Why Vitamin K2 is So Important and How to Get It Naturally
Summary
TLDRDr. Marianne Teitelbaum emphasizes the critical role of Vitamin K2, specifically MK4, in preventing diseases like osteoporosis, cancer, and diabetes. She discusses its discovery by Dr. Weston A. Price, who found it in natural, unprocessed foods, particularly in the butterfat of grass-fed cows. The video highlights the importance of dietary fats for health, the benefits of ghee, and the pitfalls of avoiding cholesterol, advocating for nutrient-dense whole foods over synthetic supplements.
Takeaways
- 🌟 Vitamin K2, specifically MK4, is crucial for health and is often deficient in modern diets.
- 👨⚕️ Dr. Weston A. Price discovered the importance of 'Activator X', now known as Vitamin K2, in the 1930s through his global health research.
- 🌱 Activator X was found in high concentrations in the butter fat of milk from cows eating grasses, especially in spring, and in animal organs and fats.
- 🍼 Breast milk contains Vitamin K2, which is vital for infant growth, development, fertility, and reproduction.
- 🍞 Modern diets lacking in natural fats have led to increased health issues such as osteoporosis, dental problems, and heart disease.
- 🚫 The shift towards low-fat diets and the use of refined vegetable oils have negatively impacted health on a global scale.
- 🧠 Ghee, especially from grass-fed cows, is a concentrated source of MK4 and is beneficial for brain health and cognitive function.
- 🦴 Vitamin K2 directs calcium to teeth and bones, reducing the risk of conditions like osteoporosis and arterial calcification.
- 🌿 Ancient wisdom and modern research both highlight the importance of natural, nutrient-dense foods for optimal health.
- 💊 Statin and blood thinner medications can create a deficiency in Vitamin K2 by lowering necessary cholesterol levels.
- 🌱 The preference for plant-based milks over full-fat cow's milk contributes to the widespread deficiency of Vitamin K2 in the population.
Q & A
Who is Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum and what is the main topic of her discussion?
-Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum is a speaker in the transcript, and the main topic of her discussion is Vitamin K2, its importance for health, and how it can help prevent various diseases.
What is the significance of the information presented by Dr. Teitelbaum in the video?
-The information is significant because it highlights the importance of Vitamin K2 for preventing health problems such as osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, and emphasizes the need to understand and incorporate this nutrient into our diets.
Who were the 'enlightened rishis of India' mentioned by Dr. Teitelbaum and what did they know?
-The 'enlightened rishis of India' refers to the ancient sages who understood Ayurveda, an ancient system of medicine. They were aware of the importance of certain nutrients, including what Dr. Weston A. Price later called 'Activator X' or Vitamin K2.
What is the historical context of Dr. Weston A. Price's research mentioned in the script?
-Dr. Weston A. Price was a prominent health researcher and dentist in the 1930s who spent 10 years traveling the world to study the diets and health of various populations, ultimately discovering the importance of 'Activator X' or Vitamin K2.
What did Dr. Price observe about the health of people consuming their indigenous foods compared to those consuming modern processed foods?
-Dr. Price observed that people consuming their indigenous foods had strong bones, perfect dental arches, minimal tooth decay, and overall excellent health, whereas those consuming modern processed foods experienced poorer health.
What is 'Activator X' and how was it initially misunderstood to be Vitamin D?
-'Activator X' is the term Dr. Price initially used for a new fat-soluble vitamin he discovered, which he later realized was not Vitamin D. It was later identified as Vitamin K2.
What are the different types of Vitamin K2 and what makes MK-4 unique?
-Vitamin K2 has different types of side chains, represented as MK-4 to MK-13. MK-4 is unique because it is not a byproduct of bacterial synthesis but comes directly from animal sources and is the form Dr. Price identified as 'Activator X'.
Why is Vitamin K2, specifically MK-4, important for infant growth and development?
-MK-4 is important for infant growth and development because it is found in breast milk and plays a crucial role in the development of the child, including the formation of strong bones and teeth.
What are the health implications of the shift from butter to margarine and the consumption of refined vegetable oils?
-The shift to margarine and refined vegetable oils has led to an increase in health issues such as osteoporosis, dental cavities, arthritis, and heart disease, as these oils can oxidize at high temperatures and form substances harmful to health.
How does Vitamin K2 MK-4 help with the proper utilization of calcium in the body?
-Vitamin K2 MK-4 directs calcium to the teeth and bones and away from arteries, joints, and other organs, which is crucial for maintaining strong bones and preventing conditions like osteoporosis and arterial calcification.
