Leafy greens, which are rich in vitamin K, have again been shown to provide outsized benefits for heart health. Researchers from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University found that a reduced intake of vitamin K1 leads to more than triple the risk of an enlargement of the heart’s left ventricle, which reduces blood pumping volume, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Researchers followed diet records for 766 participants ages 14 to 18 and monitored their vascular structure and functionality. When compared to those with the highest intake of vitamin K1 from foods such as spinach, cabbage and other leafy, green vegetables, those with the lowest intake were more likely to experience vascular enlargement.

This article appears in the March 2018 issue of Natural Awakenings.