Category Archives: Vitamin K2

Liposomal Vitamin D3/K3, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2

The Perfect Pair of Nutrients? Why Vitamins D3 and K2 go Together So Well

It’s fair to say we need a generous helping of vitamins and minerals in our diet to ensure we remain healthy and our body functions as it should. In that regard then, is there one vitamin or mineral that’s more important than another? Well, it’s probably best not to look at it that way. Do two or more of these nutrients go together better than the others? Again, it’s surely best to try and consume as many of them as possible. And yet, that said; there are two specific vitamins that do seem to pair off particularly well – and to that end are often available together as a natural supplement – the Vitamins D and K2.

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Biomulsion D, Heart health, Suntrex D3, Vitamin D3, Vitamin K2

Don’t be Deficient: Vitamin D and Men’s Heart Health

With any amount of luck, the year will soon be properly moving on from the cold of winter to the relative warmth of spring and the temperatures will rise for all of us. And with that comes increased daylight. However, for those who work through the night, getting enough daylight hours can be an issue not just in the winter months, but throughout the year. And, don’t doubt it; there can be biological implications if they don’t manage to do so.

Indeed, several clinical studies conducted in recent years have proved that deaths owing to cardiovascular diseases are higher in winter months than at other times of year. The reason for this? Well, it may not just be coincidence because one study suggests that men with low levels of Vitamin D are more likely to suffer from a heart attack than those with higher levels of the vitamin in their bodies1. What’s the connection here, you may ask? Well, it’s that Vitamin D’s widely referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’ – and for good reason. Although an essential vitamin for the human body, it is traditionally derived via exposure to sunlight as it prompts the body to produce the vitamin.

Exposure to sun for around just 15 minutes, three times a week is said to be sufficient to produce enough quantities of Vitamin D for the body. And yet, everyone’s body is different and some, maybe most certainly need far more. Indeed, there’s no question that, for instance, for the majority of the men who took part in the aforementioned study, to eradicate their Vitamin D deficiency and increasing their body’s levels of it would reduce the chance of suffering a heart attack.

What does Vitamin D do?

But what is it that makes Vitamin D so essential? Why do our bodies need it so much? Not only does it play a critical role by encouraging and ensuring the absorption of magnesium and calcium takes place in the body, but also – and perhaps why it has the aforementioned connection to heart health (especially in men) – its presence in the body makes sure there are adequate levels of calcium and phosphorous in our blood, which means both these crucial elements are carried to the organs where they’re required for our bodies to function correctly and keep us healthy and well.

Vitamin D supplements

Now, you may be one of the fortunate people who does – and, indeed, make sure you – get a decent amount of ‘sun time’ in the summer; that’s good for sure, so long as you take precautions when the sun’s at its hottest (and its harmful UV rays) are at their most potent at the height of the day. But, even so, it’s probably unlikely you’re actually getting enough Vitamin D from this method alone. And, if that’s the case, what about those poor people who are, for whatever reason, not able to do as you do come the summer months? And those who barely see the sun at all in less warm months when there’s far less daylight?

The truth then is that the vast majority of us could do with a little help in boosting our Vitamin D levels. To that end, supplementation is the ideal avenue to turn to. And one of the best Vitamin D supplements on the market (actually the best-selling for us at The Finchley Clinic) is Vitamin D3 (5,000iu) with Vitamin K2. Not only are its capsules chewable and capable of being taken sublingually, but they also have a terrific apricot flavour and, among all the other attributes and benefits to your body they offer, they’re great for supporting both the skeletal and the immune systems. Indeed, it’s the supplement’s additional ingredient, Vitamin K2, contributes to bone strength and arterial and heart health (reducing calcification or even decalcifying and likely reducing blood pressure).

Moreover, you may also be interested in the following supplements that are also ideal for boosting your Vitamin D intake:

suntrex

Suntrex D3 – a premium quality product created by extracting oil from nutrient-dense lichen plants, it provides support for the immune and nervous systems and promotes good organ, bone and brain health; suitable for vegans.

 

BioMulsion-D

Biomulsion D – A fluid-based Vitamin D3 supplement, it provides maximum strength and convenience in a few tiny drops for those who’d prefer not to take tablets or capsules.

Reference:

1. Giovannucci E., Liu Y., Hollis B. W. and Rimm E. B. ‘25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men’. Archives of Internal Medicine. June 2008; 168 (11): 1174-1180.

Alpha vegicaps, BioCardio, Heart health, Vitamin K2, Vitamins & Minerals

Hale and hearty: the route to a healthy heart

Only a fool would decry the importance of the heart to their body and thus the importance of a fit heart to their overall health. After all, given it pumps blood throughout the body, supplying organs and cells with all-important oxygen, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and, at the same time, removes from them toxic carbon dioxide, the heart’s arguably the most crucial muscle there is. A weak heart makes for a weak person; a heart that doesn’t work means you won’t work, plain and simple.

And yet, despite all that, how many of us properly look after our hearts? Not enough of us, that’s for sure. Otherwise there’d be far fewer cases of heart disease and general ill-health; especially among those of a certain age.

