K2, the vitamin you’re deficient in but don’t know about.

I’m obsessed with supplements because I want to be healthy, although I’m not all that consistent when it comes to taking them. But my point is, I know how important they are so I’m always open to learning about new supplements and how they help make us healthier.

That’s why I attended a breakfast with NattoPharma, the leader in Vitamin K2 research and development last week to learn about MenaQ7® Vitamin K2 – a vitamin we need to optimise calcium intake and heart health but a huge population, (97% of the Western population) to be exact is deficient in.

Scary I know, so let’s start from the beginning, what’s Vitamin K2? Weak bones and heart health are typically viewed as part of getting old – that our bones degrade and calcium builds up in our heart over time.

In fact, NattoPharma has found out through research that these conditions are not simply age-related; rather, they happen because of Vitamin K2 deficiency.

And that with adequate Vitamin K2 consumed daily, proteins already present in the body called Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) are activated to help protect arteries and soft tissues from calcium deposits in the body.

 Without adequate K2, these proteins remain inactive, leading to weaker bones and stiff, inflexible arteries which is the case for most of Western population – even those consuming healthy diets – are Vitamin K deficient.

All this shines a light on how important it is to consume Vitamin K2 which is possible by eating the right foods. Common sources of Vitamin K1, like green leafy vegetables, do not provide Vitamin K2 as Vitamin K2 is the product of fermentation, and is produced by specific bacteria during the fermentation process.

And thanks to our foods being processed to the hilt, Vitamin K2 has been stripped from our food supply. The richest source of K2 is a Japanese dish called Natto, which is fermented soybeans. While popular in Japan, most Westerners are not familiar with or care for Natto, eliminating a great dietary source. The most popular Western source of K2 is cheese, but we have to focus on quality fermented cheeses, particularly aged (hard) cheeses, because the rind is where we find the all-important Vitamin K2.

That said, we would have to eat an overwhelming amount of cheese every single day to obtain K2’s protective benefits which makes taking supplements a viable alternative.

Which is where MenaQ7®’s new Vitamin K2 supplements come in, as an MK-7 clinically validated to improve bone and cardiovascular health.

I know there’s a lot of science in this post but it’s worth taking the time to read it because it could save your life.

Check out the research behind the vitamin and how it helps maintain healthy bones and heart on the NattoPharma website.