It is possible that Vitamin K2 could be one of the most underrated nutrients in your diet. K1 you may have heard in reference to blood clotting but this K2 is the real boss behind-the-scenes getting calcium where you need it (i.e. your bones) and out of those arteries! The problem? Most people are actually deficient and they do not know it!
While other vitamin deficiencies are not so shy, K2 deficiency is a crafty one. These 5 subtle signs could mean you’re low on the ubiquitous vitamin.
- Good Smile, But Many Cavities
If you are doing absolutely everything the dentist tells you to do, brushing and flossing till your gums bleed yet still getting cavities, K2 deficiency may be at fault. This vitamin is also important for teeth and bones because it activates osteocalcin, which helps mineralise our bone and enamel. Your teeth have a hard time maintaining their mineral density without enough K2 and are, therefore, even more prone to decay.
- Easy Bruising and Slow Healing
Vitamin K1 is responsible for blood clotting, and vitamin k2 assists in the function. A low level of K2 might cause easy bruising from minor bumps or cuts that seem unusually slow to heal. Those who do not eat fermented foods or grass fed animal products regularly are more likely to have this dysfunction.
- Bone Pain or Frequent Fractures
K2-deficiency: Not just bones, but bone quality. Maybe you have certain bone or joint aches and pains that can’t be explained, or develop stress fractures from activities of daily living. This is because calcium cannot integrate into the bone matrix correctly without K2.
- Heart Palpitations or Arterial Stiffness
Where it gets really nasty is the K2 deficiency. If you have too little K2 in your body, calcium will start to form in your arteries rather than going into bones. This may include occasional heart palpitations, hypertension or arteries that are “stiff.” This dangerous calcium buildup is prevented by matrix GLA protein, which can only be activated if K2 (in particular MK-7) is present. For a Vitamin K2 Supplement, visit www.vitortho.co.uk/supplements/categories/a-z-all-supplements/vitamin-k2-200mcg-mk7/
- Chronic Fatigue Despite Adequate Sleep
If your K2 levels are too low, you can’t be using calcium in the body properly and that affects cellular energy production. After K2 is rebalanced in the body, often this fatigue goes away over night.
Getting Back on Track
The good news? K2 insufficiency is simple to remedy. Eat fermented foods such as natto, sauerkraut, and aged cheeses. Grass-fed (not grain, not soy) butter — preferably egg yolks from pasture-raised chickens and organ meats.