Vitamin K Rich Foods

People that are on blood thinning or anticoagulant drugs after a stroke or surgery should limit intake of Vitamin K rich foods. Because Vitamin K primarily promotes blood clotting, you should ask your doctor if you should eat more foods low in Vitamin K.

If you are looking to limit your daily of intake of Vitamin K rich foods, then you need to avoid various green and leafy vegetables. Here is a brief list of foods high in Vitamin K: broccoli, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale, cabbage, or cauliflower. If those foods are not on your favorite foods list, then you are all the better.

The role of Vitamin K in coagulation or clotting of the blood was one of the first known functions. Physicians typically prescribe blood thinners and anticoagulant drugs to patients after surgeries and strokes. Due to lack of physical activity these patients are normally at high risk for clotting particularly in the legs.

As mentioned, Vitamin K actually plays an integral role in the synthesis of several proteins that regulate both, coagulation and anti coagulation of our blood. Therefore, some of the anticoagulant drugs have been designed to inhibit or compete with Vitamin K.

Researchers are also looking at other side effects of drugs that inhibit vitamin K. As discussed earlier, Vitamin K has been shown to increase bone density in the elderly. Therefore elderly patients on anti-clotting drugs must also keep a watchful eye on their bone density.

Because of these dangers, people on anticoagulant drugs should see their doctors regularly. Initially, it is important that the patient is monitored so that the physician is able to determine the proper dosage. Patients also need to be monitored when the use of the drug is discontinued, because it takes time for the body to restore the normal clotting ability.

The term Vitamin K actually refers to not only one, but to a group of fat soluble vitamins that are essential for the synthesis and modification of certain proteins that are mostly required for proper blood clotting. In fact, the "K" is actually from the German word for coagulation, spelled "Koagulation". Vitamin K has also been shown to inhibit fungal growth, and some studies show that it helps maintain strong bones in the elderly.

There are two natural forms. The first being Vitamin K1 is also known as phlloquinone. Vitamin K2, or menaquinone, is normally produced by naturally occurring bacteria in the large intestines. In addition, there are three synthetic forms, designated K3, K4, and K5.

Because Vitamin K can be easily found in foods and is also naturally produced by bacteria that line the gastrointestinal tract, cases of Vitamin K deficiency are very rare. However, it does occur. If you bruise or bleed easy, you may be deficient.

Vitamin K is such an integral part of proper clotting that many of the popular manufactures of rodent poisons have taken advantage of this knowledge. Many of the poisons are simply Vitamin K antagonists that inhibit the recycling of Vitamin K in rodents. The rodents simply die from Vitamin K deficiency and bleed to death. Some of the antagonists are so effective, that a single feeding of the poison, can not only kill the rodent, but also cause bleeding in animals, like a cat or dog, that eat the dead rodent.

Our chief source of Vitamin K is actually the synthesis by the bacteria naturally occurring in our intestinal lining. Therefore, in humans it is very difficult to become deficient, even with a low intake of dietary vitamin K. However, we can become deficient if the vitamin does not make it from our digestive tract to our blood stream. A common cause of Vitamin K deficiency is liver disease.

The liver produces bile acids that are secreted into the small intestines where they play a critical role in absorption of lipids. These lipids are important because they are the vehicles by which Vitamin K is absorbed into our blood stream. Liver diseases that decrease the production of bile greatly reduce the absorption of Vitamin K, which lead to Vitamin K deficiency. No matter how much Vitamin K is produce in the gastrointestinal lining or ingested through diet, without proper bile production and lipid absorption, the body will become deficient. So that is one more good reason to take care of your liver.

Antibiotics, that are ingested to treat bacterial infections, not only kill harmful bacteria in our bodies, but also eliminate the good bacteria in our intestines that produce our Vitamin K. To help reestablish the bacteria in you intestines after a course of antibiotics, it is often recommended that you eat yogurt with active cultures. There are also probiotic supplements that are available at pharmacies and health food stores.

We are continually learning more about Vitamin K. Foods high in Vitamin K should be avoided by people taking blood thinners. Today, it is clear that Vitamin K is vital to our health. However, stay tuned as we continue to learn more and more about how exactly Vitamin K plays a role in our daily function and our long-term health.

Vitamin C For Dogs

Vitamin C for dogs has always been a controversy, but most people that claim that Vitamin C can be harmful to your dog simply do not understand all of the facts. It is a water soluble vitamin and just like the controversy with Vitamin B12, it is virtually impossible for it to be toxic to your dog.

