Thursday, December 21, 2017

The Power of Combining Vitamins D3 and K2

The ABC’s of healthy living include vitamins D3 and K2. Now, we’re learning that these two nutrients actually work together to give the body a one-two health boost. Here’s the breakdown on the power of combining vitamins D3 and K2.

Why is vitamin D3 important?

Chances are good you’ve heard about the importance of adding vitamin D, particularly D3, to your diet. It’s a key nutrient primarily known as the vitamin that contributes to strong bones. What’s more, D deficiencies have been linked to numerous chronic conditions, including asthma, depression, insomnia, periodontal disease, autism, cancer, and heart disease.

Why is vitamin D deficiency connected to so many health issues? Researchers believe the nutrient actually turns on and off genes that are responsible for these and many other conditions that impact our lives.

In years past, many of us got the vitamin D we needed from sunlight, which jumpstarts production of the vitamin within the body. However, with the rise in skin cancer awareness, many of us cover up with clothing or sunscreen, reducing the amount of vitamin D the body produces naturally. As a result, many women are deficient in this important nutrient.

Vitamin D can be found naturally in fish, like tuna and salmon, as well as in mushrooms and egg yolks. You can also find it in vitamin D-fortified foods, like dairy products. Check out Top 7 Vitamin D-rich Foods For Optimal Health.

Why is vitamin K2 important?

Vitamin D usually snags all the glory, but its K counterpart may be just as important. This vitamin has long been known as a key component in maintaining proper blood clotting. However, its absence plays a role in cardiovascular health, tooth decay, and some cancers, like liver, lung, and prostate.

Get your vitamin K naturally from foods like leafy greens, including spinach, kale, and chard. It can also be found in eggs and hard cheeses.

How do vitamins D3 and K2 work together?

We already know that D is a component of a healthy skeletal system, but it turns out that vitamin K actually directs calcium to where it needs to go. In other words, it puts calcium in the places you need it—and prevents it from depositing in the places you don’t want it (like your organs). Working as a team, vitamins D and K are essential for keeping bones healthy and strong.

Try these recipes that include foods with these nutrients:

Individual Egg & Spinach Bowls
Orange Glazed Salmon with Wilted Kale
Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms
Lite Tuna Salad Melt
(substitute spinach for butter lettuce)
Stovetop Pork Chops with Wilted Chard and Quinoa

 

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Resources:

Mercola
Vitamin D Council

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