What's the right 'kind' of Vitamin K2? Why does it matter?

If we're honest, the pain we feel when we push a lawn mower, swing a tennis racket or bend down to get our keys didn't just show up one Monday. What began as an occasional sore knee after a run in your 20s is now there to greet you in your mid-40s as you stumble to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

While this inflammation is considered "low-grade" and systemic, it's been building for decades unnoticed. Sustained pain, however, is the signal that it's most likely chronic.

A wide range of studies show chronic inflammation plays a major role in the formation of cancer, obesity, and heart disease. One could argue that chronic inflammation is the leading cause of death in the U.S. As a result, the health-conscious public has been taking it more seriously. 

While there's no magic bullet to stop inflammation, Vitamin K2 seems to represent the best way nature provides to prevent some of the damage, ease the pain and even improve our chances of living longer - depending on when you begin taking it.

While there's no test to measure Vitamin K2 levels in the human body, if you eat high amounts of these foods - you're on the right track:

• Grass-fed organic animal products (i.e. eggs, butter, dairy)
• Certain fermented foods such as natto (traditional Asian dish), or vegetables fermented using a starter culture of vitamin K2-producing bacteria
• Certain cheeses such as Brie and Gouda (these two are particularly high in K2, containing about 75 mcg per ounce)

So what if you — or the customers you're targeting — aren't a Brie fan? Maybe they say "no thanks" to the slimy natto delicacy, but still want to counter the effects of chronic inflammation?  Then a dietary supplement is the best option.

Vitamin K2 supplements have been on the market for decades, but Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) form of Vitamin K2 is a highly bioavailable extract of the Asian soy-food dish natto mentioned earlier. Natto-based Vitamin K2 MK7 functions in the carboxylation and binding of calcium to specific bone proteins. Research shows that MK-7 regulates calcium in the arteries as well. Therefore, natto-based MK-7 ultimately supports both circulatory and skeletal health at the same time.

To find out more about the benefits of Vitamin K2 and the Vesta Nutra natto-based ingredient we carry, contact Valerie Saum at Vesta Nutra, at 888-55-VESTA (888-558-3782) or via email at Valerie@vestanutra.com. She can provide details and insights into this ingredient's exciting potential for inclusion into a single finished product or product line you may be considering. 

You can also download a copy here: Natto_mk7_white_paper