What is the role of ghee in traditional and modern diets, and why is it considered beneficial?
-Ghee, a clarified butter from grass-fed cows, is considered beneficial because it is high in Vitamin K2 MK-4, easy to digest, and has been traditionally used for its health benefits, including supporting brain development and fertility.
Why is it important to consume cholesterol and good fats, especially as we age?
-Cholesterol and good fats are important for lubricating joints, maintaining brain function, producing hormones, and supporting skin health. As we age, the body's need for these nutrients increases to prevent conditions like arthritis, dementia, and skin aging.
Outlines
🌱 The Importance of Vitamin K2 in Health
Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum introduces the crucial role of Vitamin K2 in maintaining health. She emphasizes the significance of understanding this nutrient to prevent diseases like osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The discovery of Vitamin K2, initially called Activator X by Dr. Weston A. Price, is highlighted. Price's extensive research revealed that indigenous diets rich in natural, unprocessed foods contributed to robust health, unlike the processed foods consumed in modern times. Vitamin K2, particularly MK4, is identified in animal fats, milk, butter, and butter oil, playing a vital role in infant growth, fertility, and overall health.
🥛 The Role of MK4 in Health and Development
This paragraph delves into the specifics of MK4, a form of Vitamin K2, which is unique as it is not a byproduct of bacterial synthesis but comes from animal sources. MK4 is crucial for the growth and nourishment of mammals, found in the umbilical cord blood and placenta, indicating its importance in fetal development. The paragraph also discusses the concentration of MK4 in various dairy products, with ghee being the richest source. Vitamin K2's function in directing calcium to teeth and bones, rather than arteries and other organs, is highlighted. The shift towards low-fat diets and the consumption of refined vegetable oils, leading to health issues, is critiqued. The paragraph concludes with a call to return to traditional, nutrient-dense foods.
🧪 The Impact of Vitamin K2 on Nutrient Absorption
Dr. Price's discovery of Activator X, now known as Vitamin K2, is further explored in this paragraph. It is described as an activator or catalyst that aids in the absorption and assimilation of nutrients from our diet, including proteins, minerals, and vitamins. The importance of fat-soluble vitamins in nutrient absorption is underscored, with ghee being highlighted as a traditional Ayurvedic medium for delivering nutrients across cell walls. The paragraph also addresses the issue of synthetic Vitamin K2 supplements, particularly MK7, which are contrasted with the naturally occurring MK4 found in food. Research findings that support the superiority of dietary intake over synthetic supplements for nutrient absorption are mentioned.
🌾 The Decline of Vitamin K2 and Its Health Implications
This paragraph discusses the widespread deficiency of Vitamin K2 MK4 due to modern dietary habits and farming practices. The avoidance of animal fats, factory farming, antibiotic use, and the consumption of processed foods are identified as contributing factors. The paragraph also touches on the impact of statins and blood thinners on Vitamin K2 levels. The importance of consuming high-quality whole milk from grass-fed cows is emphasized, as is the need to maintain cholesterol intake for healthy aging. The paragraph concludes with a reminder of the traditional wisdom regarding the consumption of fats, particularly those rich in Vitamin K2, for overall health and well-being.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Vitamin K2
💡Activator X
💡Dr. Weston A. Price
💡Indigenous Foods
💡Osteoporosis
💡MK-4
💡Ghee
💡Cholesterol
💡Nutrient-Dense Foods
💡Synthetic Supplementation
💡Pranic Energy
Highlights
Dr. Marianne Teitelbaum emphasizes the importance of understanding Vitamin K2 for preventing various health issues.
Vitamin K2, specifically MK4, is crucial for health, and most people are unaware of its benefits.
Dr. Weston A. Price's research in the 1930s revealed the significance of indigenous diets for robust health.
Activator X, later identified as Vitamin K2, was found in high concentrations in foods like butterfat and egg yolks.
Vitamin K2 MK4 is essential for infant growth, fertility, and reproduction.
MK4 is unique as it is not a byproduct of bacterial synthesis and is found in animal sources.
Ghee, particularly from grass-fed cows, contains the highest amount of MK4.
Vitamin K2 directs calcium to teeth and bones, reducing the risk of diseases like osteoporosis and heart disease.
Modern dietary changes, such as low-fat diets and the use of margarine, have contributed to health declines.
The shift away from polyunsaturated vegetable oils towards saturated fruit oils like avocado and coconut oil is noted.
