26 Jan

Which Fruit Has The Most Vitamin K?

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a group of vitamins that are stored in the body’s fat and liver. Discovered in 1929 by a Danish scientist, two natural forms of vitamin K exist, vitamin K1 and vitamin K2. Our bodies use vitamin K in blood coagulation and bone metabolism. A vitamin K deficiency is rare, although some medications, such as antibiotics, can suppress vitamin K temporarily. Newborn babies receive vitamin K injections as a preventative action against bleeding. Besides getting vitamin K in food, the human gut also makes vitamin K, which is why vitamin K deficiencies are rare.

Vitamin K’s Role in Human Health

Vitamin K’s role in human health is to prevent excessive bleeding. Vitamin K also uses calcium to build strong bones, reducing the risk of bone fractures. People with high levels of vitamin K have thicker, stronger bones than those with lower levels of the vitamin. People with excessive bleeding, easy bruising or showing signs of bone weakening should eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin K, such as grapes, avocados, kiwis, blueberries and dark-green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale.

Eating fruits and vegetables with lots of vitamin K will allow blood to clot, help prevent postmenopausal bone density loss and bone fractures and protect the body’s arteries from calcification. Some research has revealed that vitamin K may also protect against prostate and liver cancers. People taking certain medications, including antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering drugs, seizure drugs and weight loss drugs should consult with medical professionals before taking vitamin K supplements or eating vitamin K-rich foods. Possible interactions between vitamin K and the above medications can occur.

Taking too much vitamin K is usually not a problem as there is no known toxicity with vitamin K. Large doses of the vitamin, however, may cause tingling in the hands or feet as well as numbness.

Health benefits of kiwi fruit

Top Fruits For Vitamin K Content

The amounts of Vitamin K are given for 100g of each fruit.

1 Kiwi 40,30 mcg
2 Blackberry 19,80 mcg
3 Blueberry 19,30 mcg
4 Cucumber 16,40 mcg
5 Pomegranate 16,40 mcg
6 Grape 14,60 mcg
7 Redcurrant 11,00 mcg
8 Carrot 9,40 mcg
9 Tomato 7,90 mcg
10 Mulberry 7,80 mcg
11 Raspberry 7,80 mcg
12 Plum 6,40 mcg
13 Cranberry 5,10 mcg
14 Fig 4,70 mcg
15 Pear 4,50 mcg
16 Mango 4,20 mcg
17 Apricot 3,30 mcg
18 Papaya 2,60 mcg
19 Peach 2,60 mcg
20 Guava 2,60 mcg
21 Melon (Cantaloupe) 2,50 mcg
22 Strawberry 2,20 mcg
23 Apple 2,20 mcg
24 Cherry (sweet) 2,10 mcg
25 Pumpkin 1,10 mcg
26 Pineapple 0,70 mcg
27 Lime 0,60 mcg
28 Banana 0,50 mcg
29 Lychee 0,40 mcg
30 Passion Fruit 0,40 mcg
31 Watermelon 0,10 mcg
32 Jackfruit 0,00 mcg
33 Orange 0,00 mcg
34 Lemon 0,00 mcg
35 Elderberry 0,00 mcg
36 Grapefruit 0,00 mcg
37 Gooseberry 0,00 mcg
38 Tangerine 0,00 mcg
39 Blackcurrant 0,00 mcg
40 Mangosteen 0,00 mcg
41 Durian 0,00 mcg

26 Nov

Health Benefits Of Strawberry Juice: A Natural Anti-Inflammation Agent and Blood Sugar Regulator

Because strawberry juice is made out of simple and worldwide known berries that don’t seem really that special or exotic, people are often surprised that there are so many health benefits of strawberry juice. But it’s established scientific fact now that drinking strawberry juice is among the most high-impact ways to deliver an astonishing amount of healthy nutrients, anti-oxidant agents and vitamins to the human body. Strawberry juice is easy to digest, contains natural fiber, and is even inexpensive to buy. It does all this while tasting great, with little or no need for added sugars or artificial sweetener.

Before we talk more about the health benefits of drinking strawberry juice, let’s consider its source, the strawberry itself.  Among all American foods, strawberries easily landed in the Top 50 in a survey to determine which foods are best for human consumption. In fact, they ranked as “27th best” overall.

Health benefits of strawberry juice

Strawberries: Third Best Fruits You Can Eat

But when considering fruits alone, strawberries ranked third as the best fruits people can eat based on nutrition delivered per amount eaten. Only walnuts and blackberries ranked higher in terms of total amount of vitamins and anti-oxidants they deliver based on eating 3.5 ounces.

A Long List Of Healthy Nutrients And 136% of Vitamin C RDA in One Cup

When you eat a daily serving of strawberry or drink strawberry juice, you are gaining a laundry list of healthy nutrients. These include: Vitamin C, manganese, potassium, folate, iodine, Vitamins B2 and B5, omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin K, copper, magnesium and fiber! Strawberries are highest in Vitamin C, with one cup delivering 136% of the recommended daily allowance.

Additionally, strawberries contain dozens of phyto-nutrients too numerous to mention here. Keep in mind that vitamins themselves, such as Vitamin C, are anti-oxidants, but there are many other classifications of anti-oxidant substances, and suffice it to say that strawberries are packed with dozens of them, even to an amazing degree.

Are Health Benefits Of Strawberries Lost In The Juice?

Okay, so when strawberries are processed into strawberry juice, do you still get all the nutritional value you would get if you ate the solid fruit itself? The simple answer is yes, but it depends on what kind of strawberry juice you select, so let’s take a quick look at this issue.

You may have heard of something called “juice concentrate.” What that means is that a fruit has had all of its water removed to make it easier to ship and store. When you buy frozen strawberry concentrate, for example, it is necessary for you to “add water” to make strawberry juice that you can drink. In general, strawberry juice from concentrate will have less nutritional value than pure, fresh strawberry juice. Whenever you process any vegetable in any way – be it drying, freezing, cooking or canning – some of the nutritional value is lost in the process.

However, if you buy strawberry juice listed as “not from concentrate” you are basically getting pure strawberries that have been blended into juice – although some brands may have had some of the pulp removed – and thus you lose nutrition and fiber.

Both concentrate and pure strawberry juice products still pack a lot of nutrition and are extremely healthy drinks; it’s just that some of the nutrition has been removed in the process. Many people choose to make their own strawberry juice using their own blender or food processor, however. In this case, you are getting the very same nutrition as you would if you simply ate strawberries whole.

Eat Them Fresh For The Best Health Impact

It’s also important to note that the strawberry is a relatively fragile fruit in that they do not hold their nutrition well over long periods. In fact, studies show that just two days after picking, strawberries lose significant amounts of vitamins and other anti-oxidants. So whether you are drinking the juice or eating the berry, think “fresh” for maximum nutritional punch.

Anti-inflammatory Effects

We should also mention that strawberries and strawberry juice has been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory effects on the human body, but only if eaten often and regularly. Strawberries lower the levels of something called C-reactive proteins in the body, which are associated with inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis. To get this benefit, studies show that strawberries must be eaten at least three times per week over a period of several weeks.

Strawberry Juice Regulates Blood Sugars

Strawberry juice is also now understood to be an excellent regulator of blood sugars, and will even counterbalance the negative effects of eating refined sugars. This makes strawberries and strawberry juice an excellent choice for diabetics and others on sugar-restricted diets.

That strawberry juice is one of the best possible sources of human nutrition is an established fact beyond a reasonable doubt. This juice is a natural win-win situation: It tastes great and the numerous health benefits of strawberry juice can do wonders for your health. It’s the best of all worlds.