When we think of vitamins essential to our bodies’ wellbeing, vitamin K probably isn’t the first nutrient that comes to mind. That being said, the overlooked nutrient has several incredibly important and indispensable health benefits. The key vitamin K benefits include supporting the skeletal system and facilitating normal blood clotting. We will also take a closer look at vitamin K2’s ability to support our cardiovascular health and how to maintain a healthy vitamin K level to prolong our youth.
As an essential nutrient, vitamin k has critical functions. Chief among them is to help blood clot and aid in maintaining bone density and health. In other words, vitamin K is indispensable to both the cardiovascular and skeletal systems. With its deficiency resulting in fatal outcomes in cases of injury, vitamin K is critical for keeping one’s clotting ability intact. Its role in preventing excessive bleeding is absolutely vital for a person’s wellbeing.
Beyond the cardiovascular system’s needs, the body utilizes another form of vitamin K, vitamin K2, for the maintenance and growth of the skeletal system. It does so by activating osteocalcin and directing the mineral to bind to the bone. As a result, the bone gains density, growing stronger and more resistant to fractures with vitamin K2 supporting it. A sufficient amount of vitamin K2 in the body reduces the likelihood of bone fractures considerably, thus improving one’s quality of life as they age.
With scientists coming to a consensus that the nutrient has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, its benefits extend further beyond preventing excessive bleeding. The vitamin is beneficial to the vascular system’s wellbeing in that it prevents calcification and keeps the arteries flexible. Vitamin K2 helps the body remove the calcium from the food we eat and deposit it in places where it is needed, namely bones. As a result, we are able to utilize it to its maximum potential – prevent fractures while keeping ourselves from developing cardiovascular diseases.
Vitamin K2 benefits, as we have established, are critical to staying healthy, but how can we get more of it into our bodies? The source of vitamin K1 is relatively easy to find, with leafy green vegetables being rich in it. However, we would need to consume several kilograms of spinach or other greens to satisfy the daily vitamin K requirement. Fortunately for us, vitamin K2 is found in more easily accessible and digestible food sources. Most commonly, we can find vitamin K2 in natto – a fermented soybean product staple in Japanese food culture. Cheese and other dairy products such as egg yolks and liver also contain the vitamin.
Vitamin K requirements change depending on a person’s age, sex, and a number of other causes. Still, it is beneficial to keep both forms of the vitamin in one’s diet to be on the safer side and prevent diseases related to its deficiency. Before taking vitamin K to supplement one’s diet, it is also important to consult with a healthcare professional to make sure it would not interfere with any medication the person takes. One should especially keep that in mind while taking anticoagulant medication as vitamin K2 would prevent it from doing its job.
To conclude, the article discusses the variety of ways vitamin K benefits people while also providing an in-depth insight into its primary uses and areas of application. The vitamin’s ability to prevent blood loss and facilitate normal blood clotting is indispensable to the cardiovascular system. Similarly, vitamin K2 helps keep bones resistant to fractures, reducing overall fracture risk. As a result, the likelihood of a person suffering from a fracture and being permanently disabled is reduced, vastly improving their quality of life and prolonging their youth.