Welcome to another week and another post, we are still talking about understanding your vitamins, we will be digging deep into vitamin K.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes in two forms. The main type is known as phylloquinone, it is found in green leafy vegetables like collard greens, kale, and spinach.
however, the other type, menaquinones, are found in some animal foods and fermented foods. Menaquinones can also be produced by bacteria in the human body.
Vitamin K helps to make various proteins that are necessary for blood clotting and the building of bones. Prothrombin is a vitamin K-dependent protein directly with blood clotting. Osteocalcin is another protein that requires vitamin K to produce healthy bone tissue.
Vitamin K is throughout the body including the liver, brain, heart, pancreas, and bone.
It breaks down very quickly and leaves in urine or stool. Because of this, it rarely reaches toxic levels in the body even with high intakes, as may sometimes occur with other fat-soluble vitamins.
Food Sources
- Phylloquinone; Green leafy vegetables including collard and turnip greens, kale, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuces, Soybean and canola oil, Salad dressings made with soybean or canola oil, fortified meal replacement shakes.
- Menaquinones; Natto (fermented soybeans), Smaller amounts in meat, cheese, eggs
This is where we will draw the curtain for today here and continue next time, but always remember that we at secure health are just a click away