Vitamin K2- The forgotten vitamin assisting to prevent heart disease
Vitamin K2 – Menaquinone, IS the forgotten Vitamin!
Crucial for bone density, the health of your arteries and blood vessels, and playing a role in many other biological processes, including tissue renewal and cell growth, Vitamin K 2 must be in your awareness.
When was the last time you got some Natto or Chicken Liver into your diet? Because those are your best sources of K2. (eeeew- Don’t worry you are not alone)
Fermented soy beans- called natto! And to a lesser extent, egg yolk, blue cheese, butter and chicken breast, these are the sorts of foods you will find this very crucial Vitamin in.
Dont get confused with the Blood clotting effects of Vitamin K1.
Most of us get plenty of Vitamin K1, in fact 90%, of our dietary requirement from our leafy green vegies- namely spinach, cucumbers, broccoli, and lettuce, yes most of us have phylloquinone- or Vitamin K1 covered.
Its probably not necessary to go into the unwanted effects of Vitamin K3, or as it is also known- menadione, as Vitamin K3 is a synthetic variant you would have to take in a supplemental form- you certainly do not want to take Menadione.
Vitamin K2 builds and strengthens blood vessel walls- helping to build the cells structures, making your arteries more resistant to plaque and hardening of the arteries known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is your pathway to heart disease stroke and heart attack. Vitamin K2 assists in preventing these.
Vitamin K2 will decrease risks of Alzheimer’s and increase your immune system.
Vitamin K2 will increase your Osteoblasts! Yes, your Osteoblasts. Osteoblasts are cells that turn into bone- the more of those blasts you have developing, the denser your bones and less likely you are to develop osteoporosis as you age.
Osteoporosis is not just a degenerative disease brought on by lack of Calcium- most of us now know that above average amounts of Vitamin D is also a requirement if we are to absorb any of the calcium we ingest from our diet. However, it is not just Vitamin D and Calcium we need for optimal bone density and health. Strontium (spinach lettuce carrots beans cheese and celery) Magnesium (dark leafy greens, yogurt, eggs, nuts) Zinc (baked beans, nuts, oysters, chick peas) and Boron (almonds, avocados, walnuts, pears) are all significant players in our bone cell structure. So as you can see from these structural minerals- vegetables, especially your leafy greens are integral to bone structure.
Where do you get your Vitamin K2 if fermented soy beans(Natto) and Chicken Liver aren’t on the top of your shopping list?
- Fermented dairy and cheeses- hard cheese / Soft cheese / blue vein cheese
- Egg yolk
- Butter
- Salami
- Chicken breast
- Ground beef
- Lambs fry
- Kimchi ( a fermented probiotic)
Unfortunately, precise values for some foods that are likely to be high in K2 (such as organ meats) are not available at this time. The pancreas and salivary glands would be richest; reproductive organs, brains, cartilage and possibly kidneys would also be very rich; finally, bone would be richer than muscle meat. Fish eggs are also likely to be rich in K2. And for the record- a good homemade chicken liver pate is to die for! Try “Sam’s butcher” on Bondi Rd. Way back in 1945, Weston A Price was talking of the benefits of a “new” vitamin like activator called Vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 certainly is the forgotten Vitamin.
