When your doctor says you need to add vitamins to your diet, you really need to start taking their words seriously. Since lack of vitamins will affect your body in various ways, it could become worse by the time you notice. You know that vitamins are needed by the human body to function properly, and K2 is such a vitamin. K2 is a fat-soluble nutrient your body needs to perform functions like necessary blood clotting. You can buy vitamin K2 tablets from nearby stores. You can get them from some food sources as well.
People who cannot find food that contains vitamin K2 rely on the K2 tablets to balance their diet. If you are looking for food items that contain vitamin K, consider the following:
- Leafy greens, plant oils (some), and vegetables have vitamin K1
- Animal products, dairy, and fermented foods contain vitamin K2
In this article, you will understand why K2 is important and about more food items that contain this vitamin. Remember that K1 is a widely available vitamin, whereas K2 is not, and only K2 has all the nutrients your body needs.
Do you need vitamin K2?
Vitamin K2 ensures that your body can function well when minor injuries like cuts and bruises happen. Vitamin K2 helps in healthy blood clotting and prevents excessive bleeding when blood vessels are injured.
90 to 120 micrograms of vitamin K is enough for you, and a daily intake of K2 (10 to 45 micrograms) will benefit your body more. But, the thing is that most of the time, you consume more K1 than K2 via your regular diet. That’s why you need to buy vitamin K2 tablets for a proper diet.
Vitamin K helps in breaking down calcium which helps avoid hard deposits in blood vessels leading in and coming out of your heart. Smooth and flexible blood vessels are great for the healthy circulation of blood in and out of your heart. When you consume K2 regularly, the risk of heart disease falls by 9% (for every ten micrograms consumed in a day). K1 has no significant effect on heart health.
K2 can activate the protein, which helps the mineral bind to your bones, making them strong and healthy. With the intake of enough K2, the risk of low bone density and fractures reduces significantly.
The best thing about vitamin K2 is its anti-cancer properties. It can slow or stop cancer cell activities and improves survival rates. It further decreases the chances of recurrence of cancer cells, acting as an antidote. K2 is good at preventing cancer cells in the liver and prostate.
Which food items contain vitamin K2?
The reason why people buy vitamin K2 tablets is that most food items contain vitamin K1. But some unique food items have more K2 in them. They are:
- Eel
- Natto
- Cheese
- Beef liver
- Chicken
- Butter
- Sauerkraut
- Egg yolk
These food items have enough K2 for your daily diet. If you cannot maintain your diet with enough K2, you can always choose vitamin K2 tablets. People who have weak bones and heart diseases are often suggested by their doctors to consume the K2 tablets daily or alternatively. Only after consulting with your doctor or dietitian can you start your daily intake of K2 tablets.
