|

Author:
Lee Dobbins

We don’t hear about Vitamin K too often, but it is vital for good bone density as well as proper clotting of the blood. This is a fat soluble vitamin which is absorbed into the fat tissues and stored to be used by the body as needed. It is produced in the intestines and it’s production can be greatly helped by the presence of good bacteria whose growth is encouraged by eating yogurt with active cultures. It also needs dietary fat in order to be absorbed, but most people who maintain a healthy diet will be getting plenty of that!

Since vitamin K has a large role in the formation and repair of bones, some claim that eating food rich in this vitamin may help in the fight against osteoporosis. Natural foods that are rich in vitamin K are also rich in other vitamins, minerals and enzymes so adding plenty of them to your diet will be helpful to your overall health. However, if you are currently on anticoagulant drugs such as coumadin, you should consult your physician before taking any supplements or eating foods that are rich in vitamin K as this vitamin helps to clot blood and blocks the actions of these drugs.

Some common foods that are rich in vitamin K include:

• Spinach
• Kale
• Cabbage
• Lettuce
• Broccoli
• Green Beans
• Cucumber
• Peas
• Asparagus
• Apples
• Peaches
• Banana
• Tomato
• Carrot
• Potato
• Oats

While vitamin K is contained in most multi vitamin supplements, it is important to be aware that taking it in conjunction with some other vitamins and foods can cause it to become less effective. This vitamin will become less effective if it is frozen or rancid fats, excessive sugar, asprin or antibiotics are present in the diet. Diets high in vitamin E or calcium as well as nuts, fruits, spices and mints can hinder the absorption of vitamin K.
A vitamin K deficiency is very rare in normal conditions but could include nose bleeds, internal bleeding, bruising easily, anemia and certain birth defects.
Vitamin K Toxicity from normal eating habits is rare but can occur if you go overboard when taking supplements. Symptoms include flushing, and sweats. In severe causes jaundice and anemia can also be a symptom of too much of this vitamin.

About the Author
Lee Dobbins is editor of www.a2z-vitmain-and-herbs.com – Vitamin and Herbs Guide For Natural Healing where you can learn more about vitamins, herbs and health. Find out more about vitamin K

| Article Keywords: Nutrient Basics

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Nutrient Basics... Take Your Vitamins, But Don’t Overdose On Them We all know people who go to the local health store like GNC or High Health to get their supply of vitamins. They often go to these places because they feel or even know that they can get a better grade of vitamin there than at the local drug store or supermarket. While this is not a bad idea, a lot of the vitamins sold at the health stores come in much too high of a dose per pill or capsule. Sometimes it is just the person's belief that more is better, but all too often they purchase these mega-dose vitamins at the beckoning of the sales person working there who recommended them. Long ago the U.S. government set the guidelines as to the proper levels of vitamins and minerals people should take and not exceed to help prevent overdose. Many people think that these assessed levels are too low, and believe that it is better to take much higher doses than what is recommended. The question is, is this safe to do? Of course it is a good idea to take a vitamin and mineral supplement, but as it always was, it is still recommended that you get more of your vitamins and minerals from whole food sources. It is not a good idea to think that a poor, improper diet can be made up for by simply taking a handful of vitamin and mineral pills. While it is true that it is hard to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need daily from food alone, vitamin and mineral pills are only meant to fill these little gaps, not totally replace them. When the Food and Nutrition Board of the Academy of Sciences set the recommended daily allowances for each vitamin and mineral, it was done based on studies that determined how much of each vitamin and mineral our body needed and how much we could reasonably obtain from food. It was determined that taking extra vitamins and minerals within the...