
Vitamin Deficiency Just as Dangerous as Smoking
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
When was the last time you heard the saying “Smoke ’em if you got ’em”?
Probably a very long time ago.
That’s because the smoking era has long since passed. And many folks no longer “got ‘em”. For the last handful of decades, doctors and scientists have put smoking on the top of the heart-healthy risk factors list.
And with good reason — smoking can lead to deadly diseases like heart attack and stroke.
But recently, a groundbreaking study that analyzed data from 168 countries reveals there’s another health threat that’s just a dangerous as lighting up — being deficient in a certain heart-protective vitamin.
Take K2 Everyday to Keep Heart Disease Away
Vitamin K2 is the focus of this amazing discovery, and if you’re a longtime reader of Living Well Daily, then you’ve probably already know it’s vital for heart health. This is because K2 helps drive calcium away from your heart and into your bones.
And this new research gives you even more reason to ensure you’re getting enough K2.
For the study, researchers took a look at food intake data from 168 countries. Then they connected these nutrient intake profiles with the death records of folks who died early (ages 15–64) from heart disease.
Next, the scientists statistically cross-referenced these results with other heart-health risk factors, including biological markers, socioeconomic status, lack of physical activity, gender and tobacco use.
Once they sifted through all the data, they found something incredible…
Folks who live in countries with very low vitamin K2 intake had double the risk of developing heart disease than those living in countries with higher K2 intake.
But what was even more shocking…
When they broke the numbers down a little further, the researchers found that low K2 levels and smoking carry the same amount of risk when it comes to dying early from heart disease.
This means if you have a vitamin K2 deficiency, you’re just as likely to die early from heart disease as someone who smokes.
In other words, if you’re not eating K2-rich foods like eggs, poultry, cheese and organ meats or taking a K2 supplement, you might as well be puffing away on a cigarette.
While the scientists report that more research is needed to solidify the link, I’m not willing to run the risk.
I’ll be taking my vitamin K2 supplement every morning with a big ol’ plate of eggs.
And you should think about it too.
Be sure to choose a K2 supplement that’s oil-based, so it’s easily absorbed by your body, and also offers a healthy dose of vitamin D3, so you get the maximum amount of heart-health benefits.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: nmoore@lfb.org – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Sources
[2] Statistical review shows low Vitamin K2 as risky as smoking for heart disease

Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Slim Down with This FAT-BURNING Hack
Dear Living Well Daily Reader, There’s more weight-loss advice out there than there are stars in the sky. Much of it’s complicated, strenuous, or downright impossible to follow. With the promise of slimming down, people push everything from extreme exercise to gross drinks you must hold your nose to gulp down. But the MOST common...
Slash Your Risk for THIS Painful Diabetic Nerve Condition
Diabetes is HARD on seniors. Sure, younger people can also develop diabetes-linked kidney disease, heart disease, or even brain problems. But when you mix high blood sugar with advanced age, all those conditions tend to progress faster and become more severe. Case in point: peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy occurs when blood sugar levels rise and...
Surprising Walking Benefits REVEALED
We live in a fast-paced society. And we’re expected to keep the pedal to the metal at work and fill the little leisure time we allow ourselves with as many activities as possible… We demand a 24/7 news cycle, instant updates on our phones, and lightning-fast internet speeds… In a culture where most people judge...
Your Sleep Habits Can Damage THIS Organ [ALERT]
I’m a sleep evangelist. Because getting quality sleep is CRITICAL for good health. You simply can’t have one without the other. In fact, regularly missing out on a good night’s sleep raises your risks for heart issues, mood disorders, weight gain, blood sugar irregularities, and brain problems. Bur new research raises a red flag about...
MAILBAG: Ease Annoying Allergy Symptoms
“My allergies have been so terrible the last few weeks and my allergy medicine isn’t really doing anything. What can I do?” – Darlene from Chesapeake, Virginia Hi Darlene, There are two steps I typically recommend to tackle troublesome allergies. The first is to focus on nutrients. Begin by getting enough magnesium, folic acid, and carotenoids...
Drug Company FAILS to Respond to Heartburn Drug Risk
Type the word “Zantac” into any search engine, and the first thing likely to come up is “Zantac lawsuit.” And the reason WHY people are suing the drug’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is a twisted tale that’ll turn your stomach… The drug company allegedly took a page straight out of big tobacco’s playbook. And as a...
"Splash Hack" DOUBLES the Benefits of Your Morning Brew
I love coffee. I roast my own beans. I have a fancy coffee maker. The WHOLE nine yards. Of course, I love the bright, bitter punch of flavor I get in every sip. And there’s nothing like the jump-start coffee gives my brain in the morning. But I also know that coffee has bunches of...
Ocean Organism KILLS Resistant Cancer Cells
Cancer treatments essentially come in two “flavors.” There are the sickening meds that poison the cancerous cells (and sometimes the healthy ones, too), like chemotherapy. Or there are the physical “slash and burn” options such as surgery and radiation. There are times that either or both might be necessary. But let’s face it, cancer treatments...
Nutrient Fix for Deadly "Orphan Condition"
Venous thromboembolism is what I call an “orphan condition.” The chances are high that you’ve never even heard of it before. But we should discuss it more often because it’s underdiagnosed, SERIOUS, and preventable. A (VTE) happens when a blood clot forms in a vein. When that clot is in a DEEP vein (usually in...
"Liquid Gold" Packs a Powerful Healing Punch
Bone broth has popped up on grocery store shelves nationwide in the last few years. And I couldn’t be happier about it! I love to drink bone broth. But I used to have to make my own “liquid gold.” And to be honest… it’s time-consuming. Now, you can pop down to your local supermarket and...