Vitamin K
What Is It?
Discovered by Henrik Dam in the late 1920’s, the vitamin got its name from his published work entitled Koagulations vitamin. Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin, stored in the body’s liver and fatty tissues. There are 3 forms of Vitamin K (K1 - Phylloquinone) from plants. (K2 - Menaquinone) from intestinal bacteria and (K3 - menadione) a synthetic version.
Vitamin K is synthesised by bacteria in the intestines so taking antibiotics can interfere with the process, antibiotics also interfere with absorption of vitamin K.
Vitamin K can be destroyed by radiation and aspirin.
Why Do We Need It?
Vitamin K plays a critical role in blood clotting, so is essential for our everyday health, we will see blood clotting in action when we suffer a cut to the body, without it the wound will not close, allowing continual bleeding. On the other hand blood clotting, when the body has not been injured can cause a problem by mistakenly causing a clot and blocking a healthy functioning blood vessel.
To prevent this a diet rich in Vitamin K foods will help your blood clot normally. Vitamin K also helps the body make use of, and regulate calcium, decreasing the risk of fracture, helping to prevent calcification of the arteries and building strong bones reducing the onset of osteoporosis.
Vitamin K can reduce excessive menstrual flow and help prevent postmenopausal bone loss, it can also reduce the risk of internal haemorrhaging,
Vitamin K is routinely given to newborn babies as a protection against intracranial bleeding that can be life-threatening.
Deficiency Symptoms
Deficiency of Vitamin K is rare, however, it can cause bleeding due to delayed clotting, bruising to the body and nosebleeds.
Deficiencies are found in those with liver or intestinal illnesses, defective metabolism, coeliac disease, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, calcification of the blood vessels or heart valves, weak or fractured bones.
Where Can We Find It?
High Food Sources include broccoli, brussels sprouts, collard greens, kale, lettuce (Romain lettuce can be 4 times higher in Vitamin K than Iceberg) mustard greens, parsley, spinach, swiss chard, and turnip greens.
Very Good Food Sources include alfalfa, asparagus, avocado, basil, beetroot, cabbage, (it may be useful to know that the outer leaves can be higher in Vitamin K than the inside) blueberry, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, green peas, kale, leeks, oregano, peppers, pistachio nuts, pomegranate, sage, sea vegetables, spring onions, thyme, tomatoes and wheatgrass.
Be Aware...
Vitamin K levels can drop as a result of long term use of antibiotics. High doses of Vitamin K supplements can be dangerous if taking anticoagulants, so if taking blood thinning medication let your doctor know if you are eating lots of leafy green veg etc. If Pregnant do not take large doses of synthetic Vitamin K during last few week of pregnancy as this can result in a toxic reaction to newborn. Over consumption of sugar can inhibit vitamin K ab-sorption.
Because one form of Vitamin K (K2) is supplied via our intestinal bacteria, drugs like anti-biotics, can compromise our vitamin K status.
It is also believed that as we age the potential for Vitamin K deficiency may be increased although the reasons for this are not clear, but likely to be due to years of eating hard to digest foods, which eventually clog up the intestinal tract making it difficult for the nutrients to pass through the intestinal walls into the blood stream. So I suspect we are, in later years, deficient in a number of essential vitamins, not only Vitamin K.
It is worth noting that generally it is thought that Vitamin K is well retained when cooked, with research showing an actual increase in Vitamin K when cooked, so good news for those on warfarin who want to juice as most vegetables are much lower in Vitamin K when eaten RAW
Studies/Research
Recent studies highlighted in Life Extension Magazine have confirmed that people with the highest vitamin K intakes are significantly less likely to die from any cause, compared with those having the lowest intakes.
Because of its unique ability to activate proteins involved in atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, diabetes, and cancer, vitamin K is capable of opposing many of the leading causes of death.
Please Note
Vitamins are an essential part of maintaining a fully functional, healthy body - they assist in the growth and development of the body. In combination with all the other essential nutrients they play a part in many roles including metabolism, immunity and digestion. The best and natural way to meet your vitamin needs is to eat a balanced diet containing a variety of raw fruits and vegetables. If you can't meet your needs through food alone, then, and only then you may require dietary supplements. If you feel you need help via alternative methods you must seek guidance from your doctor, nutritionist or natural juice therapist before taking supplements.
References
www.whfoods.com
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
www.nps.org.au
Nutrients A - Z Dr Michael Sharon
Readers Digest Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements.
Vitamins & Minerals DeMystified - Dr Steve Blake
New Optimum Nutrition Bible - Patrick Holford
The Vitamin Bible - Earl Mindell
Nutritional Healing - Phyllis A. Balch CNC
www.lef.org
Disclaimer
Please be aware that we are not Doctors, so it is important BEFORE making any changes that you consult with your GP or Medical Practitioner. The suggestions above are not meant as an alternative to any current medical treatment so please DO NOT stop taking any medications you are on. They are also not an endorsement of their effectiveness, nor a recommendation that they should be followed but instead, provided for informational purposes. None of the information on the Natural Juice Therapy site is intended or implied to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease.