There are thousands of people who are experiencing bone related problems due to several factors, such as aging and insufficient intake of essential Vitamins that are needed by the bones to maintain their normal state.
Calcium is the most common nutrient that most people know these days, which the bone needs to develop and maintain strong and healthy. People must know that Vitamin K and Vitamin K2 are also very important nutrients for the bones and teeth.
Taking calcium supplements without supplementing vitamin K is dangerous. Allowing calcium to build up and create harmful deposits that the body cannot process.
Vitamin K can greatly aid in maintaining the health of the bones and teeth since it has the capability of blocking osteoclast formation which can lead to osteoporosis. Other than maintaining the health of the bones, it also provides other health benefits to maintain or even improve the health of a person.
How Can Vitamin K Aid in Maintaining the Health of your Bones?
Vitamin K is a vitamin which is responsible for the full activation and proper formation of GLA proteins. Osteocalcin, which is a GLA protein, can help in binding Calcium to the bone matrix when it is carboxylated by the Vitamin K. The matrix-GLA protein, another GLA protein responsible for maintaining the health of the bones, can be found in the vascular smooth muscles. It is actually the key inhibitor of the calcification of soft tissues which binds the calcium inside the body and preventing it from being deposited in the vessel walls. Both of these GLA proteins, which are very helpful in metabolizing calcium, can only be activated with sufficient amount of Vitamin K in the body.
6 Major Health Benefits of Vitamin K
1. Helps to Keep the Bones Healthy and Strong –
Vitamin K provides maintenance and helps improve the health of the bones through 2 processes.
First of all, Vitamin K has the capability of blocking osteoclast formation. Too much osteoclast can take the nutrients away from the bones and use them in other functions of the body. This process is also referred to as demineralization. The formation of osteoclasts in the body can lead to bone problems such as osteoporosis. You can help prevent this through consuming sufficient amounts of Vitamin K.
Second, the GLA proteins that maintain healthy and strong bones, which are the osteocalcin and the matrix-GLA protein, can only be activated through carboxylation and carboxylation can only happen by having a sufficient amount of Vitamin K in the body. GLA proteins need to be activated so that they can properly bind with Calcium and so that it can be absorbed by the bones.
2. Helps in Maintaining the Normal Blood Clotting Process of the Body –
Vitamin K plays a very important role in the clotting process of the body. This particular vitamin is an important part of the glumatic acid. The Glumatic acid is a type of amino acid which is responsible for the process called carboxylation. This process, other than helping to bind the GLA proteins to bind with Calcium, allows the blood found on an open wound to bind to the nearby tissue for clotting to occur. Most people who have insufficient Vitamin K in their body usually suffer from nose bleeding, hemorrhaging, anemia, easy bruising and heavy menstrual bleeding.
3. Prevent Calcification –
Calcification is simply described as the buildup of Calcium inside a tissue. This can often lead to cardiovascular diseases and can be fatal if not prevented or remedied. Fortunately, this can be prevented through introducing sufficient amount of Vitamin K in the body. Vitamin K can help prevent calcification with the use of the process called carboxylation. Carboxylation has been said to help in activating the matrix-GLA protein and this type of protein can help to prevent the formation of calcium inside the tissues. Through taking Vitamin K, people can avoid cardiovascular diseases, stroke and atherosclerosis.
4. Anti-Inflammatory Property –
According to the studies, sufficient levels of Vitamin K in the body can greatly decrease the release of glycoprotein interleukin 6 which is one of the causes of inflammation.
5. Antioxidant –
Like other Vitamins that contain antioxidant properties such as Vitamins E and C, Vitamin K can also help in protecting the cells from suffering oxidative stress thus, defending the body from diseases.
6. Maintain and Improve Brain Function –
The outer part of a brain nerve, also known as the myelin sheath, needs a crucial fat called the sphingolipids for it to form properly. Vitamin K is known to be important in synthesizing sphingolipids, therefore Vitamin K can greatly aid in the proper function of the brain and the nervous system.
Top Foods Rich in Vitamin K
– Green Leafy Vegetables
– Fresh and Dried Herbs
– Brussels Sprouts
– Broccoli
– Spring Onions
– Asparagus
– Curry
– Paprika
– Cayenne
– Chili Powder
– Prunes
– Pickled Cucumber
– Cabbage
It is difficult to consume a sufficient amount of vitamin K through food consumption alone, this is why supplementing vitamin K is extremely important.
Make Vitamin K Part of Your Routine
Vitamin K is definitely one of the essential nutrients that the bones need to become healthy and strong and to avoid common bone problems such as osteoporosis. Other than that, Vitamin K provides other health benefits for both the brain and the body. Taking sufficient amounts of Vitamin K will surely help a person to live a happy, active and productive life.
