Vitamin K Foods - The Very Important Vitamin You Have Never Heard Of

Few individuals have ever learned about vitamin K and even fewer have any concept what foods are vitamin K foods. It is totally vital for your body to be able to coagulate blood to cease bleeding if you are injured. This vitamin takes the label of "K" from the German word "koagulate". As a fat soluble vitamin, vitamin K is kept in your body versus water soluble vitamins which only pass through your body.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin K is 85 micrograms (mcg) a day. Most people don't have to fret about a deficiency in vitamin K, foods containing the nutrient are prevalent and the level you need every day is not too extravagant. An example of how easy it is to get your daily intake of vitamin K is that one and a half tablespoons of fresh cut parsley has 100% of your daily supply.

Veggies that are deeply green in color are the highest in vitamin K, with the hearty veggie kale in the lead. Kale is a super food in its own right. Not only does it deliver over 1,000 mcg's of vitamin K a serving, it is also the most protein filled vegetable known. Spinach and cooking greens, for example turnip, beet and collard greens, are all very high in vitamin K. And not only do vegetables contain vitamin K but foods such as eggs, dried plums and pasta each have more than 50 mcg a serving.

Usually someone with a deprived diet will have to get medical attention for a deficiency in a more vital vitamin that is more difficult to attain before they ever arrive at the point of being deficient in vitamin K. People who are in danger for not having enough vitamin K include newborns, individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, those with cystic fibrosis and those with liver disease. A newborn baby only has 30-50% of the clotting abilities of a healthy grown-up. In most first world nations, newborns are given a small dose of vitamin K soon after birth as a preventative measure.

Symptoms of a deficiency include bloody noses, anemia, not forming complete scabs if bleeding and bruising easily. Although vitamin K in the supplemental form is atypical, it is commonly considered safe for all populations. Avoid high amounts of vitamin K if you are older and at risk for strokes because vitamin K will increase the number of blood clots that could possibly trigger a stroke.

Other factors to get enough vitamin K foods are that it helps to battle cancer with its antioxidant like attributes, strengthen bones, and can reduce the appearance of bruises and dark under eye circles. Although not well recognized and usually not a problem for many people, vitamin K is a mighty and very important vitamin.