Vitamin K2 Reduces Risk of Type-2 Diabetes

There has been many recent research studies showing important health benefits from getting adequate amounts of vitamin D3 and that Vitamin D3 is a miracle vitamin. There is also another miracle vitamin, vitamin K. The general public knows almost nothing about vitamin K and its great importance to good health. In the next few blogs we will talk about how vitamin K can greatly reduce and reverse calcium buildup in the arteries,increase heart health, improve bone health,reduce the chance of varicose veins,reduce risk of many cancers including prostate cancer,reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes and yes ladies, reduce wrinkles.

Increased intakes of vitamin K2 reduces the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, says a new study with almost 40,000 Dutch men and women.

For every increase of 10 micrograms of vitamin K2 intake the risk of type-2 diabetes was reduced by 7 percent, according to findings published in Diabetes care.

Type-2 diabetes affects almost 24 million Americans, equal to 8 percent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $174 billion, with $116 billion being direct costs from medication, according to 2005-2007 American Diabetes Association figures. These cost are much higher now as type-2 diabetes is increasing each year.

There are two main forms of vitamin k: phylloquinone, also know as phytonadione, (vitamin K1) and menaquinones (vitamin K2). K1 is found in green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli and spinach, and makes up about 90 percent of the vitamin K in a typical Western diet; while K2, which makes up about 10 percent of Western vitamin K consumption and can be synthesised in the gut by microflora.

There are various forms of menaquinones, and these can also be found in the diet: Menaquinone-4, for example, can be found in animal meat, while menaquinones-7, -8, and-9 are found in fermented food products like cheese, and natto is a rich source of menaquinone-7.

Natto is a Japanese original and traditional food make from fermented soybeans. It can be purchased from Japanese food stores or from some health food stores.

You can also buy supplements in pill form than contain vitamin K.

In summary, to increase your intake of vitamin K eat green leafy vegetables, meat, cheese, natto, or if you choose supplements that contain vitamin K. By way of interest, Natto contains by far the highest amount and best form of vitamin K.