Unlike the fat soluble vitamins that are stored in your dog's liver and their fat storage cells, Vitamin C is only stored in very small amounts in their body. In fact, it needs to be replaced daily in your dog's diet or through supplementation. And any excess of Vitamin C will be excreted by your dog in their urine, which makes it impossible to be toxic.

Vitamin C is also not cheleted or bonded to any protein in your dog and as a result it will go through their body or be destroyed within 3 to 4 hours; another reason the pundits that suggest that it can be toxic to your dog are wrong.

There are other critics that suggest that Vitamin C does not have to be supplemented simply because it is synthesized naturally in healthy dogs.

If that was the case, than why does supplementing Vitamin C help your pet with Hip dyspepsia, urinary infections, lameness, ruptured disks, and viral infections, just to name a few.

There have been several prominent veterinarians that have done extensive research on Vitamin C for dogs such as Dr. Wendell Belfield, DVM, that suggest that several diseases and conditions in dogs are caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C.

Functions of Vitamin C:

There are several functions that Vitamin C performs in your dog, but its primary function is that of binding. Vitamin C is crucial for your dog to bind together connective tissues, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

However, it does not stop there as it also helps to bind your dog's cartilages, blood vessels, skin, and their bones.

It is also a master in is role as a detoxifier and is extremely effective in helping your pets immune system fight off by bacteria and viruses that can cause several very serious diseases in your dog. It also stimulates the production of interferon which is essential in the production of red blood cells as well as adrenaline.

Interferons are a small group of proteins referred to as cytokines that are produced by your pet's white blood cells, fibroblasts, and T-cells and are part of the immune system in your dog. They are basically the catalyst in the immune system that responds to viral infections. Their name, interferon, comes from their interference with the production of new virus particles.

They also affect the immune system in other ways. They enhance the activity levels of lymphocyte cells and at the same time they inhibit other immune cells from becoming stimulated; all part of a very sophisticated immune system in your dog. But it must have Vitamin C to stimulate it into actively.

This entire process helps protect your dog from both toxins and stress which can activate several types of attacks against their immune system.

Types of Vitamin C:

There are several types of Vitamin C but the three types major types normally discussed are ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid, and sodium ascorbate. Just like the controversy about the benefits of Vitamin C, there are controversies about which form is the most effective in pets.

There are sides that believe that ascorbic acid is the best form because it hydrolyzes or mixes very easily with water and as a result is much easier absorbed into your pet's intestinal wall. Because of this, it is also much easier to enter into a dog's urine as it exits the body.

Dehydroascorbic acid is the oxidized form of ascorbic acid and it actively imports into the cells within your dog and generates the oxidative potential of these cells. It is believed that this form is easier to transmit by the body.

However, Dr. Wendell Belfield has for several years recommended using only the sodium ascorbate for both dogs and cats as it is much less acidic and has almost no taste. Without the strong taste, it is easier to give to your pet and with the lower form of acidic acid it will not upset the gastric system and cause diarrhea.

The only real side effects produced by Vitamin C will be temporary diarrhea and a stronger yellowish tint in the urine in isolated cases.

Benefits of Vitamin C:

There are numerous benefits in vitamin C for dogs, but the most discussed is with Hip dysplasia. High levels of Vitamin C have proved effective in several studies as this condition in dogs has been equated to a mild form of scurvy, which is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C.

This vitamin may never cure older dog's symptoms, but it has in several cases cured a younger dog. Older dogs will benefit tremendously as it helps to provide major relief from the pain and also helps to increase the movement in the hips.

Bladder infections are also helped with the usage of this vitamin simply because it excreted by the kidneys totally unchanged, and as a result it acidifies the urine of your dog. This stronger acidity makes it very difficult for bacteria to survive. Most all bacteria that cause infections survive and multiply in low acidity.

This is the exact same reason that cystitis bladder infections in humans are helped so much by cranberry juice, which is very high in Vitamin C.

There are also several pundits to Vitamin C that suggest this it causes bladder stones in pets; but the reality is the exact opposite as it actually dissolves them. Maintaining a strong acidity in urine dissolves stones, it does not create them.

A deficiency of Vitamin C slows down the healing process as well as impeding the glandular, circulatory, and immune processes in your dog. It also can cause gum disease which in turn can cause a loss of teeth, bleeding in the gums, and bad breath.

This vitamin also helps with skin problems that are generated by several allergies as well as helping to retard the aging process in dogs.

Summary:

Vitamin C for dogs can never be toxic, it is impossible. It has minor side affects and the list of benefits is so long that it could mean the difference between life and death in your dog. This is a supplement that every dog should get in small doses every day of their life.

