Vitamin K2 is not often referenced in the typical Western diet, but it plays an essential role in maintaining good health. Taking a Vitamin K2 supplement, or a blended supplement regime that incorporates it can be a great option to support your body in a variety of functions, including disease prevention and blood circulation.
What is Vitamin K2?
Vitamin K2 is also called menaquinone and was only discovered in the late nineteen twenties. This essential nutrient is associated with blood coagulation -- or, clotting. It is also believed to be a key link between diet and certain chronic diseases. Vitamin K2 is found in animal products as well as in fermented food. It is often confused with Vitamin K1, which is the more commonly known K-vitamin and is found primarily in plant-based sources. Vitamin K2 has been linked to bone and heart health and may help to prevent the onset of common illnesses and even tooth decay.
Why take Vitamin K2 Supplements?
Vitamin K2 serves a variety of purposes, including working to prevent heart disease. Heart disease is partially caused by calcium buildup in the arteries, which K2 disrupts by preventing calcium from being deposited into the arteries. Additionally, Vitamin K2 supplements may reduce your risk for osteoporosis and other bone mass diseases. This is again due to the way that K2 aids in the metabolism of calcium, another essential nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones. This link with calcium is also why the earliest discoveries of Vitamin K2 were linked with lower cases of tooth decay in groups of people with higher densities of the then “mystery nutrient” in their diet.
Like many supplements, these claims are still understudied in human cases, but the evidence so far is promising.
Vitamin K2 Supplements FAQ:
Do vegans need to take Vitamin K2?
Vitamin K2 is largely prevalent in animal products, though it can also be found in fermented foods. Therefore, those following a vegan diet may be well-advised to take a vitamin K2 supplement to compensate for the amount of this micronutrient they may be missing.
Are all K vitamins the same?
Vitamin K1 and K2 are different and serve entirely different purposes in the body. There is little evidence in favor of the benefits of K1, but K2 is thought to aid in maintaining good bone and heart health.
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