What are the Benefits of Vitamin K?

Vitamin K is possibly one of those vitamins that you’ve overlooked when you are looking through your multivitamin cabinet in the kitchen; and that is ok, because a lot of people naturally put their attention into vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D and E. But the alphabet of vitamins does take you to K, and it is important to make sure that you are getting your full dose of it so that your body can reap the rewards.

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What is Vitamin K?

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for various bodily functions. It plays a crucial role in blood clotting and bone health. There are two main types of vitamin K:

1. Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone): This form of vitamin K is found primarily in plant-based foods like leafy green vegetables and fruit seeds like avocado oil.
2. Vitamin K2 (menaquinone): This form of vitamin K is produced by bacteria in the gut and found in animal-sourced products like meat, eggs and cheese.

While both forms of vitamin K are essential for optimal health, it is important to understand their differences.

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What is the Difference between Vitamin K1 and K2?

You might be looking at K1 and K2, and thinking that they’re one and the same thing, but that isn’t quite true.

Vitamin K1, comes from a plant-based source, and is primarily involved in the production of the proteins needed to clot blood, which is essential to blood regulatory health; it is absorbed into the bloodstream relatively quickly and equally passes through the body quickly too.

Vitamin K2, comes from fermented foods, animal products and the body's own gut bacteria. It plays a pivotal role in bone health and cardiovascular wellness; however it is absorbed in a slower fashion than vitamin K1, and has a longer half-life in the body which can be a negative.

What are the Benefits of Vitamin K?

As we briefly touched on when distinguishing between the two types of vitamin K, the health benefits for the body are somewhat broad and impressive, here are just a few of the many benefits of vitamin K to the body.

• Brain Health: There has been a great deal of research conducted recently that indicates that vitamin K may play a role in cognitive function, and incorporating it into your daily consumption may help to protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
• Cardiovascular Health: Some studies also suggest that vitamin K may help to reduce the risk of heart disease by preventing the calcification of arteries and enabling the smooth flow of blood around the body.
• Bone Health: Vitamin K is essential in carrying calcium through the bloodstream into bones, which enables bone mineralization and reduces the risk of fractures through an increased bone density. This is particularly beneficial in older adults where bone density can be diminished.
• Blood Clotting: As touched upon before, vitamin K is essential for activating proteins involved in blood clotting, preventing excessive bleeding and helping to protect the blood when open wounds are brought through drama and injury.

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What is the Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin K?

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin K varies by age and gender. However it is generally thought that the vitamin K deficiency is rare given the natural routes to consumption when working to a balanced diet.

Excessive intake of vitamin K can lead to certain side effects however, especially in individuals who are taking blood-thinning medications like warfarin.

How Can You Increase Vitamin K in Your Body?

To increase your vitamin K intake, incorporate these foods into your diet:

• Leafy Green Vegetables: Spinach, kale, broccoli, and collard greens are excellent sources of natural vitamin K1.
• Cruciferous Vegetables: Brussel sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower are great sources of K1.
• Fermented Foods: Natto, fermented soybean is a rich source of vitamin K2.
• Animal-sourced Foods: Liver, eggs and cheese are good sources of K2.

It is important to consider that food consumption isn’t the only way to get vitamin K into your body. The skin is one of the biggest and best absorbers of vitamins, whether that is vitamin D coming from the sun’s rays or vitamin A from soaps that are naturally rich in it.

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Which Goat Milk Stuff Products are Rich in Vitamin K?

Natural herbs and plant bases such as lavender, lemongrass, and rosemary are all rich in vitamin K, so incorporating some of the Goat Milk Stuff soaps that are rich in these natural ingredients can help you improve your consumption of vitamin K1.

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Please always remember to consult with a medical professional if you are looking to change your dietary intake of vitamins whether it be through food consumption or skin absorption.