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One of the major vitamins that most parents forget when preparing a meal is vitamin K. Vitamin K is a lesser-known vitamin that helps a child in more than one way. Also, vitamin K is one of those elements that is essential for the body to survive in harsh conditions.
Without vitamin K, there will be severe drawbacks to health, including deficiency and diseases. If you are worried about your child and want them to have something healthy with all the vitamins and minerals included in it, don't forget about vitamin K.
Plan a better diet accordingly. Keep reading to learn more about vitamin K's benefits and meal prep.
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Understand Vitamin K Better
Compared to vitamins and minerals such as A, B, C, D, and E, vitamin K is one nutrient that strengthens the body. In simple words, vitamin K plays an essential role in blood clotting. As human blood travels to every inch of the body, providing oxygen to function, different types of cuts and injuries are also common in harsh living conditions.
It is very common for a child to get injuries while playing on the ground or while doing some physical activity. It is natural that you, as a parent, will be worried about cuts and bruises; similarly, when the body gets the message via the brain that there has been a cut in the body and the blood is gushing out.
To retain the body's blood, skin tissues start clotting it, and within a few minutes, the blood has been completely stopped with a little bit of pressure by the body itself. This whole process of clotting blood is only possible because the body is vitamin sufficient.
Vitamin K is majorly responsible for the blood clotting process. If there is vitamin K deficiency in a child, after falling, stopping the blood would be a huge task. Vitamin K deficiency eventually puts a higher risk of a child being injured and prone to blood loss, which can be dangerous in the long run.
Now that you know about vitamin K and how it works, here are some major benefits you can count on.
Top Ways In Which Vitamin K Benefits Your Child
Here are the top ways in which vitamin K can benefit your child:
1. Blood Clotting
As mentioned earlier, vitamin K is a primary function of clotting blood, supporting the whole function. Clotting is a vital human function because it protects the external body from internal damage. Losing blood cannot only cause lightheadedness, but excessive blood loss can even cause death due to a lack of oxygen in the brain. Also, excessive blood loss can cause different infections, which can lead to septic injuries.
2. Bone health
Aside from vitamin D, vitamin K is also very important for bone health. It helps the bones with calcium, making the bones stronger. A lack of vitamin K can cause various bone problems at a very early age. Alongside bones, teeth, which are also made up of calcium, are supported by vitamin K, making your teeth stronger and more Resilient as your child ages.
3. Overall Health
Vitamin K, along with other Minerals and Vitamins, provides the body with overall health benefits, such as brain and bone development, maintaining a healthy body weight, and more. It ultimately makes the child stronger and more resilient towards the environment, with less damage to the internal body, even if injured, which makes them stronger.
Different Food Sources You Should Know
You can feed many vegetables as a parent to your child by proper meal preparation. These food sources are essential for a vitamin K-rich diet.
Fenugreek leaves: Fenugreek leaves are quite common in India and can be obtained all year round. Methi paratha, khakara, ghatiya, and other tasty snacks can be made out of fenugreek leaves, feeding your child something healthy instead of junk food. One can also make various kinds of curries and bhujia out of fenugreek. Also, dried fenugreek leaves are excellent for adding taste to the food along with nutrients that can enhance a dish.
Spinach: Vitamin K is mostly present in greens, and spinach is one of them. Palak paneer can be full of nutrients and at the same time light up your child's day in an instant. Not only is paneer great for your child, but the addition of spinach makes it very nutritious. Spinach can also be used in distinct kinds of smoothies to help your child grow healthy.
Conclusion
Vitamin K is essential for a child to have daily, in accordance with a balanced diet. Someone truly said that bruises and cuts are among childhood's greatest memories. The more the child explores the more independent they become. Let your child have the freedom with health to explore the brighter side.
The views expressed are that of the expert alone.
