Most people know very little about vitamin K and miss out on its incredible range of health-giving benefits as a result.
Most people know very little about vitamin K and miss out on its incredible range of health-giving benefits as a result. It is estimated that over half of people between the ages of 18 and 44 do not get enough vitamin K from their diets. It is found in foods such as spinach, liver, egg yolks and vegetable oils.
This is alarming, as vitamin K can help protect you from many debilitating diseases, including atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's, and auto-immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and ME. It also plays an essential role in promoting blood clotting after tissue injury - a severe deficiency can result in the failure of this natural process and cause fatal haemorrhaging.
Continuing research into this amazing vitamin is constantly unveiling more benefits for maintaining optimal health, and it is fast proving to be one of the most promising anti-ageing nutrients available.
An effective measure to ward off heart disease
Supplementing with vitamin K can significantly reduce your risk of atherosclerosis - the thickening of your arteries which inhibits the flow of blood around your body. This makes it important in preventing life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke and thrombosis -- which are all associated with atherosclerosis.
If too much of the mineral calcium seeps into your arteries it can contribute to atherosclerosis. This is because calcium deposits form on your artery walls, making them thick and inflexible, and a lack of vitamin K contributes to this build-up.
Vitamin K helps pump calcium out of your arteries and directs it inside your bones instead, where it is needed to prevent osteoporosis (Int J Exp Pathol 2000 81(1) 56-58; Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2000 14(2) 339-353). This double action of vitamin K is due to its chemical configuration which helps bind calcium and carry it to where it is needed most in your body (Hel Med J 1998 2(1), 29-30).
The key to strong healthy bones
Osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance of the mineral calcium in your bones, which thins and weakens them. Vitamin K activates a protein called osteo-calcin in your body, which is responsible for building and maintaining strong bone tissue (Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2001, 41(4) 225-249). It is estimated that women with osteoporosis have only 25 per cent of the levels of vitamin K in their bodies, compared with healthy women.
Vitamin K's role is enhanced even further when used in conjunction with vitamin D and the mineral magnesium -- which also help maintain healthy bones (J Bone Min Metab 2001, 19(3) 146-149).
Lower your risk of Alzheimer's and kidney stones
Excessive calcium deposits not only damage your arteries, but can also interfere with the workings of other parts of your body when it builds up in your tissues -- a process known as calcification. Alzheimer's patients have an abnormal calcium metabolism in their brains and this is thought to be an important factor in causing the condition.
Glands such as your pineal gland (which secretes melatonin, a strong anti-ageing and sleep-regulating hormone) may become calcified due to high levels of calcium deposits, resulting in the loss of melatonin and subsequent sleep problems. The kidneys can also be affected by excessive calcium, causing kidney stones. Vitamin K helps regulate and restrict calcium deposits in these organs and reduces your risk of these conditions developing.