Vitamin K Foods

Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting, it maintains blood vessels flexible and it stimulates correct bone development. Deficiencies of vitamin K will lead to improper coagulation of the blood and hemorrhaging from wounds, easy bruising, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, easy bone fractures and even congenital malformations. Too high an intake of vitamin K on the other hand is health threatening too by the risk of heart attacks and stroke due to blood thickening. You can stay away from imbalances by eating enough foods high in vitamin K to meet the body's needs.

Brussels sprout, broccoli, spinach, lettuce and other leafy greens are foods high in vitamin K. Since livestock usually feed on leafy green, their liver contains rich sources of K vitamin. Nevertheless, beef and pork liver are not consumed in very many cultures.

Fruits as foods high in vitamin K represent the most common source for a balanced nutrition. Moderate quantities of vitamin K are found in apricots, apples, bananas, avocados, cantaloupe, blueberries, peaches and grapes. Cucumbers, peas, artichokes, red cabbage, tomatoes and leek also contain vitamin K.

The right way to eat foods high in vitamin K is in a raw state, because cooking destroys the nutrients. Make salads of leafy greens, and if you still need to cook them, make sure that they preserve some of their vitamin K content. Mushy or soggy vegetables hardly have any vitamins left. Cook them light so that the veggies still remain crisp. The nutrients usually leech into the water where you boil the vegetables. Use that for a broth so that you can take advantage of the nutritional value.

Foods high in vitamin K should be part of a balanced nutrition. The body cannot store vitamin K for long periods of time, therefore you need to take it from your meals. Moreover, you can add variation without looking for vitamin K in particular. When you add some fresh berries or a banana to the morning cereal or you have a slice of fresh cantaloupe, you simply enjoy diversity. Eat some celery sticks and a nice leafy green salad at dinner, and your menu will include enough vitamins and minerals.

In case you suffer from some health problem, it is best to ask the doctor's recommendation related to your diet. For example, patients who use warfarin may experience interferences with their blood thinning medication when using it in parallel with vitamin K supplements.