Dos and don’ts

So what should we all do – and, more than that, what’s easy for the vast majority of us to do – to try and ensure our hearts remain healthy? Well, here are some simple steps most of us should start to follow, for those who don’t already…

  • Exercise regularly – don’t forget that the heart’s a muscle, therefore it should be worked
  • avoid toxins especially bad for the heart (such as pesticides, insecticides and heavy metals like mercury and lead)
  • stop smoking – aside from the carbon monoxide in tobacco smoke that reduces blood oxygen levels, tobacco damages your arteries’ lining, thanks to the build-up of the fatty material atheroma, which narrows the arteries and causes anginas, heart attacks and strokes
  • avoid high-fat foods and too many fizzy drinks that feature artificial sweeteners

Get your diet right

Away from the aforementioned ways you should and shouldn’t live your life to keep your heart functioning as it should, there are also specific foods you can introduce into your diet. Just eating more of the following could be a big help…

  • Salmon – thanks to the Omega-3 fatty acids it contains, salmon’s a fine source for Vitamin D, thus can help address the low levels of the vitamin in too many adults, which has been long associated with heart problems and, as a consequence, premature death1
  • Broccoli – this and other cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, kale and sprouts) are widely considered to help cut the risk of cardiovascular disease2; indeed, a recent study suggests they lower the chance of cardiac-associated death more than other vegetables and fruits3. Moreover, research in the last few years has found that a compound in broccoli (indole-3-carbinol or I3C) appears to counteract aspects of heart failure, thus it may provide cardiac protection4
  • Asparagus – protection of the cardiovascular system (the body’s system responsible for blood circulation) is aided by phenolic acids, which commonly occur in asparagus; this is because these acids play a big role in making sure detoxifying enzymes help remove drugs and other toxins from the system5
  • Chickpeas – not only do chickpeas contain the aforementioned heart-health-friendly Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as incredibly nutritious vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium, but also a study has revealed they can help lower cholesterol levels, thus easing the workload of and pressure on the heart6
  • Spinach – Popeye was certainly on to something, for just a single helping of spinach should deliver 20% of your daily recommended amount of magnesium, the mineral that’s absolutely key to achieving proper muscle function, healthy blood sugar levels and favourable blood pressure7
  • Almonds – research suggests that consuming almonds is better for balancing cholesterol than cutting saturated fats from your diet (although the latter’s recommended too), in addition to the fatty acids they contain contributing to good cardiovascular health8
  • Olives – the Mediterranean diet has long been considered good for the heart, not least because it includes olives and olive oil, with their Omega-3 fatty acids, phenolic acids and antioxidant properties; thus helping to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease9.

Heart-health supplements

However, if for some reason, you might find it difficult to integrate any of the above foods into your diet or (perhaps because of pre-existing issues) you’re unable to exercise regularly or can’t prevent being exposed to heart-harming toxins, then you may consider turning to the following supplements to improve the health and efficacy of your heart. They’re all available from The Finchley Clinic – in fact, we recommend them whether you’re able to follow the previous steps in this article or not…

alpha-90-vegicaps

Alpha vegicaps (90 and 30 capsules) – cardio-protective and great for your general heart-health, this supplement’s major ingredients are alpha lipoic acid (an antioxidant excellent at countering free radicals) and acetyl L-carnitine (an amino acid highly effective in the fat metabolism process)

biocardio

Bio Cardio (300ml) – delicious thanks to its essential of orange oil flavour, this liquid-based supplement contains the Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA ensuring that, when combined with a low fat diet, fish oils and plant sterols, there’s a strong likelihood it’ll help reduce cholesterol levels and support platelet integrity

vitamin-k2-30-tablets

Vitamin K2 (60 and 30 tablets) – while, on its own, Vitamin K aids normal blood clotting and helps keep bones strong and healthy, this particular form of the vitamin (K2) appears to be a great contributor to good heart-health, aiding effective blood circulation.

References:

  1. Thomas G. N., ó Hartaigh B., Bosch J. A., Pilz S., Loerbroks A., Kleber M. E., Fischer J. E., Grammer T. B., Böhm B. O. and März W. ‘Vitamin D levels predict all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in subjects with the metabolic syndrome: the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) Study’. Diabetes Care. May 2012; 35(5): 1158-64. doi: 10.2337/dc11-1714.
  1. Edmands W. M., Beckonert O. P., Stella C., Campbell A., Lake B. G., Lindon J. C., Holmes E. and Gooderham N. J. ‘Identification of human urinary biomarkers of cruciferous vegetable consumption by metabonomic profiling’. J Proteome Res. Oct 7 2011; 10(10): 4513-21. doi: 10.1021/pr200326k.
  1. Zhang X., Shu X. O., Xiang Y. B., Yang G., Li H., Gao J., Cai H., Gao Y. T. and Zheng W. ‘Cruciferous vegetable consumption is associated with a reduced risk of total and cardiovascular disease mortality’. Am J Clin Nutr. Jul 2011; 94(1): 240-6. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.110.009340.
  1. Deng W., Zong J., Bian Z., Zhou H., Yuan Y., Zhang R., Guo H., Zhang Y., Shen D., Li H. and Tang Q. ‘Indole-3-carbinol protects against pressure overload induced cardiac remodeling via activating AMPK-?’. Mol Nutr Food Res. Apr 27 2013. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201300012.
  1. Yeh C. T. and Yen G. C. ‘Effect of vegetables on human phenolsulfotransferases in relation to their antioxidant activity and total phenolics’. Free Radic Res. Aug 2005; 39(8): 893-904.
  1. Pittaway J. K., Robertson I. K. and Ball M. J. ‘Chickpeas may influence fatty acid and fiber intake in an ad libitum diet, leading to small improvements in serum lipid profile and glycemic control’. J Am Diet Assoc. Jun 2008; 108(6): 1009-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.03.009.
  1. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Magnesium.
  1. Ortiz R. M., Garcia S. and Kim A. D. ‘Is Almond Consumption More Effective Than Reduced Dietary Saturated Fat at Decreasing Plasma Total Cholesterol and LDL-c levels?’ A Theoretical Approach. J Nutr Metab. 2012; 2012: 265712. doi: 10.1155/2012/265712.
  1. Pauwels E. K. ‘The protective effect of the Mediterranean diet: focus on cancer and cardiovascular risk’. Med Princ Pract. 2011; 20(2): 103-11. doi: 10.1159/000321197.