Vitamin K is an essential vitamin that plays a key role in cardiovascular wellness. It is responsible for helping the body absorb calcium, which is essential for strong bones and healthy blood vessels.
It is essential to consume Vitamin K for heart health since it helps to reduce inflammation and protect against oxidative damage, both of which can contribute to heart disease.
In this article, we will explore six key ways that vitamin K supports cardiovascular wellness.
Table of Contents
What Is Vitamin K?
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin found in many foods including leafy green vegetables, dairy products, eggs, and certain oils such as olive oil and canola oil. It comes in two forms: phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and menaquinones (vitamin K2). Both forms are important for optimal health but research suggests that the menaquinone form may be more beneficial for cardiovascular health.
How Does Vitamin K Support Cardiovascular Wellness?
There are several ways that vitamin K supports cardiovascular wellness:
Helps Absorb Calcium:
Vitamin K helps the body absorb calcium from food sources so it can be used to build strong bones and healthy blood vessels. Without adequate levels of vitamin k, calcium cannot be absorbed properly leading to weak bones and an increased risk of heart disease due to calcification of the arteries.
Reduces Inflammation:
Inflammation has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease as it damages the lining of arteries over time leading to plaque buildup which can cause blockages or clots in the arteries resulting in stroke or heart attack. Studies have shown that vitamin k helps reduce inflammation by activating proteins involved in regulating inflammatory responses within cells thus reducing overall inflammation levels within the body.
Protects Against Oxidative Damage:
Oxidative damage occurs when free radicals interact with cells causing them to become damaged or mutated resulting in chronic diseases such as cancer or heart disease if left unchecked over time. Vitamin k has been shown to help protect against oxidative damage by activating proteins involved with regulating antioxidant activity within cells thus reducing overall oxidative stress levels within the body.
Regulates Blood Clotting:
Blood clotting is an important process as it prevents excessive bleeding when we get injured however too much clotting can lead to blockages or clots forming inside our arteries increasing our risk of stroke or heart attack. Studies have shown that adequate levels of vitamin k help regulate blood clotting by activating proteins involved with controlling how quickly our blood clots thus preventing excessive clot formation while still allowing us enough time to heal from any injuries we may sustain.
Maintains Healthy Cholesterol Levels:
High cholesterol levels have been linked with an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, stroke, and other serious conditions related to poor cardiovascular health. Research suggests that adequate intake of dietary sources rich in vitamins like k2 may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels by decreasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol thus reducing overall risk associated with high cholesterol.
Improves Blood Pressure:
High blood pressure has also been linked with an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease, stroke, and other serious conditions related to poor cardiovascular health. Studies suggest that adequate intake of dietary sources rich in vitamins like Vitamin K2 may help improve blood pressure by decreasing systolic pressure while increasing diastolic pressure thus reducing the overall risk associated with high blood pressure.
In conclusion, there are several key ways that vitamin K supports cardiovascular wellness including helping absorb calcium; reducing inflammation; protecting against oxidative damage; regulating blood clotting; maintaining healthy cholesterol levels; improving blood pressure all these factors work together to create a healthier environment inside our bodies allowing us to live longer healthier lives free from chronic diseases caused poor nutrition lack exercise regular medical checkups, etc. Therefore it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough dietary sources rich in vitamins like k2 in order to reap all these benefits they offer your long-term well-being.
Source: NIH