Vitamin K: Balancing Body Nutritions

Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting, it maintains blood vessels flexible and it stimulates correct bone development. Deficiencies of nutrition element K will lead to improper coagulation of the blood and hemorrhaging from wounds, easy bruising, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, easy bone fractures and even congenital malformations. Too high an intake of nutrition element K on the other hand is health threatening too by the risk of heart attacks and stroke due to blood thickening. The following suggestions on some foods high in vitamin K can help you stay away from imbalances.

Leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, broccoli, Brussels sprout and kale are foods high in vitamin K. Since livestock usually feed on leafy green, their liver contains rich sources of K element. Nevertheless, beef and pork liver are not consumed in very many cultures.

Fruits as foods high in vitamin K represent the most common source for a balanced nutrition. Kiwis, avocados, cantaloupe melons, grapes, apples, bananas, peaches, apricots and blueberries contain a moderate amount of K nutrition element. The same holds true for vegetables like red cabbage, tomatoes, leeks, artichokes, peas and cucumbers.

The best way to consume foods high in vitamin K is in a raw state, because cooking destroys the nutrients. Make salads of leafy greens, and if you still need to cook them, make sure that they preserve some of their vitamin K content. Soggy or mushy vegetables hardly have any vitamins left. Cook them light so that the veggies still remain crisp. The nutrients usually leech into the water where you boil the vegetables. Use that for a broth so that you can take advantage of the nutritional value.

Foods high in vitamin K should be part of a balanced nutrition. The body cannot store this nutrition element for long periods of time; therefore you need to take it from your meals. Moreover, you can add variation without looking for K element in particular. When you add some fresh berries or a banana to the morning cereal or you have a slice of fresh cantaloupe, you simply enjoy diversity. Eat some celery sticks and a nice leafy green salad at dinner, and your menu will include enough vitamins and minerals.

In case you suffer from some health problem, it is best to ask the doctor's recommendation related to your diet. For example, foods high in vitamin K as well as vitamin supplements could be a problem for patients who use drugs like warfarin and other blood thinners.