While Vitamin K is a well-known nutrient, its cousin K2 is less commonly incorporated into Western diets. This vitamin works wonders on your teeth, so eat your way to better oral health by incorporating Vitamin K2 into your diet.
Vitamin K2 remineralizes your pearly whites, keeping them clean and clear of cavities and tooth decay. Eating K2 foods ensures your body gets enough of the vitamin and your teeth stay healthy and strong!
What Is Vitamin K2?
You’ve heard of vitamin A, B, C and E, but how about K2? This nutrient hasn’t received the type of attention other vitamins have. It’s typically overlooked when people try to develop a vitamin-rich diet. K2 is one of the most important nutrients for a healthy body, so it’s important to receive a healthy dose of it.
Vitamin K (which stands for Koagulationsvitamin) is an essential nutrient for blood clotting and plays an important role in heart and bone health. K1 is found commonly in plants while K2 is found in animal and fermented food products. K2 is a fat-soluble vitamin. It activates proteins that distribute calcium throughout the body, promoting strong and healthy bones.
Vitamin K2 & Dental Health
Your teeth require substantial amounts of osteocalcin in order to grow dentin. Dentin sits underneath your teeth’s enamel and acts as a protective barrier to keep your pearly whites free from harm. Vitamin K2 stimulates the growth of osteocalcin, leading to stronger teeth.
Vitamin K2 Is Able To:
- Prevent decaying, cracking, and chipping in teeth
- Build firm dentin to protect teeth from harm and decay
- Limit toothaches
- Stop root canal treatments from being needed
- Slow down tooth degradation
- Ensure proper alignment to avoid crooked teeth and a need for braces
- Kill bacteria that lead to cavities
- Prevent gum disease
How Can You Get More Vitamin K2?
It’s not hard to eat enough K1 (green leafy veggies, meat, and eggs are all rich in K1), but incorporating enough Vitamin K2 into your diet can be a bit trickier because it’s less common.
Grass-fed cows and chickens produce the healthiest forms of K2. These meat and high-fat dairy products are loaded with ample amounts of K2:
- Cheddar Cheese
- Egg Yolks
- Butter
- Soft Cheeses
- Dark Chicken Meat
- Goose Liver
If you’re vegan, you can consume Vitamin K2 through natto, a fermented soy product, sauerkraut, and yogurt. Vitamin K2 supplements are also available.
Check out this delicious K2 Smoothie Recipe to start boosting your body with Vitamin K2!
Other Benefits of Vitamin K2
The health benefits of Vitamin K2 do not stop at your teeth. The nutrient has been linked to improving the health of other areas of your body. This includes:
- Preventing heart disease
- Boosting bone health and decreasing your risk of osteoporosis
- Fighting off liver and prostate cancer
- Promoting healthier skin by reversing wrinkles and stopping varicose veins from forming
- Regulating blood sugar
- Preventing kidney stones
