Vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 is a newcomer in this research-driven world. However, that does not mean Vitamin K2 is not worth your time. A multitude of studies have shown Vitamin K2’s effectiveness in three categories: cardiovascular health, bone health, and children’s health. And more research is being done every day to support its benefits in these crucial areas to the general population. Consider the following: • Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of men and women in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And with our terrible diets and lack of mobility, that ranking should hold. • Bone health is an unseen and understated source of misery for Americans: each year, an estimated 1.5 million Americans suffer a bone fracture because of bone disease, according to the Office of the Surgeon General. In 2010, the CDC reported that there were 258,000 hospital admissions for hip fractures among people aged 65 and older. One out of five hip fracture patients die within a year of their injury. • As you will read in this book, many health issues endured in adulthood can be diminished or even prevented if the right nutritional choices are made in childhood. And that goes double for bone health. We attain approximately 90 percent of our peak bone mass by the time we are 18 or 19 years old. So why is Vitamin K2 so valuable? Very simply put, Vitamin K2 is the body’s light switch. It activates or “turns on” important proteins in the body such as osteocalcin for strong bones and the matrix Gla protein (MGP), which keeps calcium—that crucial bone-building nutrient—away from your arteries so they don’t harden and lead to cardiovascular disease. That makes Vitamin K2 something that can be taken as a complement to magnesium, calcium, and other well-established dietary nutrients. And you don’t have to worry about the possible side effects that come with pharmaceuticals. In my own practice, I discuss four keys to good health with every patient: nutrition (including supplements), exercise and flexibility, stress management, and sleep. These are the keys to wellness. Pharmaceuticals do not take care of everything. You have to do most of the work yourself. Ask any healthy person–they will readily admit how much time and energy they devote to maintaining good health. I always urge my patients to talk to me when they come in for a visit. That spirit lies behind this book. Not only is each chapter’s title a question, "Vitamin K2: The Missing Nutrient for Heart and Bone Health" is presented as a conversation between you and me: doctor and patient. Throughout the book, you will also encounter nuggets of information that complement our conversation called “Healthy Hints”, and each chapter concludes with a list of takeaways called the “Doctor’s In(Sights).” I will provide information in a clear, concise way while also providing the opportunity to dig deeper into Vitamin K2’s assets. Or you can simply go to whatever subject — excuse me, question — that matters most to you. There is no wrong way to read this book as long as you learn something and put those lessons into practice.