I bet you didn’t know there was a vitamin that is just as important to your body as vitamin D, but is often overlooked. Very few people maintain the proper recommended amount this is simply because no one knows about it, or how they can increase their levels.
Well, that’s all about to change.
What is Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that is most known for the role it plays in blood clotting. Vitamin K is also essential in building strong bones, preventing heart disease, and crucial part of other bodily processes. Researchers say that nearly everyone is deficient in vitamin K. Most people do not get enough in their diet to maintain adequate blood clotting.
Dangers of Vitamin K Deficiency
Arterial Calcification
Cardiovascular disease
Varicose disease
Brain health problems
Osteoporosis
Tooth decay
Prostate cancer
Lung cancer
Liver cancer
Leukemia
Infectious diseases
Best Type of Vitamin K
Vitamin K1: is found naturally in plants and especially green vegetables. It goes directly into your liver and helps maintain healthy blood clotting. Vitamin K2: Made by bacteria that line your Gastrointestinal tract. K2 goes straight into you blood vessel walls, bones and tissues other than your liver. Vitamin K3: Is a synthetic form. It is important to note that this form isn’t highly recommended and has cause toxicity in infants. The most highly recommended form of Vitamin K, is vitamin K2. This is because it is completely natural and not toxic to the body. It is made by your body and also produced by fermented foods. It is essentially a superior from of Vitamin K.
Food Sources of Vitamin K2
Fermented foods
Dark green vegetables
Natto
Raw dairy products
Whole egg mayonnaise
Chicken
Dark meat turkey
Lamb
Duck
Beef liver
Miso
Vitamin K2 Prevents Osteoporosis
A number of Japanese studies show that K2 completely reverses bone loss. Vitamin K2 serves a biological adhesive that helps plug calcium and other important minerals into your bone matrix.
Prevents Cancer
A number of studies show that Vitamins K1 &2 are effective cancer fighters. Consider one study published in the International Journal of Oncology, which found that treating lung cancer patients with vitamin k2 slowed the growth of cancer cells and previous studies have shown its benefits in treating leukemia.
Fat-Soluble
This is extremely important because dietary fat is necessary for the absorption of this vitamin. There fore in order for your body to absorb vitamin K effectively, you need to eat some fat along with it.
Who Needs It?
Those who have a history of osteoporosis or heart disease.
If you maintain low veggie diet.
Eating a poor or restricted diet.
If you have; Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, liver disease.
If you are taking certain broad-spectrum antibiotics, cholesterol drugs or aspirin.
How Much Do You Need?
The recommended daily dosage is between 44-185 mcg for adults. You must use caution with higher doses if you are on any medications. Stay under 150mcg daily for the best and safest results.
Who Shouldn’t Take It
If you are a pregnant or nursing mother, you should avoid taking K2 supplements higher than 65mcg.
Additional Health Benefits
Vitamin K2 deficiency may be a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s disease, and vitamin K2 supplementation may help in preventing it.
Vitamin K2 improves Insulin sensitivity.
Topical vitamin K may help to reduce bruising.
Vitamin K may have antioxidant properties.
Sources:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/03/24/vitamin-k-part-two.aspx