If you feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, the answer may lie deep inside your cells. Energy is made by tiny structures called mitochondria, and two nutrients, CoQ10 and PQQ, play a central role in helping them work well. For women juggling demanding days, supporting your mitochondria is one of the most direct ways to support steady energy and healthy ageing. Here is what mitochondria do, why CoQ10 and PQQ matter, and how to look after them.
What are mitochondria and why do they matter for energy?
Mitochondria are often called the powerhouse of the cell. They are tiny structures inside almost every cell that turn the food you eat and the oxygen you breathe into energy, in the form of a molecule called ATP. This energy powers everything your body does, from your heartbeat to your thinking. Cells with high energy demands, like those in your heart, muscles and brain, contain the most mitochondria. In fact, a single cell can hold hundreds or even thousands of them, working around the clock to keep you going. When mitochondria work well you feel energetic, and when they slow down, which tends to happen with age, fatigue and sluggishness can follow.
What is CoQ10 and what does it do?
CoQ10, short for coenzyme Q10, is an antioxidant your body makes naturally and uses inside the mitochondria to produce energy (Mayo Clinic). It has two main jobs: helping generate cellular energy, and protecting cells from damage as an antioxidant. The catch is that your natural CoQ10 levels fall as you get older (Mayo Clinic), which is one reason energy can dip with age. People taking certain cholesterol medications, known as statins, also tend to have lower CoQ10. Topping up through diet or a supplement is a common way to support energy and healthy ageing.
What is PQQ and how does it support mitochondria?
PQQ, or pyrroloquinoline quinone, is a compound found in small amounts in foods like green tea and certain vegetables. Because the body makes only small amounts and food provides little, some people choose to supplement it alongside CoQ10. It is an antioxidant that researchers are studying for its role in supporting mitochondria, including the way the body forms new ones. PQQ and CoQ10 are often paired because they support mitochondrial energy in complementary ways, one helping to produce energy and the other supporting the health and number of the mitochondria themselves. Together they make a natural partnership for cellular energy.
Why do CoQ10 and PQQ matter for women?
For women, the appeal is steady energy and healthy ageing. As natural CoQ10 declines with age, supporting your mitochondria can help maintain the energy needed for busy days, exercise and recovery. Both nutrients are antioxidants, which means they help protect cells from everyday wear, something that shows in how you feel and how your skin ages. Energy, focus and physical recovery all lean on healthy mitochondria, which is why supporting them can pay off well before older age. Food Grown’sCo-Q10 + PQQ brings the two together in one real food based formula, and 100% Pure Shilajit is another traditional option often used to support energy at the cellular level.
How can you support mitochondrial health naturally?
Your daily habits shape how well your mitochondria work. Regular movement, especially a mix of walking and strength work, actually encourages your body to build more mitochondria. Good sleep gives cells time to repair, and real, whole food provides the raw materials for energy. Managing stress and not smoking protect your cells from extra damage. Supplements work best alongside these basics: a daily multivitamin covers the B vitamins your body needs to turn food into energy. Explore the Food Grown range to support your energy from the cell up.
Why choose Food Grown vitamins?
Food Grown vitamins are made from real food sources, with no synthetic fillers, so your body recognises and absorbs them the way it would nutrients from a meal. When you are supporting something as fundamental as cellular energy, that quality matters. It is the way vitamins should be: real food, real vitamins, as nature intended.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do mitochondria do?
Mitochondria are the powerhouse of your cells. They turn food and oxygen into energy, in the form of ATP, which powers everything your body does. Cells with high energy needs, like heart, muscle and brain cells, contain the most mitochondria.
What does CoQ10 do for the body?
CoQ10 helps your mitochondria produce energy and acts as an antioxidant that protects your cells. Your body makes it naturally, but levels fall with age, which is why many people take it to support energy and healthy ageing.
What is PQQ good for?
PQQ is an antioxidant compound studied for its role in supporting mitochondria, including how the body forms new ones. It is often paired with CoQ10 because the two support cellular energy in complementary ways.
Should women take CoQ10 and PQQ together?
Many people take them together because they support mitochondrial energy in different ways, so a combined supplement is convenient, particularly from your thirties onwards as natural CoQ10 begins to decline. Speak to a healthcare professional if you are unsure.
How can I boost my energy naturally?
Focus on the basics first: regular sleep, daily movement, whole food and managing stress. Exercise in particular encourages your body to build more mitochondria. Nutrients like CoQ10, PQQ and the B vitamins can support these habits, not replace them.
Disclaimer
This blog is intended for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen, particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a chronic medical condition, or are currently taking prescription medication. Individual results may vary. FoodGrown products are dietary supplements and are not intended to replace a balanced diet or professional medical care.
