What is Vitamin K?

What is Vitamin K?

Vitamin K encompasses a group of chemical related fat-soluble compounds known as naphthoquinones. This group of naphthoquinones includes vitamins K, K1, K2, and K3. Vitamin K1 is the natural form of vitamin K (phytonadione). Plants contain Vitamin K. Plants are the primary source human obtain through vitamin K.

How Vitamin K Helps Our Body

Vitamin K assists in the transport of calcium throughout the body, regulates blood clotting, an essential nutrient necessary for injury repair. Vitamin K contributes to regulating healthy blood clotting. Vitamin K may also help prevent artery calcification.

What happens if you do not have enough vitamin K?

If you have low levels of vitamin K it may raise the risk of uncontrollable bleeding. Vitamin K deficiencies are rare in adults, but they are very common in newborn infants. It is standard the United States medical practice to inject a single dose of vitamin K into newborns.

While vitamin K deficiencies are uncommon, you may be at higher risk if you:

  • Have a disease that affects absorption in the digestive tract, such as Crohn’s disease or active celiac disease
  • You take medication that interfere with vitamin K absorption
  • You are malnourished
  • You heavily consume alcohol
  • Most people receive enough vitamin K in their daily diet.

 

Vitamin K is used to counteract an overdose of the blood thinner Coumadin

Vitamin K is abundant in:

  • green tea
  • leafy greens
  • cauliflower
  • brussel sprouts
  • liver
  • soybean oil
  • Swiss chard
  • kale,
  • parsley
  •  spinach
  •  Fermented dairy that includes yogurt, cheeses, and fermented soy.

Vitamin K2 is believed to be useful to enhance bone density and reduce the risk of bone fractures.

Click on Vitamins to read about the benefits of other vitamins and supplements.

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You can click below to purchase a bottle of NOW Vitamin K2.

 

 

You may also find The 15 Best Omega-3 Foods helpful. 

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