Food and nutrition are the only two aspects of a healthy being. Good food is always recommended; however, a balanced nutrition is the key. To maintain a healthy body and mind, one needs to have all the essential nutrients available for the body to metabolize and generate energy.
To achieve a balanced nutrition, one needs to include vitamins in the diet chart. These vitamins come from various sources and are several in number. All of them are important for the body, among them one crucial one is known as Vitamin K. The below write up will pen down various aspects of the Vitamin. Read on to know more!
What is Vitamin K?
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin and is recognized to play a role in blood clotting, bone metabolism and regulating blood calcium levels. Vitamin k is also known as phylloquinone/ menaquinone, mostly found in plants and its products. Vitamin K1 and Vitamin K2 are its subsets. Vitamin K comes under the essential class of vitamins and is the one which is crucial for several body functions.
How does Vitamin K work?
When vitamin k is consumed through plant products, the gut flora converts the same into a storage form. The same stored form of vitamin k is then used to produced clotting factors like prothrombin. Upon any injury, prothrombin is the first compound to attend and without this, blood will not clot, hence injury remains new for a longer period. The same prothrombin is also responsible for bone metabolism, without which bones will lack strength.
Advantages of Vitamin K
- Produces blood clotting factor pro thrombin and is a crucial element body’s defense mechanism.
- It also prevents the chances of bone fracture. It means that it will add strength to the bones to prevent easy fracture.
- In older adults, vitamin k is responsible for a better cognitive health and an efficient memory.
Disadvantages of lower levels of Vitamin K
- Lower levels of the vitamin will result in delayed blood clotting which can be fatal under certain circumstances.
- Evidences of toxicity are rare.
- Deficiency of vitamin k can also lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis.
Sources of Vitamin K
Vitamin K is majorly found in leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce. Other vegetables like cabbage., broccoli when coupled with butter and edible oils will render more influx of vitamin K in the body.
Nothing in excess will do good to the body. However, a balanced diet is the key. Keep your body healthy and wealthy with the rich sources of vitamin K.