K2: How to Get This Important Vitamin

Vitamin K2 has different functions from K1

As you may know, vitamin K1 helps blood clot. K1 deficiency is rare. It’s found in plant foods, mostly leafy greens: kale, collard greens, spinach, turnip greens, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

Vitamin K2 is important for completely different functions. K2 helps to:
• prevent cardiovascular disease
• form strong bones and teeth
• prevent osteoporosis
• prevent kidney stones
• promote healthy skin and prevent wrinkles
• prevent cavities, and more.

K2 is found primarily in animal products and fermented foods. (To keep this brief, we’ll skip the subtypes of K2.) Food sources of K2 are listed below.

While K1 and K2 are similar in structure, they seem so different. Is there any connection between the two? And if so, what is it?

Let’s Start with How K2 Prevents Cardiovascular Disease

K2 promotes the deposit of calcium in bones and teeth, especially when it’s combined with vitamin D3. It does that by activating osteocalcin and other proteins related to skeletal growth and bone formation.