Different types of vitamins

The name vitamin appears for the first time in 1912 when the American of Polish origin biochemist Casimir Funk isolated from rice husks containing amine group substance. This was vitamin B1, which he used to cure the disease beriberi. Vitamins are low molecular weight organic substances required in minimum quantities for normal vital activity of humans and animals. Today there are about 30 known vitamins and they influence on growth, metabolism, immune functions, nervous and endocrine system, blood formation, blood coagulation and others. The needs for vitamins are higher during pregnancy, lactation, intense physical and mental work, infectious diseases and others. Shortage or lack of them leads to diseases – hypo vitaminosis and avitaminosis, excessive intake of vitamin A and D to – hyper vitaminosis. Many of the vitamins are used as medicines and are produced by chemical and microbiological synthesis.

 

Some of the most important vitamins for our body are:

 

- Vitamin A

- Vitamin B1

- Vitamin B2

- Vitamin B3

- Vitamin B5

- Vitamin B6

- Vitamin B9

- Vitamin B12

- Vitamin C

- Vitamin D

- Vitamin E

- Vitamin K

 

These vitamins are recommended to be taken very often and some of them in combination with others every day.

 

The idea however that all vitamins are used for the strength of our body and of our immunity is not completely right.

There are many different vitamins so they can be divided into two groups:

 

- Fat-soluble vitamins

- Water-soluble vitamins

 

As fat-soluble vitamins can be attributed vitamins A, D, E and K and the water-soluble vitamins are the B and C.

 

So what can you use these vitamins for except for the needs of your body? They can be used for the hair, nails, for pregnant women, eyes, skin, diabetics and animals too.

 

For example for your hair, you could use the following vitamins – B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, A, C, E and beta-carotene. The lack of those vitamins and proper nutrition will lead to brittle and bloomy hair and its color will lose its shine.

 

Vitamins, which help the eyes are – A, B2, C and E. These vitamins will keep the normal functionality of your eyes and will keep them healthy.

 

If you want to have strong nails you will need these vitamins – A, B, C, D along with zinc, calcium, iron and iodine. If you do not take them your nails will become weak and they will easily break, loose their color and shine and will become dry.

 

And as for the pregnant women, vitamins are very important for the women and for their baby (interesting to know is that the Danish term is Gravid helbred). The vitamins needed for pregnant women are – A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, E and zinc.

 

When talking about vitamins you should be careful not to overdose your daily intake because there could be serious problems. If you want to find out about your personal vitamin intake, you should seek the opinion of a specialist.

Vitamin D Rich Foods

Vitamin D rich foods are very important for your overall health. Vitamin D plays two key roles. One aspect ensures optimal mineralization of bone during growth, but also throughout their lives for their renewal. Another aspect modulates the intestinal absorption of calcium and contributes to the stability of calcium in the blood and tissues. Vitamin D foods are found in two forms: ergocalciferol, which is found in plants and cholecalciferol, which comes from animal products. Although vitamin D belongs to the category of fat-soluble vitamins, it operates as a hormone. Our skin contains a precursor of vitamin D: 7-dehydrocholesterol. This precursor, under the action of sunlight, is converted into cholecalciferol (which has a structure similar to cholesterol).

Two steps are necessary to make vitamin D active when received through nutrient rich foods. The first occurs in the liver where it acquires a hydroxyl group (= OH). The second transformation occurs in the kidney where the molecule receives a second hydroxyl group. The molecule formed is calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D. For the last step, parathyroid hormone is needed.

Role of Vitamin D Rich Foods

Vitamin D is essential for us to absorb calcium and keep bones and teeth healthy. It allows the intestinal absorption of calcium and reduces the elimination of it through urine. It regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Vitamin D foods appear to help in the treatment of psoriasis and increase our resistance to tuberculosis. It also protects against cancer of breast and colon.

Recommended Intake of Vitamin D Rich Foods

It is not easy to determine dietary intakes of vitamin D because they are dependent on sun exposure. Recommended daily intakes in micrograms per day:

0-12 Months: 25 mcg (1000 IU /day)

Healthy children and adults: 50 mcg (2000 IU/day)

Pregnant women: 150 mcg (6000 IU/day)

Who Is At Risk?

Those with insufficient sun exposure are at risk. This is often the case with babies, small children, pregnant women and elderly. The elderly are particularly at risk as they usually don't go out much and don't consume enough vitamin D rich foods. The ability of skin to synthesize this vitamin is reduced and moreover some of them also take drugs that interfere with the absorption of vitamin D. Alcoholics and people with kidney, intestinal and liver disease are also put at a state of risk.

