Have you heard you should take vitamin K? You may have heard a lot of buzz about vitamin K creams and vitamin K supplements, but you need to make sure this is right for you before you try them.

Your body needs vitamin K to grow properly. It is also necessary for proper blood clotting. Most people get enough vitamin K from their regular diets and never even need to think about vitamin K. It is readily available in meat, dairy, and leafy greens. You don’t need much vitamin K, so you most likely get plenty from your diet.

Of course, if your blood does not clot properly, your doctor may recommend you take vitamin K supplements. This is usually prescribed as a tablet or capsule, but can also be sold as a cream. It is usually prescribed by a doctor and should be taken as prescribed. It is not uncommon for newborns who appear to have problems with rpoper blood clotting to be given injections of vitamin K.

Sometimes people self-prescribe vitamin K for bruising, dark circles under the eyes, or to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments. It’s important to check with your doctor using vitamin K supplements for these reasons. Doctors aren’t sure vitamin K really supports cancer treatments yet. Be careful not to make broad assumptions about the impact of vitamin K quite yet.

A serious danger is the effect of vitamin K on those who already have a propensity for developing blood clots. Consider this scenario: If you are a woman who wants to use vitamin K to reduce circles under your eyes, but you also use oral contraceptives (and are therefore already at risk for blood clots), you may create a dangerous situation for yourself, all in pursuit of vanity.

It is in your best interest to consult your physician before taking vitamin K supplements.

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