Vitamins are essential and very important components required by the human body for maintaining good health. Human body gains its vitamins through diet and it is important to provide vitamin rich food for the children.
All vitamins A, B, C, D, and D, vitamin K are equally responsible for providing optimum growth, vision and in maintaining healthy lifestyle in children.
Vitamin K is not required to be consumed on daily basis but must be consumed twice a week. The presence of vitamin K helps in healing wounds especially on the knees, elbows.
The basic requirement of vitamin K can be easily met through proper food while the need for it varies with age. Doctors recommend 30mcg for the children below 3 years and 60mcg for those below 13 years. It also plays crucial role in strengthening the bone density.
Even though it’s a fat-soluble vitamin, the best-known food source for its consumptions is green and leafy vegetables.
Foods Rich In Vitamin K:
- Fermented soy
- Brussel sprouts
- Spring onions
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Fermented dairy products
- Prunes
- Cucumbers
- Basil leaves
How To Fight Deficiency of Vitamin K:
Vitamin K deficiency is rare, but if it occurs it can cause impaired clotting and high risk of bleeding. Thus, a small quantity from these food sources can cover the basic requirement of Vitamin K in body and must be included in the children’s diet.
In rare cases, doctors may recommend coagulation test also called as Prothrombin Time (PT) Test. Based on the test results, if child is vitamin K deficient, the doctor may prescribe oral medication or a single shot of Vitamin K1 at the birth for infants. Vitamin K deficiency is treatable in almost all cases.
