Facts about Vitamin K
Why do we need vitamin K?
Vitamin K is one of the fat-soluble vitamins. It helps the body make proteins that are needed for normal blood clotting. Vitamin K also is needed for making important bone proteins.
What happens if we don’t get enough vitamin K?
Not getting enough vitamin K can cause serious problems with blood clotting. Without vitamin K, blood takes a long time to clot. This can cause excessive blood loss and increased risk of death from injuries.
Anticoagulant medications such as warfarin (Coumadin®)interfere with normal use of vitamin K in the body. Eating very large or very small amounts of vitamin K can change how these drugs work. So it’s best to limit your intake of foods such as spinach and turnip greens, which are very high in vitamin K. If you take an anticoagulant, keep your vitamin K intake consistent from day to day.
People who take anticoagulants should check with their doctor before taking vitamin E supplements, or herbs such as ginkgo and garlic. High doses of vitamin E can interfere with the action of vitamin K in the body.
How can we get enough vitamin K?
Vitamin K is found mostly in vegetables, especially green vegetables. Collards, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage contain vitamin K. Some fruits, such as kiwi, blackberries, and blueberries are also good sources.
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