Moringa, Vitamin K and Vitamin D
You have probably heard about the importance of Vitamin D for bone health and how most of us are deficient because we do not spend sufficient time outdoors. Indeed Vitamin D deficiency has become a pandemic. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver and fatty tissues of the body. It helps in the absorption of calcium, strengthens the immune system, promotes bone growth, regulates blood pressure and cell growth.
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. There are two naturally occurring forms of Vitamin K – Vitamin K1 and Vitamin K2. Vitamin K1 is synthesized by plants. It is found in leafy green vegetables, broccoli, avocado and soybeans and is the major form in the diet. Vitamin K2 is synthesized by the gut microbiota and found in fermented foods and some animal products. It plays a critical role in blood clotting, bone metabolism, prevention of hardening of blood vessels and regulation of various cellular functions. Unlike Vitamin D, most people get all the vitamin K they need from diet. It is stored in the liver, so it’s rare to be Vitamin K deficient.
Current research suggests that there is tandem interplay between Vitamin D and Vitamin K. Vitamin D promotes the production of proteins, which require vitamin K to function properly. This synergy is beneficial for bone and cardiovascular health and even for glucose metabolism. It improves bone density, which is great for prevention of fractures. While vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium, Vitamin K mobilizes it away from blood vessels towards other tissues, like the bones and teeth. This way it prevents the calcification of arteries and helps maintain their elasticity. With regards to glucose metabolism, the combination might improve insulin metabolism by increasing the number of insulin receptors, increasing the number of cells that produce insulin and regulate the secretion of insulin from the pancreas.
Knowing this, we should make sure that we have adequate levels of these vitamins in our body. Of course you can also get your Vitamin K fix by consuming our moringa balls. Moringa is a rich source of Vitamins A, E and K. When combined with the fat from nuts, the Vitamin K is more bioavailable. So it really makes sense to take Vitamin D supplements and eat our tasty, energy and nutrient rich and Moringa balls!