Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting and the production of bone proteins, according to the University of Florida. About 90 percent of vitamin K humans get from diet is in the form of plant foods, especially leafy greens such as kale and spinach. Bacteria in the stomach can produce a small amount of vitamin K. People who take anti-coagulant medications are advised to limit their consumption of foods rich in vitamin K, which can work against the medication.
Soybeans
Soybeans have about a third of the recommended daily allowance, or RDA, of vitamin K, which is an acceptable amount if you need to limit your K intake, explains Joanne Larsen of the Ask the Dietician website. People who take anti-coagulants can eat foods with vitamin K as long as they keep their levels consistent each day. Larsen suggests eating fewer than two cups of soybeans each day if you are on vitamin-K-restricted diet.
Lettuce
Romaine and iceberg lettuce are good choices for those who need to avoid foods rich in vitamin K. Larsen says that 1 cup of the inner white leaves of iceberg lettuce has 13.3 mcg of vitamin K and 1 cup of romaine leaves has 57.4 mcg. The vitamin K RDA for men is 120 mcg and 90 mcg for women, according to the Daily Green website. So eating these greens will keep you on track.
Apples
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Vitamin K Registry lists apples among its low vitamin K foods, with 0 to 9 mcg per serving. That includes any food derivative of apples, such as juice and sauce.
Onions
Onions are commonly added to foods to enhance flavor. On the Vitamin K Registry, cooked, boiled, drained, dehydrated and raw onions are listed as low in vitamin K. The only kinds of onions that should be avoided are spring onions and scallions, both of which have 25 mcg or more of vitamin K per serving.
Green Peas
Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology, an internal medicine and gastroenterology practice in Harrisburg, Pa., includes green peas on a sample menu for patients on a vitamin K regulated diet. At 0 to 9 mcg of vitamin K per serving, peas are listed as low in vitamin K on the Vitamin K Registry.
Bananas
Bananas have 1.1 mcg of vitamin K-- just 1 percent of the RDA. Bananas are also on the Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology sample vitamin-K-restricted menu.
Member Comments