Author Description

Dr. Erika Schwartz is a mitochondria maniac. She's focused on this cellular organelle because it's so ubiquitous (they can be found in nearly every cell, excepting those in the lens of the eye and red blood cells). Mitochondria are responsible for cellular metabolism, and some researchers suspect them to be at the crux of the aging process. As the theory goes, mitochondria weaken with age, and the body's energy stores gradually plummet. Death is the eventual outcome. Schwartz thinks that two supplements--Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10 for short) and L-carnitine (not D-carnitine, which may be toxic), taken several times daily with meals, may short-circuit the mitochondrian breakdown. (L-carnitine is an amino acid, while Co-Q10 is an antioxidant synthesized by the body from the amino acid tyrosine.) Schwartz explains in layman's terms how these two supplements are key to optimal health. After quizzing you about which of seven major "energy breakdown" signs you may have, she then suggests varying doses of Co-Q10 and L-carnitine, along with additional supplementation of magnesium, calcium, L-glutamate, or omega-3 fatty acids, depending on your particular symptoms. Her patients swear by this natural energy program, and she provides a bibliography of scientific studies in case you'd like to read the research or tip off your own doctor to it.