Here’s Why Your Arteries are Calcifying and Turning into Bone

Introduction

In this article, we’ll see the primary reason your arteries are calcifying and potentially turning into bone.

Everyone knows that heart disease is the number 1 killer in the world. So, it is essential to discuss a nutritional aspect of this problem that gives you something you can do about it.

This article will focus more on the calcium part of this problem than cholesterol or other factors.

What you need to know about calcified arteries

Calcium is an essential element needed by your body for vital functions and good health. It keeps your teeth and bones strong but also plays an essential role in heart function. In some cases, calcium deposits can also negatively affect your health.

Arteries become calcified when calcium builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. This buildup of calcium can lead to coronary artery disease and increase your risk of a heart attack.

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What causes calcified arteries?

There are two types of cells in your bones: the osteoblast and the osteoclast. The osteoblasts are the bone cells that build bones. They are involved in the creation and buildup of bones. Then we have the osteoclasts. Osteoclasts degrade or break down bones. These two activities (buildup and breakdown) occur in the bone at all times.

So, if you have too many osteoclasts, you have osteoporosis, and if you have too many osteoblasts, especially in your arteries, you’ll start calcifying in your bones. Your arteries will slowly turn into bones which is very bizarre.

Now, it is essential to note that an inner layer in your arteries is known as the endothelium. This endothelium contains osteogenic stem cells.

What does osteogenic mean?

It means that these stem cells are capable of producing bone. And so, a stem cell is an undifferentiated cell. You can compare it to a blank slate that has the potential to turn into a particular cell, depending on what the body needs.

So, when someone starts developing bone tissue in their arteries, that’s a big problem in the differentiation of what the stem cell should develop into. The same problem applies to autoimmune diseases if we consider them carefully.

In autoimmune diseases, the body has a differentiation problem. Your immune system cannot differentiate between a normal cell and a pathogen. And so, it ends up attacking your cells.

Vitamin K2 for your bones

Vitamin K2 is mostly unheard of and rare in the Western diet, but it’s time to give this vitamin some mainstream attention.

Vitamin K2 is an essential nutrient. It plays a vital role in many aspects of your health. However, some believe that vitamin K2 may be the missing link between diet and some chronic diseases.

Vitamin K was discovered in 1929 as a necessary vitamin for blood coagulation, the process by which blood clots.

The first reported instance of vitamin K was in a German scientific journal, where it was referred to as “Koagulationsvitamin.” The ‘K’ in vitamin K derives from this.

It was likewise discovered by the dentist Weston Price, who crisscrossed the planet in the early 20th century investigating the link between diet and illness across different cultures.

Weston discovered that nonindustrial diets had a high amount of an unidentified substance that appeared to protect against tooth decay and chronic illness. Activator X was the name he gave this secret substance. It’s now thought to be vitamin K2.

Vitamin K has many benefits for the human body, including activating proteins that help with blood clotting, calcium metabolism, and heart health.

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One crucial function is regulating calcium deposition. In other words, it promotes bone formation while preventing blood vessels and kidneys from calcifying.

Scientists have different opinions on whether vitamins K1 and K2 should be classified as different nutrients, as their roles may differ.

Researchers have observed that, in general, vitamin K2 supplements improve bone and heart health in people.

Osteoporosis — which translates to “porous bones” — is a common problem in Western countries.

It is seen especially among older women and raises the risk of fractures.

Vitamin K2 is central to calcium metabolism, the main mineral in your bones and teeth.

Vitamin K2 activates the calcium-binding actions of two proteins — matrix GLA protein and osteocalcin, which help to build and maintain bones.

Interestingly, there is also substantial evidence from controlled studies that K2 may provide significant benefits for bone health.

A 3-year study in 244 postmenopausal women found that taking vitamin K2 supplements had much slighter decreases in age-related bone mineral density.

Long-term studies in Japanese women have observed similar benefits, though very high doses were used in these cases. Out of 13 studies, only one failed to show significant improvement.

Seven of these trials, which considered fractures, found that vitamin K2 reduced spinal fractures by 60%, hip fractures by 77%, and all non-spinal fractures by 81%.

In line with these findings, vitamin K supplements are officially recommended for preventing and treating osteoporosis in Japan.

Causes of a vitamin K2 deficiency

Some causes of a vitamin K2 deficiency include:

· A fatty liver

· Gallbladder issues

· Gut problems

· A low-fat diet

· Not consuming enough fermented foods

Foods that are rich in vitamin K2 include:

· Sausage

· Liver

· Egg yolk

· Kefir

· Butter

· Cheese

· Sauerkraut

· Natto

If you supplement with vitamin K2, consider taking the natural form MK7 alongside vitamin D.

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Takeaway

Vitamin K is a group of nutrients divided into vitamins K1 and K2.

Vitamin K1 is involved in blood coagulation, and vitamin K2 benefits bone and heart health.

Age-related bone loss and osteoporosis lead to frequent fractures in people over 50.

High-dose vitamin K2 can help. It improves bone health by restoring balance to bone breakdown and formation.

Disclaimer: Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Correction to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this article or others.