Vitamin K is among the less
well known of the vitamins that are essential parts of a healthy diet. Vitamin
K serves many important purposes in the body, and attention to ingesting the
recommended daily intake levels is necessary to the overall health of the body.
In addition to the benefits to physical health, Vitamin K has also been found
to have cosmetic benefits as well.
One of the most important
purposes that Vitamin K serves in the body is the control of blood clotting. In
fact, it plays a significant role in the production of thrombin, which is one
of the most important of the bodily substances related to blood clotting.
Deficiencies can cause frequent
nosebleeds and internal bleeding. A deficiency in Vitamin K is particularly
serious for infants, especially those who are born prematurely, as it can
contribute bleeding in the brain.
Vitamin K is also important to
the health of the bones. It is involved both in their formation and in the
repair of bones that are fractured or otherwise damaged. Recent studies have
found that Vitamin K may help to prevent or at least decrease the severity of
osteoporosis and other bone diseases that cause what is called slow bone loss.
There are a variety of other
physical benefits attributed to Vitamin K. It is important to the proper growth
and development of babies in the uterus. There are very specific birth defects
that are associated with Vitamin K deficiency. These include flat nasal
bridges, cupped ears, shortened fingers and underdevelopment of the nose, mouth
and the middle area of the face.
However, with that said, it is
important to remember that high levels of Vitamin K should be avoided during
the last trimester of pregnancy because, as with all dietary supplements and
medications, too much can be dangerous for the baby.
You should always discuss each
and every dietary supplement you take during your pregnancy with your
healthcare provider, even if it is something you’ve been taking for years and is
a substance you know well.
There are a variety of
prescription medications that can interfere with absorption or the body’s
ability to use Vitamin K. In fact, high doses of certain vitamins and minerals
can do the same.
It is important, then, to discuss
your supplement plan with a licensed nutritionist and, if you are taking
prescription medications, with your health care provider. Vitamin K is very
important to the body and must not be neglected or used incorrectly.
The cosmetic uses of Vitamin K
include success in treating those dark circles under the eyes. Because of its
anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, research has found Vitamin K to
be useful in combating the visual signs of the aging of the skin.
Using dietary supplements that
contain Vitamin K can be a safe and secure means of making sure that the body
meets the daily intake requirements for this essential vitamin, provided that
dosage instructions are followed carefully. This is especially important during
pregnancy, for although Vitamin K plays a vital role in the normal growth and
development of the baby during pregnancy, too much can be toxic. Striving each day to reach the
standard recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals, and other
nutrients is an important way to make sure that our capacity for memory last a
good long time.
The vitamins that make up the
powerful Vitamin B complex are essential to the healthy and efficient
functioning of the brain, not only in the sense of maintaining its physical
structures, but also in the sense of its cognitive functions and feeling of
mental well being. That is because the brain, how we think and what we feel,
come from a variety of chemical and electrical interactions.
The success of these interactions
depends a great deal upon the balance of chemicals in the brain, which is often
a direct result of the nutritional content the brain has to work with. Very
simply, it we don’t provide sufficient fuel, the brain will be unable to
function at peak performance levels.
Vitamin B12, also called
cobalamin, is necessary to the creation of the myelin sheath, which serves to
protect the nerves and to speed up its electrical transmissions, which is part
of how the brain communicates with itself and part of the production of
cognition and emotion. Vitamin B12 is essential for memory and concentration.
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, also serves to enable communication
between nerves.
Vitamin B9, also called folic
acid, has come to the attention of researchers as potentially yield some
protection from Alzheimer’s disease. On every level, maintaining the standard
daily amount of each of the vitamins in the Vitamin B complex is one of the
best things you can do nutritionally to support both the physical structures
and the mental functioning of the brain.
The antioxidant vitamins, Vitamin
C, E, and A, offer vital protection for the brain by controlling damaging free
radicals, which flourish in the brain as, in order to carry out its
sophisticated functions, the brain requires a high degree of oxygenation.
Selenium is a mineral that partners with Vitamin E, enhancing the work it does.
The mineral zinc supports memory, as well, and iron serves to improve
concentration. Nourishing the body undoubtedly nourishes the brain.

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