Here is a summary of triage theory from Dr. Bruce Ames (linked below).
- Your body uses certain micronutrients (vitamins / minerals) in different ways
- Some of these uses are for short term survival, others protect your long term health
- When your body has a limited amount of a certain micronutrient, it will prioritize the short term use (and the long term use will be starved that micronutrient)
Why is this important:
- Only a small fraction of the population has adequate micronutrient consumption
- For those moderately deficient, but not extremely deficient, there may be no short term symptoms at all
- Over time, these moderate deficiencies are adding to chronic illness
Stick with me here, time for science:
Your body creates proteins to do specific jobs in the body. These proteins are built form amino acids. Your body can build many, many kinds of proteins.
We know the functions of (10) proteins that require Vitamin K to complete their functions. Of these ten, (7) of them have jobs in the body related to blood clotting. When you take these proteins away from mice, they die. They are short term important.
When you have limited Vitamin K intake, your body will prioritize giving it to the (7) proteins to keep you alive. You need a surplus of Vitamin K to keep the other (3) functioning.
What do those other (3) proteins do? They seem to have a role in bone health, calcium in your arteries, and glucose regulation.
In the US and the UK, we’re not getting enough Vitamin K. We’re not even sure if the “getting enough” recommendation is adequate.
More to follow. In the meantime, eat your greens.
Random link to Quora on protein
