Vitamin K – Eating right just got a little better

Eating right has always been the best way to get your vitamins. At least it was in my house. Growing up, my plate was full of vegetables – some looking like aliens, and fruits for snacks, nevertheless always “good for me”. Now eating right has an added bonus. Vitamin K. VITAMIN WHAT? Many people are not familiar with Vitamin K. It is not one highly touted on radio or television because it is not an antioxidant; however its health benefits are many and in some cases life-saving. Henrik Dam, a biochemist working on hemorrhaging research, discovered Vitamin K. Naming it “koagulationvitamin”, the name Vitamin K stuck (and it was easier to say). GREAT! WHY DO IT NEED IT? As its name states, Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting. Your body does not produce enough Vitamin K on its own. It requires us to eat foods high in Vitamin K to maintain the levels we need in our body – specifically our intestines. rnAs Vitamin K was further explored, more benefitscame to light. Not only good for blood clotting, it helps with bone development by providing the necessary proteins for strengthening the bone matrix. Vitamin K does this by changing the calcium to bone crystals. In addition, Vitamin K obtained from dark green, leafy vegetables (see sidebar for additional foods) also increases your boron levels. Why are higher boron levels good? For women with a high prevalence toward osteoporosis, it gives them a better chance of fighting this disease. Higher boron levels assist in strengthening the bones, especially in the hips. The good it does for bones – with getting the calcium to where it needs to be, it also helps to prevent calcium build up that can cause kidney stones. rnAdditional benefits include: playing an important role in glucose conversion, promoting healthy liver function, and a reduction in pregnancy-induced nausea. rnWhat's more (besides obtaining Vitamin K), by eating the dark green, leafy vegetables, the fiber intake improves colo-rectal health. We know little about Vitamin K as compared to other vitamins we take daily. As research continues, I am sure more benefits will be discovered. CONTRAINDICATIONS – DO NOT MIX YOUR VITAMIN K Now with all the benefits, keep a couple of things in mind when adding Vitamin K to your diet. The benefits mentioned in this article are from naturally occurring Vitamin K found in foods. Synthetic Vitamin K can have side effects in certain people, like pregnant women. If you are pregnant, avoid synthetic Vitamin K during the last weeks of your pregnancy as it may cause toxicity in your newborn. Furthermore, people taking blood thinners like Coumadin, should avoid high levels of Vitamin K, as it will diminish the medication’s effect. Talk to your doctor about your diet, and the right levels of Vitamin K to consume. rnSo, eating right just got better. Already full of great vitamins and minerals, now there is the benefit of Vitamin K to add to your health.