by Paul Fassa
(The Best Years in Life) Inadequate levels of vitamin K2 leads to hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) and osteoporosis. There appears to be a direct relationship between excess calcium in the blood and inadequate calcium in the bones.
[Sponsor link: Cardiovascular Healing & Rebuilding Protocol]
Even MD heart specialists are beginning to realize that arterial calcification from calcium that is not absorbed into the bones causes more heart and cardiovascular problems than cholesterol or other fats. The cholesterol myth is crumbling.
Meanwhile, calcium fortified foods and supplements are promoted and consumed to create excess calcium. This causes more heart health issues and even winds up weakening bone matter if magnesium and other minerals are deficient.
Vitamin K2 with MK-7 moves excessive arterial calcium into bone tissue where it belongs and is needed while removing it from arteries where it can calcify and cause arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.
Vitamin K2 is essential for healthy arteries and strong bones, and it also promotes skin, brain and prostrate health.
A recent discussion between Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue has pointed to another issue for those who supplement vitamin D3 orally instead of soaking it up from the sun.
Unless one has sufficient K2 blood levels, the heart can lose its elasticity from taking D3 supplements. There are issues of potential vitamin D3 toxicity from supplementing, and K2 will minimize that threat.
Mercola and Rheaume-Bleue recommend a proper balance of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D3 supplements with vitamin K2. Since there’s plenty of calcium going around in our diets, it’s probably wise to increase magnesium while making sure you get your K2 in with those D3 supplements. Just like magnesium, vitamin K2 is under-appreciated and under-consumed.
The two doctors reported that “…it seems likely 180 to 200 micrograms of vitamin K2 might be enough to activate your body’s K2-dependent proteins to shuttle calcium to the proper areas.” They also added that too much K2 is not a toxicity issue.
What is Vitamin K?
There are three kinds of vitamin K: K1, K2, and K3. Vitamin K is generally classified as a fat soluble vitamin. This means in order to absorb vitamin K it’s necessary to consume some dietary fat along with your Vitamin K source.
The different vitamin Ks are distinguished by their side chains, basic compounds of which they are made. Vitamin K1 is made of phylloquinone compounds, and is necessary for blood to coagulate properly.
Vitamin K2 is essentially comprised of a group of compounds called manaquiones. With K2, there are different manaquione side chain lengths manifesting different characteristics. The MK-7 variety is the most easily metabolized form of K2. If you use K2 supplements, make sure you see MK-7 listed on the container.
Vitamin K3 is comprised of menadione, which is a synthetic version of vitamin K. It’s used primarily for intravenous medical interventions with infants, sometimes with toxic side effects. K3 won’t work as a nutritional supplement!
Sources of Vitamins K1 and K2
Vitamin K1 was discovered in Germany in 1929 and named koagulation, which we know as coagulation. Vitamin K1 is found in plants, especially leafy greens like spinach, chard, kale, salad greens, parsley, mustard greens and broccoli to name a few.
Read more, http://www.tbyil.com/Vitamin_K2_Paul_Fassa.htm
