

Where does it come from? Your body makes it. So why supplement? Maybe your body doesn't make enough of it to get all of the benefits an ample supply could provide. Let's see why that might be.

CoQ10 helps enzymes digest food. It helps your body produce energy, and it helps with the maintenance and growth of cells. There's been substantial research in recent years and an upsurge of excitement in the bodybuilding world about "low enzyme levels" though what I've seen doesn't talk about CoQ10 exclusively. It does, however, seem to get frequent mentions. The low enzyme level problem is caused by several factors, some of which are easy to control and some of which are not.

An example of an easy to control factor is the practice of consuming GMO grains and/or processed foods. Just don't do that, and you improve your enzyme levels. But not enough, according to those who swear by enzyme supplementation (and have the visible body shape results to back up what they are saying). Other problems such as all the toxins in our environment use up our enzyme supply, including CoQ10. Our bodies don't make enough CoQ10 and the same is true of some other enzymes. We can get some in our foods, for example liver contains CoQ10 (but who wants to eat liver, I don't).

But wait. If you don't seem to be having digestion problems (you have low or no flatulence, your lean mass is high, your fat mass is low, you have plenty of energy, etc.) why supplement? There's no problem, so why a solution?

The answer lies in another huge benefit of CoQ10. It also functions as an anti-oxidant. IMO, you need a variety of different anti-oxidants in your diet to hit cancer cells from as many angles as you can. That's one reason I eat a wide variety of vegetables, but focus on the most potent anti-oxidant rich ones such as eggplant and the brassicas. I also eat a variety of fruits for this reason and drink coffee daily for this reason. Green tea from time to time, same reason.

Whether I need CoQ10 for digestion or not, its anti-oxidant properties justify adding it to my supplement regimen. So the answer then becomes one of choosing a brand. Simply buying the most expensive bottle and hoping for the best isn't how I do it.

Nor do I follow the lead of the whey protein herd and chase down the cheapest one I can find as if all are good. I don't use whey powder, or any dairy-based protein, but I know people go for either the cheapest or the one that has the flashiest label or the one that has the most grotesque steroid junkie endorsing it. I'm just saying this particular product (whey) is a great one to look at if you want to see bad reasons for choosing a brand.

So what is a good way to pick out something from the competition? I look for some kind of meaningful differentiation. After that, my price-sensitivity kicks in. I will pay a small premium for something better, not a huge premium. And I am delighted when the product is price-competitive anyhow even though it's got an edge. As is the case with this CoQ10 supplement from Viva Labs.

The Viva Labs product also contains BioPerine (trademarked name, not by them). This is basically black pepper fruit extract (piper nigrum). As the name implies, it's an extract from the fruits of black pepper. This may sound mundane, as black pepper is a common spice. Rare is the dining room table that does not have salt and pepper shakers. In my own case, I consume a very high amount of black pepper compared to the normal consumption level. You may have guessed why, already. Because black pepper is a powerful anti-oxidant. And when combined with turmeric, another powerful anti-oxidant I consume in huge quantities, the total anti-oxidant effect is multiplicative, not merely additive. The combination does to cancer cells what Barry Soetoro does to the economy; it's that powerful.

I don't have any information showing that combining this extract with CoQ10 provides an enhanced anti-cancer effect, but think about this for a moment. You almost have to ask why it would not, as it seems almost certain that it does. We can extend the logic to conclude that the Viva Labs formulation of CoQ10 is going to enhance the power of probably many anti-oxidants that are in your body right now.

With several large corporations routinely putting judges and EPA executives on their payroll so that they can continue externalizing their costs by illegally dumping carcinogens and other pollutants into our air, soil, and water, we are at a disadvantage to cancer and need something to level the playing field. Our problem is compounded by the fact that many companies deliberately put carcinogens in containers and sell them as food.

An example is the hydrogenated oil (causes colon cancer) that is used in baking; a popular brand that starts with a C (just like cancer does, but has one letter fewer in its name) can be found in any typical grocery store. Most baked goods have this carcinogen in them. Unless you cook all of whatever you eat, you can't be sure you aren't getting any of several carcinogens into your body on a regular basis.

Then there are all the plastics, solvents, fragrances, etc. Is it any wonder that one in four Americans got cancer thirty years ago but now one out of two does? Melanoma, prostate cancer, and colon cancer are becoming normal. Esophageal cancer, once so rare that a doctor was unlikely to know another doctor who had an esophageal cancer patient, is now common. Pancreatic cancer is similarly enjoying increased popularity.

Take no chances. Fight cancer before it gets a foot hold. Viva Labs CoQ10 can help you do that, if you add it to your cancer fighting arsenal.

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