Do you take calcium and vitamin D to protect your bones?

janejellyroll wrote: »

sos2lily wrote: »

I take vitamin D. That gets the calcium from digestive system into the blood. However, I've learned that one must also take Vitamin K2 to ensure it gets from the blood to the bones. If not, one can get calcification such as in bone spurs, in arteries, etc.

K1 is for thinning the blood. Some supplements come together D3 and K2.

I think it's more accurate to say there is a theory that K2 plays that role, but it hasn't yet been established. In any case, it isn't necessary to *take* K2 in order for it to work in this way, it's also possible to get it from dietary sources.

Also, some of the links posted here suggest that happy beneficial gut bugs will cheerfully manufacture K2 for us, if we treat them nicely, too. Another plus for plenty of fermented and fiber-rich foods!

Somehow, human ancestors in traditionally vegan/vegetarian cultures do seem to have lived about as healthily and long as those in meat-centric cultures, all of them entirely without supplements.

Sometimes I read posts from supplement hyper-enthusiasts and wonder how our supplement-deprived ancestors even lived to breed countless generations of us. (I can already hear the "factory farming/GMOs have wiped out foods' nutrition, so we must supplement" argument coming.)

P.S. I'm not saying or intending to imply that the specific person to whom you're responding is a supplements fanatic. I guess I'm just being a grumpy curmudgeon today. . Sorry.

AnnPT77 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

sos2lily wrote: »

I take vitamin D. That gets the calcium from digestive system into the blood. However, I've learned that one must also take Vitamin K2 to ensure it gets from the blood to the bones. If not, one can get calcification such as in bone spurs, in arteries, etc.

K1 is for thinning the blood. Some supplements come together D3 and K2.

I think it's more accurate to say there is a theory that K2 plays that role, but it hasn't yet been established. In any case, it isn't necessary to *take* K2 in order for it to work in this way, it's also possible to get it from dietary sources.

Also, some of the links posted here suggest that happy beneficial gut bugs will cheerfully manufacture K2 for us, if we treat them nicely, too. Another plus for plenty of fermented and fiber-rich foods!

Somehow, human ancestors in traditionally vegan/vegetarian cultures do seem to have lived about as healthily and long as those in meat-centric cultures, all of them entirely without supplements.

Sometimes I read posts from supplement hyper-enthusiasts and wonder how our supplement-deprived ancestors even lived to breed countless generations of us. (I can already hear the "factory farming/GMOs have wiped out foods' nutrition, so we must supplement" argument coming.)

P.S. I'm not saying or intending to imply that the specific person to whom you're responding is a supplements fanatic. I guess I'm just being a grumpy curmudgeon today. . Sorry.

Yes, there is much we still don't know. As a vegan, I'm currently in the "my body is making K2 for me" camp although I am continuing to follow developments in research.

(I'm not anti-supplement and I do supplement a few things -- I just don't want to get into a cycle of over-supplementation or stressing myself out worrying about what I might be missing out on. We need to keep on top of scientific research, we need to be realistic, but we can also combine that with an understanding of the remarkable resilience of our bodies and how humans demonstrably thrive on a wide variety of diets).

I take quite a few vitamin supplements but they are based on blood work that shows what I am deficient in. Due to massive weight loss I have to stay on top of it. I would think they help if your deficient if your holding your own wouldn't your body be on it's natural path? I have no idea just curious.

I know this seems like an odd source for a great resource on Vitamin K2, but this guy put together a ton of information and charts on K2 and it's sources. I take a great interest in this topic because I'm mostly Vegan and don't eat a lot of animal products.

https://honey-guide.com/2014/03/10/menaquinones-k2-and-phylloquinone-k1-content-of-animal-products-and-fermented-foods/

It's probably the most complete article I've read on specific amounts of K2 from food sources.

I take D, because I'm deficient, I don't take calcium, as I produce too much of it, I had to have 1 of my Parathyroid's removed because of it.

I take both on the advice of my doctor. But I rely more on balanced diet and resistance exercises to protect my bones.