Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting, it maintains blood vessels flexible and it stimulates correct bone development. Deficiencies of vitamin K will lead to improper coagulation of the blood and hemorrhaging from wounds, easy bruising, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, easy bone fractures and even congenital malformations. The other extreme, with an excess of vitamin K, is health threatening too as it involves blood thickening and heart attacks. The following suggestions on some foods high in vitamin K can help you stay away from imbalances.

Leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, broccoli, Brussels sprout and kale are foods high in vitamin K. Since livestock usually feed on leafy green, their liver contains rich sources of K vitamin. Nevertheless, beef and pork liver are not consumed in very many cultures.

Fruits as foods high in vitamin K represent the most common source for a balanced nutrition. Moderate quantities of vitamin K are found in apricots, apples, bananas, avocados, cantaloupe, blueberries, peaches and grapes. Cucumbers, peas, artichokes, red cabbage, tomatoes and leek also contain vitamin K.

The right way to consume foods high in vitamin K is in a raw state, because nutrients are destroyed by cooking. Instead of cooking vegetables, make some nice salads. Mushy or soggy vegetables hardly have any vitamins left. Cook them light so that the veggies still remain crisp. The nutrients usually leech into the water where you boil the vegetables. In order not to waste the nutritional value, use that water for a broth.

Foods high in vitamin K should be part of a balanced nutrition. It is essential to continuously have a vitamin K source because the body cannot store it. Moreover, you can add variation without looking for vitamin K in particular. You will certainly enjoy diversity if you add a fresh banana or some berries to your morning cereal. Lots of vitamins and minerals can be taken from a leafy green salad or from some celery sticks you have for a snack.

In case you suffer from some health problem, it is best to ask the doctor’s recommendation related to your diet. For example, foods high in vitamin K as well as vitamin supplements could be a problem for patients who use drugs like warfarin and other blood thinners.