Vitamin K—the wonder nutrient! Most people are slightly taken back when hearing that calcium isn’t the end all be all for bone health. Optimal bone health relies not just on adequate calcium levels, but on several other key vitamins and minerals. These include vitamins A, D, and K as well as magnesium, zinc, and manganese. Vitamin D and magnesium are important for the absorption and retention of calcium. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to decrease the amount of calcium the body absorbs to as low as 10 to 15 percent. Possibly the most overlooked and crucial bone-builder is Vitamin K—a key nutrient needed to increase bone density and the binding of calcium to bone. It is also another nutrient which plays a role in reducing the excretion of calcium. Studies have found that those with the highest vitamin K intakes have a 3 times reduced risk for hip fractures. Vitamin K is found in blueberries, oats, cauliflower, and green leafy vegetables. Specifically fermented foods are a good source of the more active form, vitamin K2. These are foods such as sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi and some aged cheeses. For more information on bone health call Be Well Natural Medicine at (651) 686-0440 and schedule an appointment or find us online at bewellnaturalmedicine
Posted on: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 11:30:00 +0000