Foods High in Vitamin K

Vitamin K is one of the easier vitamins to achieve the recommended daily allowance in. Vitamin K is produced for us in the small intestines by bacteria, and then is absorbed through the walls of the small intestines. Because vitamin K is fat soluble, the body is able to store it and use it when needed. Because there are many things which may disrupt the bacteria in the small intestines and prevent them from producing vitamin K, such as the use of antibiotics, vitamin K is recommended to be included in a proper diet.

Vitamin K has a few major purposes in the body. The most obvious and frequently associated with vitamin K is blood clotting. Vitamin K is necessary as an intermediate agent in the process that allows our bodies to close wounds. A deficiency of vitamin K will lead to many symptoms associated with a lack of proper clotting include profuse bleeding, frequent nose bleeds, and easy bruising. Vitamin K is also important in bone development, especially in the fetus. A vitamin K deficiency in the mother can cause birth defects in the fetus involving the skeleton. Along with Folic Acid, vitamin K is one of the most frequently tested nutrient levels in pregnant women. Vitamin K is also very important in blood vessel construction and health. A deficiency in vitamin K will result in inflexible vessels which increase the chances a cardiovascular incident.

There are two major sources of vitamin K in the foods we eat. The largest doses of vitamin K can be found in green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce. However, all vegetables and most fruits contain good amounts of vitamin K and even a few helpings can help an individual reach proper levels. Another great source of vitamin K along with many other nutrients is liver.

There are some serious risks associated with overdosing on vitamin K. The most notable is for people who are taking Coumadin, a drug used to thin the blood. Because vitamin K does the opposite as coumadin, care must be taken while on this medication. Besides patients on coumadin, other people must be careful of an overdose of vitamin K because it can lead to thick blood, which can increase the chances of a cardiovascular even such as a stroke or heart attack.