Ghee is highlighted as easy to digest and a rich source of Vitamin K2 MK4.
Dr. Price's findings suggest Activator X aids in the absorption and assimilation of nutrients from our diets.
Vitamin K2 MK4 is vital for the development of the child and is found in umbilical cord blood and placenta.
Synthetic Vitamin D supplements often include MK7, which is less bioactive than MK4 found in food.
NIH-funded studies and other research highlight the superiority of nutrient intake from food over synthetic supplements.
Widespread deficiency of Vitamin K2 MK4 is attributed to factors like aversion to animal fat and modern farming practices.
The importance of cholesterol for brain function, hormone production, and skin health is underscored.
The benefits of consuming high-quality whole milk from grass-fed cows are discussed.
As we age, the importance of maintaining fat intake for joint lubrication and hormone production is highlighted.
Ancient wisdom on the importance of fats, particularly ghee, for health and longevity is emphasized.
Transcripts
hello i'm dr marianne teitelbaum
today we're going to talk about vitamin
k2
now the information i'm about to present
to you is extremely important for you to
understand
i've made lots of videos which are all
important in teaching you how to take
care of your body
but i would highly recommend you listen
to this one a few times so you fully
understand it because most people are
unwittingly making lots of mistakes
which i'll be discussing here
causing all kinds of health problems
from osteoporosis to cancer and diabetes
heart disease and just about any other
disease you can think of
and the answer to curing all these
diseases lies in preventing them from
occurring in the first place
and it's so easy to do you just have to
know this very important piece of the
puzzle that i'm about to present here
let me tell you a little story of how
this information was first discovered
at least here in the western world
of course the enlightened rishis of
india who cognized ayurveda already knew
this information
but it took a very long time for that to
reach the countries outside of india
so we had to learn it in a slow arduous
way and in fact most of us still haven't
learned it and that includes most
doctors as well as the laypersons
so here goes
in the 1930s one of the most prominent
health researchers and dentists of the
20th century
dr weston a price spent 10 years
traveling the world in search of the
secrets to perfect health and longevity
he went to both remote places and the
crowded cities of 14 different countries
looking for healthy people and doing
extensive research on them
he wanted to see what their secret was
for their robust health
compared to the poor health the
americans were experiencing
he found that those people who ate their
indigenous foods had strong bones and
perfect dental arches
minimal tooth decay
high immunity to tuberculosis and
overall excellent health
compared to those people who were
introduced to modern foods like white
refined flour white refined sugar
refined vegetable oils and canned and
processed goods
in other words those who ate the food
the way nature intended whole grains
fresh fruits and vegetables nuts and
seeds meats and dairy products were
extremely healthy
he ended up writing a book called
nutrition and physical degeneration
comparing the health statistics and
photographs of those eating healthy with
those who were eating processed foods
it became obvious to him after visiting
so many people that those who ate the
processed foods were much sicker than
their indigenous counterparts who still
lived in nature eating the wholesome
foods which grew in the areas in which
they lived
but there was something that intrigued
him for years and he devoted a whole
chapter discussing it in his book
and this is what i would like to talk to
you about today because just knowing
this one bit of information
will go a long way into giving you the
radiant health that you're seeking
he had discovered a new fat soluble
vitamin
at first he thought it was vitamin d but
then he quickly realized it wasn't that
it hadn't been discovered yet so he just
called it activator x
he believed it was a missing nutrient in
our modern diet
and that its absence could explain many
of our modern diseases
he was able to to heal dental cavities
reduce oral bacteria and restore life to
sick and starving children who were near
death
by changing their diet to a more
wholesome one which included this
activator x
along with the natural unprocessed foods
he said activator x was found in the
butter fat of milk in the eggs of fishes
and the organs and fats of animals
its highest concentration was found in
milk
when the cows were eating grasses
especially the quickly grown grasses
which grow in the spring he said it was
also synthesized by the mammary glands
and therefore found in breast milk and
it played an important role in infant
growth and development as well as
fertility and reproduction
now he said that milk contained high
amounts of this activator x
but it was even more concentrated in the
butter
but he found he could concentrate the
amounts further by centrifuging the
butter and making a high vitamin butter
oil which he called it
years later a name was given to this
unknown fat soluble vitamin
it is now called vitamin k k2
vitamin k1 is found in green leafy
vegetables but dr price was specifically
