Having recently researched the impact that vitamins and minerals have on the body we thought we would share some of the pearls of wisdom discovered at the NHS Choices website.
Although not one of the more commonly discussed vitamins, vitamin K has several important functions.
It is needed for blood clotting, which means it helps wounds to heal properly. There is increasing evidence that it is also needed to help build strong bones.
Good dietary sources of vitamin K include green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach, as well as vegetable oils and cereals. Small amounts of vitamin K can also be found in meat and dairy products.
As well as getting vitamin K in our diet, it is also produced by the bacteria in our bowel.
Adults need around 0.001mg vitamin K for each kilogram of their body weight each day.
It should be possible to get all the vitamin K you need by eating a varied and balanced diet, and any that your body does not use immediately will be stored in the liver for future use, so you do not need to eat it every day.
If you take vitamin K supplements, do not take too much because this might be harmful. There is not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high doses of vitamin K supplements each day, but the Department of Health advises that taking 1mg or less of vitamin K supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm.
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