Why You Should Take Vitamin K Daily
The statistics can sometimes be hard to believe. With all the advances in the world that we have today, many people, even in the most industrialized countries, lack certain basic nutrients needed for proper functioning of their bodies.
One of these essential nutrients is Vitamin K.
It’s essential to have enough Vitamin K in your diet on a daily basis. Why? Well, it plays an important role in blood coagulation, which means blood clotting. It helps to stop the bleeding when tissue is cut or torn in the body.
Those who don’t have enough Vitamin K can suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding in women, anemia, bruising, and bleeding of the gums or nose. Inadequate Vitamin K levels could also lead to osteoporosis, especially in women, and coronary heart disease in both genders.
Typical Sources of Vitamin K
By consuming Vitamin K daily, you can mitigate the chances of these ailments occurring. But how can you get enough Vitamin K? First, make sure you’re eating the right foods.
Phylloquinone (also known as Vitamin K1) is the most common way people obtain Vitamin K daily. It’s found in dark green vegetables like spinach and broccoli. Many oils, especially soybean oil contain plenty of phylloquinone as well.
Dihydrophylloquinone also contains Vitamin K, albeit in unhealthier foods. It’s less biologically active than phylloquinone, and less effective as well. Margarines, spreads, cooking oils, and deep frying oils all contain dihydrophylloquinone and should not be relied upon as your only source of Vitamin K. So, sticking with greens is the best bet.
Best Ways to Get Enough Vitamin K Daily
The best way to ensure you get the proper amount of Vitamin K daily is to use a good overall nutritional supplement. By obtaining adequate amounts either phylliquinone or menaquinone, you can be assured of getting enough Vitamin K.
Menaquinone (Vitamin K2) is found in many of the better supplements on the market today. Unlike phylloquinone, it’s found in meat, eggs, and dairy. While phylloquinones help in blood coagulation (to prevent bleeding), menaquinones are linked to bone density and heart health issues.
How much Vitamin K should you get? The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for Vitamin K is 120 micograms per day for the average male, and 90 micrograms per day for the average female.
These are guidelines, not restrictions, so the more Vitamin K you get on a daily basis, the better.
Many nutritionists recommend eating plenty of dark greens to obtain plenty of Vitamin K1 while sticking with supplements for Vitamin K2, primarily to avoid the negative consequences that associated with excess amounts of red meat. Whatever option you choose, be sure to get adequate amounts of both Vitamin K1 and K2 daily. Your body will thank you for it in the long-run.
