Vitamin K2
You probably have never heard of vitamin K2. Most people haven’t, but the need for this vitamin activator is very important.
Essentially, vitamin K2 is a nutritional complex that activates vitamin’s A, D and the mineral calcium. If you are thinking bone health, osteoporosis and joint problems, then you are right on track. K2 is part of the vitamin K complex in the category known as quinones. Vitamin K1, known as phylloquinone, is found in the green parts of plants and is commonly recognized to help in blood clotting. Vitamin K2 is primarily used by the body to put calcium where it belongs, in the bones and teeth. It also prevents calcium from going where it doesn’t belong, such as the eyes (cataracts), kidney (kidney stones), arteries (arteriosclerosis), and in the soft tissues of the joints (arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis). K2 is also very important for brain and nervous system health.
Way back in 1945 the brilliant researcher and scientist Weston A. Price found the highest concentration of K2 in milk of certain animals that ate rapidly growing green grasses, in the organs and fat of certain animals and in the eggs and liver of fish. He called the substance Activator X, as the vitamin K complex wasn’t really identified at that time. Since then, however, vitamin K2 has been established as being that same Activator X identified so long ago.
Since the foods listed as having this important complex are not exactly a dietary staple, there are supplement forms available. Unfortunately, the supplement industry in general has lost much of its credibility. There have been too many wild claims of miracle cures, poor regulation of manufacturing and labeling and out and out fraud. The only way to get K2 through supplementation is with cod liver oil and butter oil. Whole food sources are best, but whole food nutritional oils are hard to come by and expensive. Fortunately, there are two products that are of the highest quality and a whole food source. They are Blue Ice High Vitamin Cod Liver Oil, and X-Factor Gold High Vitamin Butter Oil. Both of these products are available on line. Just put in the name of these products in your search engine and you will find suppliers.
Why is this vitamin so important? In past articles I have discussed the importance and efficacy of essential fats in your diet. What you will get from these products are high quality omega 3 and omega 6 fats in the proper ratio. These are essential for bone health, joint pain and controlling inflammation. There has been so much mis-information about fats, both good and bad, that people in general seem to shy away from foods that contain this nutrient.
If you are taking blood thinners, and your doctor has warned you about taking vitamin K (blood clotting), it does not mean you do not need this critical vitamin. Fortunately, according to the research, butter oil will not trigger a powerful blood clotting response and in most cases will be perfectly safe, even if you are on blood thinners.
Researchers in the holistic and nutritional fields have found that the combination of the two–cod liver oil and butter oil—provide a better balance of nutrients than just taking one supplement alone.
If you are suffering from chronic joint pain, arthritis, or degenerative physical problems, nervous system problems or hormone imbalances, then this combination of nutrients may be just the ticket for you. When you combine these two products with other whole food concentrates like we use in the clinic, you have a powerful tool to accomplish the healing your body is designed to do. And since these oil products are mineral activators, you can super charge your protocol of bone health and joint repair.
There has been a wonderful response from my readers indicating their disappointment that I wouldn’t be writing this column in the Gazette any more. Thank you for the phone calls and words of encouragement. Following this response, I have worked out an arrangement with the Gazette to continue writing for a time. As I mentioned last month, my column together with an archive of past subjects is now available on my web site, along with a blog (yes, I have joined the 21st century) that will have a more personal feel to it. Feel free to post any comments you may have directly on the blog site. Thanks again for your support and readership.