Microblog: Vitamin K2 Is the Primary Fuel Source of the Mitochondria of the Microbiome
The gut microbiota are key to host metabolism as they aid in the digestion and absorption of food, neutralize drugs and carcinogens, synthesize choline, secondary bile acids, folate, vitamin K2 and short chain fatty acids.
👨🏻🔬In the last 40 years, researchers have realized that vitamin K2 is responsible for activating, or carboxylating, vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs), such as osteocalcin and matrix Gla-protein.
🦴When fully carboxylated, osteocalcin attracts calcium into the bones and teeth.
🛡Matrix Gla-protein (MGP) helps to prevent vascular calcification by pulling calcium out of soft tissues, including arteries and veins.
⚠️Without a sufficient source of K2, both osteocalcin and MGP can remain partially uncarboxylated or completely uncarboxylated, allowing calcium to deposit in the blood vessels rather than the bone, where we need it the most.
So where do we get our K2?
🧀Cheese
🍳Egg Yolks
🍗Dark Chicken Meat
🥛Butter and Dairy
🥩Beef
🦐Shellfish
🥦In case you’re wondering about vitamin K rich in kale, broccoli and cabbage. Sorry to break it to you but that’s K1. Different chemical structure and way different absorption by the body.
🤯This may be why Carnivores do not need as much calcium—our bodies are efficiently using the calcium and routing it to the proper places (our bones!) and why long time Carnivores aren’t suffering from heart disease.
🧐If you’re worried about calcium on the carnivore diet, eat small fish, like sardines, with bones intact. You can finely ground up egg shells too if you prefer (think diatomaceous earth).
💪🏼The calcium content in these nutrient dense foods with the K2 will properly shuttle the calcium in the places they need to be.
🦠And the gut microbiome?
🧫The mitochrondria is the energy powerhouses of the cells. The gut also houses 80% of our immune cells.
📆It’s a new week. Some of you are restarting your diets today.
💡Do your body a favor and start the week strong by eating good quality meats.