Try K2: arteries' best friend

One number changes everything.

Think plant-based oils are enough for your health? Think again. They lack Vitamin K2, a powerhouse nutrient in animal fats, and fermented vegetables that support your bones, heart, and metabolism. Find out why adding K2-rich foods can make all the difference.

Let's explore the role of Vitamin K2, a crucial nutrient in animal fats, in the body's functions. While many health experts recommend plant-based oils like olive or canola, it's important to note that these oils lack this vital vitamin, which can significantly affect the body's functions.

Understanding Vitamin K.

Our body uses two types of Vitamin K, and both play important roles in keeping us healthy:

Vitamin K1 is primarily responsible for blood clotting. It grows naturally in green vegetables. You can find it in foods like collard greens, Brussels sprouts, parsley, and green beans. These leafy greens are packed with this essential nutrient.

Vitamin K2 comes from animal foods and fermented foods. Scientists have identified different versions of this vitamin, such as MK-4 and MK-7, each with unique characteristics. 

Vitamin K2 works synergistically with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D to impart a number of important health benefits, including but not limited to:

Metabolic function.

• Vitamin K2, which serves as a mitochondrial electron carrier, rescued mitochondrial dysfunction, helping to maintain normal ATP production." Since K2 fights reductive stress, it can help reverse insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction.

• Vitamin K2 serves as a mitochondrial electron carrier and helps maintain normal ATP production in mitochondrial dysfunction, such as that found in Parkinson's disease.

Bone and dental health, heart protection.

• Vitamin K2 is a traffic controller for calcium in your body. Instead of letting calcium build up in places it shouldn't - like your kidneys or arteries - it guides calcium exactly where it needs to go. Osteocalcin is a vitamin K2-dependent protein that the body needs to pull calcium from the bloodstream to deposit where we want it: in the bones and teeth. Osteocalcin also stimulates the growth of new dentin, the calcified tissue underneath the tooth enamel, reducing cavity risk and slowing tooth degradation.

• Preventing osteoporosis.

• Preventing hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and lowering your heart attack risk.

• Reducing the risk of osteoporosis and spontaneous fractures in adults with cerebral palsy.

• Protecting against neurological deficiencies, including dementia.Improving disease activity in those with rheumatoid arthritis and improving knee osteoarthritis in combination with vitamin D.

Potential cancer prevention.

• Suppressing genes that can promote cancer while strengthening genes that promote healthy cells.

• The study found that a high intake of vitamin K2 - not K1 - reduces cancer risk and a 30% lower risk of dying from cancer.

And more.

• Optimizing sexual function by increasing testosterone and fertility in men.

• Supporting healthy immune function.

• Decreasing androgens, the male hormones, in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome improves overall performance. Enhancing one's ability to utilize energy as one exercise also improves overall performance.

• Prevent infectious diseases such as pneumonia.

• Supporting growth and development of the fetus during pregnancy.

Why your body needs external sources.

While gut bacteria can produce some Vitamin K2, it's not enough. The K2 produced by bacteria is hard for your body to absorb because:

• It's made in the large intestine, which isn't the primary place for nutrient absorption.

• The vitamin is trapped in bacterial cell membranes.

• An unhealthy gut can further reduce its production and absorption.

The best approach.

To benefit most, focus on consuming animal products from pasture-raised sources. Aged cheeses and eggs are particularly good choices. 

Remember, your health is a journey, and understanding nutrients like Vitamin K2 can help you make more informed choices about your diet.

Finding the best sources.

Not all animal products are created equal. Pasture-raised animals provide the most nutrient-rich sources of Vitamin K2. For example:

• A pasture-raised chicken egg contains 30-40 units of K2

• A chicken egg from a confined farm only has about 10 units of K2

Animal products:

Fermented foods:

Experts suggest consuming 100-200 units of Vitamin K2 daily. Higher therapeutic doses must be coordinated with your doctor.

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Warm regards,
Kos and Helen.