231 – ACTIVECare: the first Slovenian supplement based on the French Mediterranean paradox and the positive role of coenzyme Q10

In this tab, we would like to explain the story behind the development of the product and how we arrived at this composition through various approaches, considerations, and findings from professional literature. ActiveCare drink thus contains ingredients that contribute to bodily processes related to aging, stress, and sports.

Aging: fatigue, inflammation, cardiovascular and metabolic problems

Problems associated with aging include increasing fatigue, metabolic problems, chronic inflammation or so-called inflamm-aging, and complications with the cardiovascular system. After the age of 30, and certainly after the age of 40, the body begins to metabolize sugar and fats less efficiently, resulting in problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, and fatty deposits on the arteries.

Aging also affects cells. Mitochondria, or energy factories for cells, use cellular respiration to produce ATP molecules, which are essentially metabolized glucose molecules that serve as energy for all cells in the body. This process produces free oxygen radicals (reactive oxygen species or ROS), i.e., free oxygen atoms that quickly bind to other molecules. This changes the structure of these molecules and can render them useless to the human body. These molecules then remain in the cells, disrupting metabolism, destroying tissue, and generally accelerating the aging process.

What do sports, stress, and aging have in common? Live fast, die young

During sports activities and stress, the body is in »high gear,« so it produces ATP molecules at an accelerated rate and metabolic processes are generally accelerated. This is why the expression »live fast, die young« is sometimes used.

When the body is working hard, more free radicals are produced and the need for Q10 increases. The need for iron also increases, as iron in hemoglobin binds oxygen, which is essential for the functioning of the human body, especially the muscles.

The role of coenzyme Q10, proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, long-chain fiber, and iron in longevity and healthy skin: the French Mediterranean paradox

The Mediterranean paradox stems from studies of the diet of Europeans after World War II. The paradox lies in the fact that Southern Europeans consume fatty foods, yet cardiovascular diseases are less common.

There are several explanations. The two most well-known explanations are the consumption of olive oil (interestingly, for lowering cholesterol and helping with diabetes, which is why we added olive leaf extract to the GlukoCare 132 drink) and the consumption of wine, or rather, the healthier version, the consumption of polyphenols from grapes.

Among the polyphenols in grapes, we find resveratrol, which also fights these free radicals and, according to some studies, even causes the formation of new mitochondria and activates the SIRT1 group of sirtuins. Sirtuins are proteins that help protect and repair DNA, especially during cell division and the construction of new tissues and skin.

In addition to polyphenols, consuming long-chain fibers from fruits and vegetables, such as FibreGumTM, is also believed to contribute to longevity.

To reduce the harmful effects of free radicals from cellular respiration, the body produces coenzyme Q10. 80% of all Q10 in the body is found inside the mitochondria, but as we age, the body produces less and less of this miraculous molecule.

With aging, stress, and sports, the need for iron also increases, as the body absorbs it less efficiently. After the age of 50, the prevalence of anemia in adults increases and exceeds 20% in those older than 85. In nursing homes, anemia is present in 48% to 63% of residents.