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Chiropractic Nutrition Tip: K1 and K2 for You!

Are you a bleeder? Perhaps that's an inelegant way of diagnosing, but if you have a penchant for bloody noses or bruises easily, you may need a boost of vitamin K. Sitka chiropractic patients' hearts and bones may well gain, too!

Vitamin K

Now, vitamin K isn't a "famous" vitamin, but it's a vital vitamin when it comes to blood clotting. If you had no vitamin K, blood wouldn't coagulate or clot. Some research now also show that it’s influential in keep bones strong in older individuals, too. (1) We'll talk some about that here, too. So Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka thought we'd share some facts about vitamin K that may enhance your chiropractic treatment plan.

What is Vitamin K?

It's a fat-soluble vitamin that the body stores in fat tissue and the liver. You can get it from eating leafy green foods or from the production of vitamin K by the bacteria in your intestines. If you take antibiotics, you may kill off the bacteria which in turn lower your vitamin K stores. So contemplate eating more chlorophyll-filled foods like broccoli, kale, spinach, asparagus, and dark green lettuce. Chlorophyll gives plants their green color and provides vitamin K. (2)

There are three forms of vitamin K:

  • K1 (phylloquinone/natural form or phytonadione/synthetic form) - naturally found in vegetables
  • K2 (menaquinone) - produced by bacteria in the intestines
  • K3 (menaphthone or mendione)

K1 is the only one available as a supplement (in multivitamins or solo tablets). (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka touts dietary intake and sometimes supplementation. We work with our Sitka chiropractic patients to make it easy and convenient for them and their lifestyles to balance their nutrition.

Uses

Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka reviews the total health of our Sitka chiropractic patients, so your heart and bone health is important to us, too.

  • Blood-clotting – K1
  • Heart disease prevention – K2
    • Vitamin K2 is growing in recognition for its heart disease prevention. (3)  
    • In the 10 year Rotterdam study of 4800 persons, those consumed the most vitamin K2 reports have a 50% reduced risk of arterial calcification and 50% reduced risk for cardiovascular events. (4)
    • Another 16,000 person study reports a 9% reduction in coronary heart disease for every 10 mcg vitamin K2 consumed. (4)
  • Bone Health – K2
    • K2 is also gaining notoriety for protecting against osteoporosis.    (5)
    • Vitamin K2 menaquinone is essential for the binding of calcium to the bone matrix. (4)

 

Barriers to Vitamin K Absorption

Gallbladder disease, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, and Crohn’s disease may prevent enough absorption of vitamin K. (umm) Multivitamin supplements or vitamin K shots may work better for them. (2) And if you are on anticoagulant therapy, be careful of your intake of vitamin K through food or supplementation. It may affect how this therapy works. (1)

Since the average vitamin K intake is only 75 to 125 mcg (4), chat with Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka about your intake or lack thereof of vitamin K and your risks for deficiency. Call Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka to set up your next Sitka chiropractic appointment today!
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."