talking about this version
known as vitamin k2 found in animal fats
milk butter and butter oil
now here's where the confusion lies
vitamin k2 has differing types of side
chains
represented as mk4 to mk13
now mk means monoquinone
mk5 through mk13
are formed by bacterial synthesis
but the mk4 is dr price's activator x
which is unique and it's the only form
that is not the byproduct of bacterial
synthesis but it comes from animal
sources
so it's the mk4 from animal fats like
milk butter and butter oil which give
the very important health benefits
note that butter and concentrated butter
products like ghee
contain 100
mk4
there are no bacterial mk's in these
products
mk4 is the fat found in nature which is
designed for the growth and nourishment
of all mammals
only vitamin mk only vitamin k and mk4
are found in the umbilical cord blood
the placenta actually blocks the mk7
while allowing the mk4 into the unborn
child
and high concentrations of mk4 are also
found in the placenta
and mk4 is needed for the development of
the child
in fact the traditional sacred foods for
preconception and pregnancy were foods
rich in mk4 and babies were always
weaned onto foods containing high
amounts of mk4
mk4 also helps in building strong bones
and strong teeth
it also prevents cancer diabetes and
other serious diseases
so let's stop right here and examine
this a little further
this is very interesting
let's look at the amounts of mk4 found
in certain fats
now whole milk contains 10 units
butter jumps up to 90 units as you
concentrate the fat out of the milk
and dr price concentrated the butter fat
more
by centrifuging the butter and creating
a butter oil which contains 196 to 240
units but look at this
ghee contains the absolute highest
amount which is 270 to 360 units
the ancient doctors were so wise to
recommend concentrating the mk4 in this
way
of course they didn't have the name for
mk4 but they knew at their high level of
consciousness that eating ghee the
essence of the cow's milk would be very
good for the developing child's brain as
well as for the mother's fertility
now we have solid research showing how
correct they were
and they knew how to make it very
concentrated by making yogurt from heavy
cream
churning that into butter
and then simmering out the water and
dairy solids which is known as
clarifying the butter which concentrates
the mk4
vitamin k2 directs any and all calcium
that comes into your body into the teeth
and bones and away from the arteries
joints and other organs and glands for
good reason
this is why dr price found hundreds of
specimens of people who had problems
with their teeth and dental arches who
were deficient in mk4
but those who ate these concentrated
forms of fats
had no problems with their bones or
teeth
and again
the ancient doctors were prescient in
stating that the fat tissue was the raw
material for the bone that you need a
good quality fat tissue to be converted
into good quality bone tissue
now here's the sad part
for years doctors have been telling
people to avoid cholesterol and eat
low-fat diets
just about the whole world changed their
eating habits and started ingesting
refined vegetable oils once doctors
proclaimed that we should discard butter
and instead eat margarine
even in india ghee factories opened up
making ghee for margarine
this is when our health really took a
nose dive
people started developing osteoporosis
dental cavities arthritis and heart
disease at epidemic levels
women became infertile and children
began developing all forms of speech and
developmental delays
even to this day most restaurants
continue to cook with the blend of
refined vegetable oils
this is even true of all the health food
stores who advertise that their baked
goods are baked with oils and not butter
thinking that this is a healthy thing to
do and then they don't realize that
these oils oxidize at these very high
baking temperatures and are very
dangerous for our health
it became obvious that when you heat the
vegetable oils they form a plastic which
clogs the arteries causing all the
strokes and heart attacks that we're
witnessing today
so nowadays people are moving away from
the polyunsaturated vegetable oils and
instead are turning towards eating the
more saturated fruit oils like avocado
and coconut oil
these oils are somewhat heavy and hard
to digest
people should learn about ghee it is
saturated but it's very easy to digest
and it provides the very high doses of
vitamin k2 mk4 that our bodies crave
this was also very interesting to note
dr price called this nutrient activator
x because he said that it acted as an
activator or catalyst which aided in the
absorption and assimilation of all the
nutrients from our diets the protein
minerals and vitamins
he stated quote it is possible to starve
for minerals that are abundant in the
foods eaten because they cannot be
utilized without an adequate quantity of
the fat soluble activators unquote
in other words
the amounts of nutrients we absorb into
our cells depends on these fat soluble
vitamins
the ancient doctors knew this as well
which is why ghee is used as the base of
many ayurvedic herbal preparations
the herbs are cooked into the gate
because the ghee delivers them across
the cell wall
and eating ghee in the diet does in fact
enhance the absorption of all the
nutrients we eat in our food
since all the cell walls in our body are
made out of cholesterol
