Health Benefits of Vitamin K

One thing about vitamin K you may not know is that it aids in the clotting of our blood. When the body is injured, vitamin K activates the process of healing by slowing the bleeding by clotting. Vitamin K is often given to patients before surgical procedures to prevent excessive bleeding. This particular vitamin has several other health benefits other than its clotting factor for instance, vitamin K assists in the absorption of calcium into the body.

Recent studies indicate that vitamin K can help prevent osteoporosis as well as the loss of your bone density. If there is a strong history of degenerative bone disease or osteoporosis in your family, you should maintain a healthy level of vitamin K in your system.

Another recent study indicates that vitamin K may have anticancer effects and have been added to some patient's preventative treatments. Vitamin K has also been shown to aid in preventing heart disease and heart failure, so patients with heart conditions should also maintain a healthy level of vitamin K in their system as well.

Vitamin K is a major participant of the synthesis of a wide variety of proteins that control coagulation and anticoagulation in the human body. A vitamin K deficiency manifests itself by excessive bleeding when injured or severe bruising when the patient has had a trauma to soft tissue.

Sources of Vitamin K
When you were a little kid remember your mother saying, "Eat your greens", well she was not kidding. All green leafy vegetables are fortified with lots of vitamin K. Most Americans do not eat the recommended amount of these foods to obtain the full benefits of vitamin K. Spinach, collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens and kale have more than the daily recommended amount of vitamin K in each serving and is a great source of this essential vitamin. So the next time you go to pass up the greens, just remember that they are a great source of vitamin K and can help in the clotting factor.

Vitamin K Deficiency's
No one wants to have a deficiency with any vitamin or mineral within his or her body, but sometime we do not have a choice. Some of the deficiencies are connective tissue disorder, excessive bleeding, low bone density, low calcium absorption and liver disease.

Vitamin K Deficiency in Newborns
When a baby is born there is almost no vitamin K in the liver, which can lead to death or permanent brain damage. This is called "Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding" and infants born with this disorder will receive vitamin K one of two ways, injection or a prolonged oral treatment. Either way, it is important to know the risks and benefits of giving your newborn this vitamin.

References for this article came from www.vitaminstuff.com and www.vitaminsdiary.com