What’s So Special About Vitamin K?

We hear a lot about vitamins A, B, C, D and E, but what about the ones found farther down the line?

Vitamin K is the most overlooked vitamin for bone building and heart protection, and it comes from various sources. Vitamin K1 is found in many vegetables, and K2  is produced by bacteria. K is essential for the proper formation and activation of Gla proteins, a key inhibitor of soft-tissue calcification, preventing it from depositing in the vessel walls.

According to Susan E. Brown, Ph.D., “It appears vitamin K plays an important role in keeping calcium in the bones and out of the arteries.” Foods rich in vitamin K1 include cooked kale, collard greens, spinach, mustard greens, brussels sprouts, asparagus and green leaf lettuce. Vitamin K2, most beneficial for maximal bone health, is found mainly in fermented foods such as yogurt, ripe cheese and fermented soy.

Puts a whole new spin on the phrase, “Special K,” doesn’t it?

—Ninette Terhart