Saturday, December 22, 2012

Vitamin K and Survival: Your Emergency Supplies

By Terrance Franklin


In the early twentieth century, a Danish scientist named Henrik Dam was studying the results of diet on livestock, specifically chickens and their chicks. While reducing the level of cholesterol in the diet of the chickens, he detected an increased tendency for bleeding to go on rampantly. However, when he reintroduced the cholesterol, the consequences were not corrected. There was something taking place which allowed these chickens to clot. At the same time, infants around the world were struggling with the same disorders, with hemorrhaging problems claiming life soon after birth. What was happening?

Vitamin K: one of your crucial emergency supplies

After joining forces with Edward Doisy of St. Louis University, Dam was able to isolate the compound that allowed the chicks to stop bleeding. He termed it Koagulationsvitamin for its value in coagulation. This has since been shortened to Vitamin K. Since the discovery, it has entered medicine in the form of injections, which are routinely administered to newborns and all those who experience serious bleeding problems.

Today, nutritional deficiency of vitamin K is not common. But there are numerous conditions in which vitamin k absorption is impaired or clotting is decreased. In addition, vitamin K plays a vital role in bone health; Glakay, an anti-osteoporosis medicine used in Japan, is actually a type of vitamin K.

Various forms, several sources

Vitamin K is available in two types in nature, K1 and K2. Like some of the other vitamins we have reviewed, they represent the forms available in plants (K1 or phylloquinone) and animals (K2 or menaquinone). K2 indicates a better track record of avoiding bone loss, although K1 has been proven to avoid bone damage among the aged too. In the body, K1 can be transformed into K2 at around 90%.

The ideal way to supplement K vitamins, in home and in the field

K1 is found in green leafy vegetables, deeper green implies more vitamin content. Kale, the leafy cousin of lettuce, has got among the best content available. Vitamin K2 is present in animal sources, especially fatty ones. Liver, cheese, butter and eggs are probably the best sources available.

Because of the conversion ratio, the form of vitamin K is not actually a factor. But preppers planning to live on a diet of stored grain should be careful to diversify their diet program. Perhaps foraging for local edible herbs such as Chris Nyerges or raising livestock like David Sarti allows somebody to supplement. If bugging out, artificial varieties of K2 may be used as well - K2 is usually known as MK4 in vitamin form. Regardless of what variety you take, Vitamin K must be thought about. Bleeding and bone breakage are 2 things that could be prevalent in a post-apocalyptic world - so know your nutrients!




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