Benefits and side effects of Vitamin K1; K2 & K3
Vitamin K2 can lower your risk of osteoporosis, fight off cancer, remove cardiovascular risks and even slow down Alzheimer’s.
What is Vitamin K2?
Vitamin K comes in three different varieties:
- Vitamin K1 is the traditional coagulation vitamin that was discovered in 1929.
Best food sources Cauliflower (3,600mcg), Brussels sprouts (1,888mcg), lettuce (135mcg), cabbage (125mcg), beans (290mcg), broccoli (200mcg), peas (260mcg), watercress (56mcg), asparagus (57mcg), potatoes (50mcg), corn oil (50mcg), tomatoes (5mcg), milk (1mcg).
- Vitamin K2 was originally known as “Activator X” and it can be found in natto, organ meats, eggs and dairy products.
- Vitamin K3 is the man-made synthetic version of Vitamin K.
Vitamin K1 and K2 are completely different from one another and perform very differently once in the body. Vitamin K1 is processed in the liver to manufacture and maintain blood clotting factors. Vitamin K2 is active in the blood steam and bones and ensures that calcium is deposited in the bones and not in the arteries. Please ensure that if you are on oral anticoagulants that you take equal amounts of vitamin K1 and K2 because of a possible risk of over-anticoagulation.
Benefits of Vitamin K2
Vitamin K2 strengthens our bones and teeth. Recent studies in Japan have provided evidence that Vitamin K2 is an effective treatment of osteoporosis by increasing Vitamin K2 or Natto. Natto is an ancient fermented soy bean dish and very popular in Japan. You can buy them under the name: “Japanese Dried Fermented Beans – Hoshi Natto, 70g”.
Vitamin K2 also reduces the amount of calcified deposits in the bloodstream which can lead to heart attacks. It redirects calcium to the bones and teeth where calcium is needed and reduces the chance of having heart complications.
Vitamin K2 and liver cirrhosis: Vitamin K2 vs. a placebo – 90% receiving the Vitamin K2 supplement showed no signs of liver cirrhosis.
Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s sufferers have new hope as Vitamin K2 has been found to be effective in treating these two diseases as well.
Side Effects
No side effects have been reported and most patients that have had their Vitamin K2 levels checked by the medical professionals have been deficient.
Special warning: for patients using oral – anticoagulants.
Please use equal quantities of Vitamin K1 and Vitamin K2 because you can over-anticoagulate.
Reference
Vitamin K1 and K2—Two Underappreciated Nutrients That Are Crucial for Health
