Vitamin K supplements

Everyone is aware of the fact that vitamins are absolutely essential for the proper functioning of the human body. Most of these vitamins can easily be found in plant and animal based foods. Hence a person who follows a healthy diet, which includes a wide variety of nutritious food, should not suffer from the deficiency of any of the vitamins. Nevertheless, it is quite common to see people take supplements for Vitamin A, B, C, D and E, just in case they do not get an adequate amount of these vitamins from their diets. However, not a lot of people are aware of the importance and benefits of Vitamin K, which is probably the reason why not many people tend to take Vitamin K supplements.

Vitamin K is an essential vitamin, which is required by the body, for the formation of blood clots, absorption of calcium, strengthening of bones, maintaining the health of the arteries and several other reasons. Fortunately, there are several types of food that are high in Vitamin K, which is why it is usually not necessary for people to take any Vitamin K supplements. Some of the foods that are rich in Vitamin K are:

•   Beef
•   Broccoli
•   Cabbage
•   Cauliflower
•   Eggs
•   Green tea
•   Lettuce
•   Liver
•   Soybean
•   Spinach
•   Strawberries
•   Wheat bran
•   Wheat germ

In case a person suffers from a deficiency of Vitamin K, in spite of consuming all the foods mentioned above on a regular basis, it may be best to undergo a physical checkup, as the presence of an underlying condition could be interfering with the absorption of the Vitamin. In case there is no underlying condition, then doctors may just advise patients to add certain Vitamin K supplements to their diets.

Vitamin K supplements benefits

There are several health benefits that have been associated with Vitamin K supplements. Given below are some of the common Vitamin K supplements benefits:

•   It reduces excessive bleeding, even in the form of nose bleeds, heavy menstrual cycle, gum bleeding and so on.
•   It promotes good bone health and maintains the levels of calcium in the bone tissues. Hence, Vitamin K can decrease the risk of fractures and other bone disorders, which includes osteoporosis.
•   It helps in the clarification of tissues in the body, which includes the arteries and the blood vessels.
•   It supports the functioning of a certain form of protein in the blood, known as MGP.

Some of the best Vitamin K supplements can be easily purchased at drugstores or through online resources. However, before taking any Vitamin K supplements, it is important to consult a doctor, for daily recommended doses. Moreover, some brands of Vitamin K supplements may contain higher than the required amounts of Vitamin K. An excess of Vitamin K could lead to severe side effects, as it could interfere with the intake of certain medication. Therefore, in order to avoid Vitamin K supplements side effects it is absolutely essential to check with a doctor, before taking any supplement.

Submitted on January 16, 2014