Vitamin K: The Health Benefits You Never Knew About.
Are You Getting Enough Essential Vitamin K?
An essential ingredient for blood coagulation is vitamin K. The heart, bones, and other organs may also benefit from its protection. There are many health benefits to getting enough vitamin K. Some of the benefits include:
Learn more about this important nutrient:
- Vitamin K: What is it? Some experts say you can’t survive without vitamin K. These physiological functions are aided by vitamin K:
- Blood clotting
- Balancing calcium levels in the body
- Maintaining blood vessels
- Bone health
- What dosage of vitamin K is required? Your age and gender will determine how much vitamin K you need.
- Generally speaking, adult men should consume 120 micrograms (mcg) of this vitamin per day.
- Adult women should have 90 mcg of vitamin K a day.
- Teens should have 75 mcg of vitamin K a day, while younger children may need lower amounts.
- Sources of vitamin K in food. The most popular source of vitamin K is dark, leafy vegetables. Dark green foods like kale, spinach, broccoli, and others frequently have high levels of this vitamin.
- Swiss chard, romaine lettuce, turnip greens, collard greens, mustard greens, soy beans, cauliflower, green peas, and cabbage are other foods that contain vitamin K.
- Although vegetables tend to have a lot of this nutrient, they’re not the only source. You can also add beans, tuna, blueberries, and other foods to get more vitamin K in your diet.
- Are you getting enough? If you’re eating a healthy diet with many vegetables and fruits, you may have enough vitamin K. However, it’s not always easy to tell.
- A healthy diet tends to include enough vitamin K. For example, one cup of kale has more than the recommended daily value of vitamin K that an adult need.
- Nevertheless, it’s possible you may not be getting enough. If you have digestive problems, malabsorption, or liver problems, it may be necessary to take supplements. Conditions such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, or Crohn’s disease can cause a vitamin K deficiency. In other cases, your medications can interfere with the absorption of this essential vitamin.
- If you think you might be short on this important nutrient, talk to a medical professional about your concerns. If you need to supplement your diet, there are many types of vitamins that include vitamin K. Choose one that works for you.
- Special precautions. If you take any type of blood thinners, it’s crucial to be careful with vitamin K. Blood thinners can interact with both food and supplements that contain large amounts of vitamin K.
- Talk about your medications with your physician and discuss how much vitamin K is in your diet and vitamin pills. You may need to make adjustments to avoid complications.
- Symptoms of low vitamin K levels. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, seek immediate medical care:
- The blood may not clot properly after a little cut, which is the first potential problem. This kind of deficit frequently results in problems with bleeding and blood coagulation. Internal bleeding in the digestive system, bleeding from the gums or nose, or other problems are possible.
Consult your doctor about vitamin K intake to be sure you are getting enough to maintain good health. Always get medical advice before making significant dietary changes or experimenting with new supplements or medications.