Natural Factors Vitamin K2 100mcg (Mk-7) - 120 V-Caps

Natural Factors Vitamin K2 features vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7 (MK-7), an advanced, fat-soluble form of vitamin K that serves multiple functions in the body. The K family consists of a trio of vitamins: K1 (phylloquinone), naturally occurring in leafy green vegetables and plant oils; K2 (mena-quinone) present in butter, cows liver, eggs, certain cheeses and natto, a fermented soybean food; and K3, a synthetic form of the vitamin. K3 has been shown to have toxic effects on the liver and K1 doesn't have adequate benefits for calcium metabolism to dramatically improve osteoporosis or atherosclerosis. Only K2 in the form of MK-7 has been shown to offer 24-hour protection from a single daily dose. Other commercially available subtypes of K2, such as MK-4, only last four to six hours in the body and are required in much larger dosages to be effective.

Vitamin K1 is easy to obtain from green leafy vegetables. The bacteria in our intestines will convert some of that to K2, but not enough to prevent or treat atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. K2 is found in the diet in natto, a fermented soybean food popular in Japan, as well as in butter, meat, egg yolks, and organ meats from animals that are fed grass instead of grain. As grass-fed animal products are rare nowadays and a taste for natto is difficult to acquire for most Westerners, a vitamin K2 supplement is the best way to ensure you are getting an optimal daily dose of this important nutrient.

Researchers worldwide are only beginning to uncover the many essential roles that vitamin K2 plays in our health. Our growing understanding of this nutrient is rapidly redefining cardiovascular disease as an illness of nutritional deficiency. In addition, a vitamin K2 deficiency appears to be an underlying factor in the development of diabetes. Vitamin K2 also plays an essential role in bone metabolism and promoting healthy teeth. For most people, diet alone will not help them meet their daily requirement of vitamin K2. Daily use of Natural Factors Vitamin K2 makes it easy to get optimum levels of this important nutrient.

Bone Health

Most people do not think about bone health until they are in their later years. This is a mistake because significant increases in bone density can only be made in childhood or early adulthood (up to age 30). For the remainder of our lives the goal is to maintain our bones.

Osteoporosis is a loss of bone density. The bony matrix is of normal composition but decreased amounts because more bone is being broken down than is being produced. Testosterone and estrogen maintain bone density by promoting bone building and slowing bone removal. This is one reason why bone density decreases as we age

Stay active to increase your bone health. Immobility and insufficient weight bearing exercise cause bone loss. Gravity puts a stress on the bone and the body responds by increasing the density of the bone. Exercising in youth actually increases bone density above normal and exercise throughout life protects against bone loss. Maintain appropriate weight because people that are underweight also are at a greater risk for osteoporosis. Their bones are not stressed as much as the bones of people who are of normal weight.

A healthy diet, with sufficient protein intake, is one protective factor against bone loss. Dietary deficiencies of protein cause bone loss because the bone is constantly remodelling itself. Up to 7% of our bone mass is turned over every week. Choose lean meats, fermented dairy products and legumes to fill your daily protein requirements. Supplement with protein powder or amino acid complex if you cannot consume enough protein.

There are a multitude of minerals that form the matrix of the bone. Deficiency in any one of these nutrients can lead to bone loss. Minerals can be lost in the cooking process so eat your vegetables and fruits raw or lightly steamed. Drink filtered or spring water. If you drink reverse osmosis or distilled water replace the missing minerals with a supplement. Vitamin D helps bring calcium into the bone. It is one of the fat-soluble vitamins that are poorly absorbed through the digestive process as we age. In areas away from the equator, skin production of vitamin D is limited during certain times of the year. Eating vitamin D rich foods like fish and egg yolks, and taking vitamin D supplements, will maintain your bone density.