Mercola - Natural Health Products & Articles

Nowadays, vitamin D is the talk of the town because of the influx of reports and studies documenting its amazing health benefits. But besides vitamin D, there are other important but lesser known nutrients that can have a profound impact on your health, and this includes vitamin K.

Vitamin K is sometimes called the "forgotten vitamin" because its health benefits are often overlooked. There are three types of vitamin K: vitamin K1 (phylloquinone), which naturally occurs in plants; vitamin K2 (menaquinone), which is produced by the bacteria that lines your gastrointestinal tract; and, vitamin K3 (menadione), a synthetic form of vitamin K.

Natto, an ancient Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, is the best natural source of vitamin K2. You can also get vitamin K from other fermented foods, as well as vegetables like collard and salad greens, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, asparagus and green beans.

Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin which is crucial in several bodily functions. Here are the five main health benefits of vitamin K:

1. Blood clotting - Vitamin K is so-named because of the German word "koagulation." Coagulation is the process of blood clot formation. 
2. Prevention of Heart Disease and Arterial Plaque - Vitamin K helps prevent the arteries from hardening, which is a contributor to coronary heart disease and heart failure. Studies suggest that vitamin may also help stop the calcification of the arteries and other tissues.
3. Enhance Bone Health and Prevent Osteoporosis - Studies show that vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-7 (MK-7) increases the production of osteocalcin, a vitamin K-dependent protein which your bone tissues need to use calcium. 
4. Fight Cancer - Studies have shown that vitamin K1 may help fight hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer, while vitamin K2 may help treat lung cancer and leukemia.
5. Boost the Immune System and Help Prevent the Signs of Aging - Vitamin K may have antioxidant properties more potent than vitamin E or coenzyme Q10.

However, many people don't get enough vitamin K through their diet, which is why it would be a good idea to take vitamin K supplements, says natural health expert Joseph Mercola.

For Mercola, vitamin K2 in the form of MK-7 is superior to other vitamin K types because it is the most fat soluble. It does not bind to fiber so it is absorbed 10 times faster and stays longer in the body. MK-7 also occurs with good bacteria, which can create probiotics in your body.

Dr. Mercola's Vitamin K2 supplement is made using an exclusive patented formula which extracts the highly bioavailable MK-7 from natto to help you boost your bone and vascular health.

CAUTION: Taking Vitamin K2 while on anticoagulation drugs may lead to adverse side effects. Patients on blood-thinning medications and those who have experienced stroke, cardiac arrest, and prone to blood clotting should not take Vitamin K2 without first consulting their physician. Pregnant and nursing mothers should also avoid taking more than the RDA (65 mcg) of Vitamin K2 unless specifically recommended and monitored by a doctor.