Vitamin K2 is a nutrient found in fermented cheese and a few other foods. I know you've been advised to eliminate cheese and virtually all saturated fat from your diet, because it's high in cholesterol and that's bad for your heart health. Guess what? Emerging research is turning the "everyone knows that cheese isn't good for you" maxim on its head. Now you can have your cheese and eat it too. K2 is important for calcium metabolism. K2 deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis and to coronary calcification. K2 is a byproduct of cheese fermentation. For example, Natto, a fermented, soy bean dish widely available in Japan contains the highest known food source of of vitamin K2. The bad news: no doubt many will find the texture and the taste of Natto disagreeable. The fact is vitamin K2 can be difficult to obtain from foods. How do you know if a cheese is fermented? Fermented cheese has holes in it.
According to Eva Kende, at telusplanet.net:
Another clue when looking for fermented dairy products is the word cultured. As an example, European cultured butter is made from fermented cream.
A recent study posted on MedKB indicates that Edam cheese and Natto contained the most beneficial forms of vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7(MK7). On the other hand, the type of K2 found in most Western diets was not correlated with a reduction in coronary heart disease(CHD).
According to Eva Kende, at telusplanet.net:
"If in doubt about a cheese, there is a sure way to tell that a cheese is fermented. Fermented cheese has holes in it, because the microorganism produces gas during the fermentation process. In firm cheeses, like aged cheddar and Parmesan, the pressure of forming the cheese has compressed the hole, but if you look closely a kind of layered flakiness will reveal there were gas spaces before pressure was applied, while the high lactose processed cheese will be velvety smooth. The exceptions to this rule are the soft runny cheeses like Brie and Camembert, which are smooth but low in lactose."
Another clue when looking for fermented dairy products is the word cultured. As an example, European cultured butter is made from fermented cream.
Edam Cheese is Heart Healthy
A recent study posted on MedKB indicates that Edam cheese and Natto contained the most beneficial forms of vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7(MK7). On the other hand, the type of K2 found in most Western diets was not correlated with a reduction in coronary heart disease(CHD).
The researchers found that consumption of 1-2 micrograms of Natto or Edam cheese daily was sufficient to reduce vascular calcification. They also noted that most Westerners would need to up their daily dosage of fermented cheese to achieve a therapeutic daily dose.
Here's some good news for menopausal women. Research indicates that menopausal women who consume about 45 micrograms of K2 daily can stave off hardening of the arteries. And recall that earlier I mentioned K2 benefits and osteoporosis. Who ever thought that a glass of red wine accompanied by cheese would turn out to be healthy?
Read More Here...
Bon Appetite!
Dr. Mercola on the benefits of vitamin K2
Here's some good news for menopausal women. Research indicates that menopausal women who consume about 45 micrograms of K2 daily can stave off hardening of the arteries. And recall that earlier I mentioned K2 benefits and osteoporosis. Who ever thought that a glass of red wine accompanied by cheese would turn out to be healthy?
Read More Here...
Bon Appetite!
Dr. Mercola on the benefits of vitamin K2
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