Friday, April 04, 2008
Diet & Nutrition
The Role Of Vitamin K
You've heard it before: Consuming foods with a variety of vitamins and minerals is a big step toward good health. Vitamin K is one of the most important vitamins.
Vitamin K has many functions in your body, such as making proteins that cause your blood to clot when you bleed. It also helps your body make proteins for your blood, bones and kidneys.
Teens ages 14 to 18 are advised to consume 75 micrograms per day of vitamin K. Adult men are advised to consume 120 micrograms daily and women 90 micrograms. Newborns typically receive a shot of vitamin K to ensure they have enough.
People taking blood-thinning drugs, or anti-coagulants, need to eat foods with vitamin K in moderation. Too much can make blood clot faster.
The best sources of vitamin K are green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli. Some fruits, vegetables and nuts also provide small amounts of vitamin K.
**Find products that contain Vitamin K on HealthFitLabs.com!**
Content provided by the American Dietetic Association. For more nutrition tips, visit www.eatright.org.