Re: Benefits of Vitamin K

[Guest guest]

Hi Suzi,

I have used herbs for treatment but don't recall seeing anything about the

nutritional value of them. I find that intriguing. Would you happen to know if

there is nutritional value in pure essential oils? Of the herbs listed below, I

use the oil of them and I wonder if I'm getting an added benefit

Thanks,

Laurie

>

> The Health Boosting Benefits of Vitamin K

> By Jo Cavallo

> Already a nutritional superstar, Vitamin K may be even more beneficial than we

> think. Find out how to get your daily dose.

>

> The role of Vitamin K in helping the blood clot normally has been well

> established. Now, there is mounting evidence that Vitamin K is also crucial in

> improving bone health with studies showing that not only does Vitamin K

increase

> bone mineral density in people with osteoporosis, it also reduces the number

of

> fractures associated with osteoporosis, including hip fractures.

> The Nurses' Health Study followed more than 72,000 women for 10 years and

found

> that women with the lowest amounts of Vitamin K had a 30 percent higher risk

of

> hip fracture than women with higher amounts of the nutrient. Vitamin K has

also

> been linked with cardiovascular benefits by preventing calcium calcification

in

> the heart and arteries, which can lead to arteriosclerosis (hardening of the

> arteries).

> Maintaining sufficient amounts of Vitamin K are also said to:

> * improve excessive menstrual flow and menstrual pain,

> * boost the immune system,

> * and even help minimize the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

> Signs you may be Vitamin K deficient include:

> * bruising easily,

> * bloody noses

> * and more than normal bleeding from small cuts.

> However, Vitamin K can interact with drugs, such as the blood thinner

Coumadin,

> rendering it less effective. And the benefits of taking dietary supplements to

> protect against major diseases in healthy people who adhere to a nutritional

> diet are difficult to prove.

> The current average daily allowance for Vitamin K is 120 micrograms (mcg) for

> adult men and 90 mcg for adult women, which you can easily get through the

foods

> you eat. Before upping your Vitamin K intake with supplements, be sure to

check

> with your doctor.

> Vitamin K-Rich Foods

> Eating a well-balanced diet should provide all the Vitamin K you need to stay

> healthy. These foods top the list:

> * Dark, leafy greens: kale, broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard, cabbage and

> watercress. Avocados are also high in Vitamin K. To reap the most benefit from

> these greens, don't overcook them.

>

> * Fruits: Kiwi and plums

> * Spices and herbs: Both the fresh and dried versions of these spices and

herbs

> are packed with Vitamin K: basil, sage, thyme, parsley, coriander, marjoram,

> oregano, and amaranth leaves.

>

> * Nuts and seeds: In addition to being rich in Vitamin K, these nuts and

seeds

> also contain heart healthy unsaturated fats, which can lower cholesterol

levels:

> cashews, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds,

> almonds, and hazelnuts.

>

> * Oil: Olive, soybean and canola oil are all good sources of Vitamin K.

> Sources:

> National Center for Biotechnology Information. " Vitamin K and bone health. "

Web.

> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11684396

> Linus ing Institute at Oregon State University. " Vitamin K. " Web.

> http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminK/

>  

>    Suzi 

> List Owner

> health  

> What is a weed?  A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.

>