Deficiency Symptoms

A severe deficiency of vitamin D in children causes rickets (bone deformities). In adults, a deficiency results in osteomalacia (softening of bones due to a lack of mineralization). This disease is different from osteoporosis which causes weak bones and makes them porous.

Sources of Vitamin D Rich Foods

Nutritional yeast, mushrooms, wheat germ, fatty fish and fish oils are all rich in vitamin D. For the vegetarian, choices are limited, but if they regularly consume these vitamin D foods or supplements and spend time out in the sunlight, they do not have to worry. Sun exposure is by far the best source of vitamin D. 10-15 minutes of sun a day on the face, arms and hands can work wonders on your skin and will also give you the much required dose of vitamin D. You only need 15 minutes of exposure per day.

Precautions of Eating Too Many Vitamin D Rich Foods

Vitamin D enters the family of fat-soluble vitamins. The body can store it but too much vitamin D can be toxic. The main sources can be harmful to growth and can lead to calcification of soft tissues (kidney, vascular walls) or can cause hypocalcaemia (high blood calcium). Be aware that some drugs block the metabolism of vitamin D (barbiturates, drugs to lower cholesterol, cortisone). In some countries, vitamin D foods such as milk is fortified with vitamin D. It is important to be careful because you can consume too much vitamin D. If you decide to take supplements of this vitamin be sure not to exceed 25 micrograms per day.


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Dog Vitamins

Vitamins are very important to your dog's health. Their function is to help the body repair itself through cell reproduction, bone growth, nerve function, energy and amino acid metabolism, blood clotting, aid in vision, and much more. A prolonged deficiency in any of the vitamins can cause health challenges from dry skin, fatigue, and vomiting to more serious problems like seizures, heart and nerve diseases. In most cases, just choosing a variety of quality food sources will give your dog all the vitamins he needs to live a long happy and healthy life. Let's take a look at the two different types of vitamins:  Water Soluble (All the B Vitamins and C), and Fat Soluble (Vitamins A, D, E, and K)

Water Soluble Vitamins
Let's talk a moment about water soluble B vitamins which are very important for a healthy nervous system, aiding the body in healing, and helping to convert food into energy.  Signs of deficiency could be anything from weight loss, poor skin and coat, nerve damage, anemia, and heart failure.

B vitamins are unstable and are destroyed when exposed to heat, they are also lost from the body when stressed, and since they can't be stored, they are flushed through the system quickly. These vitamins include: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid, cobalamin, and biotin. Vitamin C can be manufactured by the dog and supplementation is not necessary. However, aging and dogs under stress can benefit from having some extra C added to their diet.

Thiamin (B1)  - Converts glucose to energy. Needed to jump start your dogs body.  A must for proper function of the muscles and heart. Thiamine deficiency can result in a loss of appetite, spasms in the hind legs, heart and nerve disease.

The best sources are found organ meat. Other sources are ground beef, chicken, turkey and brewer's yeast. Some even say that it makes a good flea repellent. Oxidation destroys thiamine and so supermarket pet foods are more likely to be thiamine deficient.

Riboflavin (B2) -  Necessary for red blood formation. A deficiency can lead to improper growth, cataracts, and heart failure.

Niacin (B3) -  Improves blood circulation, and aids in central nervous system functioning. A loss of appetite can mean a possible deficiency. 
 
Pantothenic Acid (B5) -It is important for good immune system and adrenal function, and vitamin and food utilization. It is essential in fighting allergies, inflammations, asthma, and infections. Good for reducing anxiety and stress. Sometime allergy symptoms can means a deficiency in B5 as well as premature graying in young dogs, and hair loss. 

Pyridoxine (B6) -Essential for the metabolism of protein. It is required in the utilization of some minerals for a healthy nervous system, red blood cell production, good brain function, and a strong immune system. Anemia, poor growth, artery disease, kidney stones are all signs of deficiency. 

Folic Acid (B9) - Red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis, and protein metabolism depend on this vitamin. Anemia is a sure sign of deficiency. As well as, depression, anxiety, and birth defects 

Cobalamin (B12) - Dry skin and coat.. This vitamin prevents nerve damage, aids fertility, and promotes normal growth and development. Also helps in the digestion of food.

Biotin -  Biotin is involved in the metabolism of sugar and fat. It is essential for thyroid and adrenal health, a strong nervous system, healthy reproduction, healthy skin, and good muscle tone. It is necessary for utilization of fat, proteins, and carbohydrates in the body.  Eggs are high in Biotin, However, raw egg whites contain and protein called avidin that depletes biotin. So it is a must to cook the eggs first.