and ghee becomes the vehicle to drag the
nutrients across those fatty cell wall
membranes and into our cells
keep in mind the food we eat can't help
you much unless it gets broken down and
absorbed into the inside of your cells
it does no good if it's on the outside
and here's the other problem
now that vitamin k2 has been discovered
it's being put in all the synthetic
vitamin d supplements since k2 helps
ensure that the calcium transported by
the vitamin d is absorbed into your
bones where it's needed
rather than being deposited in your
arteries where it's not needed
but
the type of vitamin k2 that we get in
supplements is mk7
yep the type rejected by the plazana as
we just mentioned not the type we get in
food
the best way to get active and
efficiently assimilated vitamin k2 is
from food
now an nih funded study involving 27 000
people over six year period
found that the health benefits
associated with adequate intakes of
vitamins
came from getting these nutrients
through eating food
as opposed to taking the synthetic
vitamin supplements
there has been other research in 2018 by
nolan chatron and his group who
demonstrated that mk4 had strong binding
in the tissues
whereas the mk7 showed shaky binding and
no stability
leading to mk7 binding failure which
means that it's not bioactive and at a
very deep level cannot be utilized by
the tissues
mk4 on the other hand is very strong in
its binding capacity very stable and
promotes healthy binding of calcium so
it can be taken to the teeth and bones
and away from the tissues and arteries
and this all points up again to what the
ancient rishis were trying to tell us
we want our nutrients to contain pranic
energy
which means that they should be grown
outside under the healing rays of the
sun and the moon
this echoes dr price when he stated that
synthetic supplementation drowns out the
wisdom of our ancestors
the knowledge that all health starts
with nutrient-dense whole foods
as dr price has stated quote
people of the past obtained a substance
that modern generations do not have
unquote and now we know this substance
is his activator x
now known as vitamin k2 mk4
and dr royal lay another famous dentist
researcher and founder of standard
process lab stated
quote just as the chemist cannot create
life
neither can he create a complex vitamin
the life element in foods and nutrition
this is a mystery the chemist has not
solved and probably never will unquote
and keep this in mind
there's a widespread deficiency of
vitamin k2 mk4 in the world
due to our aversion to eating animal fat
animals raised eating anything other
than grass
factory farming of animals high
antibiotic use in animal feeds and in
humans
animal fed gmo corn and soy
soil depletion glyphosate processed
foods and dysfunctions of the gut
and if you're taking a statin or a blood
thinner these drugs create a deficiency
of vitamin k2 as they lower the
cholesterol that the body so desperately
needs to stay healthy
and to make matters worse
many people are choosing plant-based
milks over full-fat cow's milk
because it's been drummed into their
mind from an early age that cholesterol
is bad for you then it should be avoided
at all costs
and by doing so
they don't realize that they're
eliminating one of nature's most
important foods
fortunately it's becoming easier and
easier to get high quality whole milk
from cows who haven't been given any
antibiotics or growth hormones and are
out grazing in the pastures eating
untreated grass
now as we grow into old age
we're entering what is known as the vata
stage of life which means the element of
dryness becomes more prominent in our
bodies
therefore it becomes important for us to
keep lubricating various parts of our
bodies
because if our joints get dry we could
suffer arthritic aches and pains
the brain needs a continuous supply of
cholesterol to prevent dementia
the hormones that keep you young
estrogen and progesterone in women and
testosterone in men are made out of
cholesterol
and even if we're postmenopausal we
still make these hormones
which means we need to give our glands
the raw materials the cholesterol to
make these important hormones well into
old age
and always remember this
cholesterol comes from an animal
so while avocados coconuts nuts seeds
and other plant-based fats may be good
for many other bodily functions
they do not contain the much-needed
cholesterol that the body needs
we need to keep up our intake of good
fats
since it's the fat tissue that
transforms into the bone tissue
we also need to nourish the fatty layers
in our skin to prevent the drying
sagging and wrinkling that
that could occur with old age and don't
forget our skin also needs a constant
supply of cholesterol
since the sunlight hitting the skin
converts the cholesterol into not only
vitamin d but also serotonin
melatonin endorphins
and many other hormones and
neurotransmitters that the brain and the
body need to function properly
so it's important for us to keep up our
intake of fats
and understand which are the most
important sources of the highly
important vitamin k2 mk4 found in milk
at higher levels in butter with the
highest amounts found in ghee made from
grass-fed cow butter
there's a reason why our elderly
ancestors ate more of this fatty
nutrient as they aged we should listen
to this wisdom and pass it on to future
generations
thank you
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