Vitamin K2 has been called the forgotten vitamin. For almost a century, this remarkable nutrient has been seemingly ignored in America, even by those who claim to be super healthy. Do you ever eat an omelet without the egg  yolk thinking you are doing yourself a favor? Well, don’t be so quick to toss out that yolk, it contains vital amounts of vitamin K2. It seems that eating a whole egg is not so bad after all.
One reason this vitamin K2 may have slipped under the radar as being essential to human health is because we can convert vitamin K1 to K2. However, it is now being determined that we need extra K2 in order to support optimal health. Much like like vitamin D in its health promoting properties, vitamin K2 unquestionably deserves recognition. Researchers estimate that up to 99% of the population is deficient in this vitamin.
Benefits of Vitamin K2
A study recently published by the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition has revealed that increasing vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by up to 35 percent. Vitamin K2 is essential in the transport of calcium to necessary locations such as bones and teeth, and it keeps calcium out of other places it does not belong such as soft tissue. K2 does a significant job inhibiting osteoporosis because it allows calcium to flow into the bones and bone marrow where it builds up both strength and density. Compare this to pharmaceutical drugs for osteoporosis that merely build up density without strength. This vital vitamin also plays a significant role in making the walls of blood vessels stronger and boosting the immune system. Research also indicates that getting enough K2 may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
Who Is Deficient
Vitamin K2 is a fat soluble vitamin and requires dietary fat in order to be absorbed. People who do not consume enough dietary fat are at a significant risk of being deficient. In addition, those who struggle with conditions such as colitis, Chron’s or ulcerative colitis may also be lacking in this important vitamin. Cholesterol drugs and
broad-spectrum antibiotics also block vitamin absorption.
What are the Best Sources of Vitamin K2?
Fermented foods such as cheese, sauerkraut and natto contain substantial amounts of vitamin K2. In fact, natto has the highest recorded amount of any food, although this Japanese dish made from fermented soybeans takes some time to acquire a taste for. Curd cheese, although not nearly as packed with vitamin K2 as natto, is still a good option. Be sure to choose cheese made from grass-fed cows only. Other foods high in K2 include egg yolks, chicken livers, butter, chicken breast and ground beef.
It is likely that we will hear a lot more about vitamin K2 and its health benefits in the near future.
-The Alternative Daily
