Vitamin K In Balsam Pear (Bitter Melon Or Gourd, Pods, Cooked, Boiled, Drained, With Salt)

fig. 1

There is 5.95 mcg of Vitamin K in 1.0 cup (1/2" pieces) of balsam pear (bitter melon or gourd, pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt).

The recommended USDA amount of Vitamin K for adults 19 and older is 90 mcg/day.

Based on the Vitamin K content, how much can I safely consume in one day?

What does this chart mean?

While on Warfarin, you should consume the same amount of Vitamin K daily. The USDA recommends that adults get 90 mcg of vitamin k daily.

If the only thing you ate today were balsam pear (bitter melon or gourd, pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt). You would have to eat 15.13 cup (1/2" pieces)s in order to get your 100% recommended daily value of 90mcg of Vitamin K.

Similarly, in order to get 50% (45mcg) of your daily recommended value of Vitamin K. You would have to eat 7.56 cup (1/2" pieces)s of balsam pear (bitter melon or gourd, pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt).

Additionally, you would have to eat 3.78 cup (1/2" pieces)s of balsam pear (bitter melon or gourd, pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt) to get 25% (22.5mcg) of your recommended daily Vitamin K.

How does the Vitamin K content in balsam pear (bitter melon or gourd, pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt) compare with other foods?

Here are some examples of foods that compare with balsam pear (bitter melon or gourd, pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt).

To view more foods in other food categories, visit the Vitamin K Food Database.

Other Vegetables and Vegetable Products vs. balsam pear (bitter melon or gourd, pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt)

Food Name	Measure	Vitamin K (mcg)
Balsam Pear (Bitter Melon Or Gourd, Pods, Cooked, Boiled, Drained, With Salt)	1 cup (1/2" pieces)	5.95
balsam pear (bitter melon or gourd, pods, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt)	1 cup (1/2" pieces)	5.95
sweet potato (cooked, boiled, without skin, with salt)	1 cup, mashed	6.89
Peppers, hot chili, green, raw	1 pepper	6.44
tomatoes (red, ripe, canned, packed in tomato juice)	1 cup	6.24
tomatoes (red, ripe, cooked)	1 cup	6.72
zucchini (summer squash, includes skin, raw)	1 cup, chopped	5.33
tomato sauce (canned, no salt added)	1 cup	6.86
russet potatoes (flesh and skin, raw)	1 cup, diced	2.7
mashed potatoes (home-prepared, whole milk added)	1 cup	3.78
Corn, sweet, yellow, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt	1 ear small (5-1/2" to 6-1/2" long)	0.36
hubbard squash (winter, cooked, boiled, mashed, without salt)	1 cup, mashed	2.36
potatoes (canned, drained solids, no salt added)	1 cup	2.7
sweet potato (cooked, baked in skin, flesh, without salt)	1 cup	4.6
Lima beans, immature seeds, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt	1 cup	10.54
Peppers, sweet, green, sauteed	1 cup chopped	24.5
butterhead lettuce (includes boston and bibb types, raw)	1 cup, shredded or chopped	56.27
chinese cabbage (pak-choi, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt)	1 cup, shredded	57.8
sweet potato (cooked, boiled, without skin, with salt)	1 cup, mashed	6.89
Spinach souffle	1 cup	172.04

Spices and Herbs vs. balsam pear (bitter melon or gourd, pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt)

Food Name	Measure	Vitamin K (mcg)
Balsam Pear (Bitter Melon Or Gourd, Pods, Cooked, Boiled, Drained, With Salt)	1 cup (1/2" pieces)	5.95
parsley (dried, spices)	1 tsp	6.8
oregano (dried, spices)	1 tsp, leaves	6.22
black pepper (spices)	1 tsp, ground	3.77
marjoram (dried, spices)	1 tsp	3.73
paprika (spices)	1 tsp	1.85
mustard (yellow, prepared)	1 tsp or 1 packet	0.07
chili powder (spices)	1 tsp	2.85
cumin seed (spices)	1 tsp, whole	0.11
basil (dried, spices)	1 tsp, leaves	12.0
sage (ground, spices)	1 tsp	12.0
parsley (dried, spices)	1 tsp	6.8
oregano (dried, spices)	1 tsp, leaves	6.22
coriander leaf (dried, spices)	1 tsp	8.16
poultry seasoning (spices)	1 tsp	12.08

I'm on a blood thinner (anticoagulant/antiplatelet) such as Warfarin - How does Vitamin K work with my blood thinner?

Warfarin (Coumadin) works by decreasing the chemical reactions Vitamin K makes in your body. This increases the time it takes for a clot to form. Hence, "thinning" your blood.

If you take Warfarin, you may need to limit and/or monitor your Vitamin K intake. This is because Vitamin K can affect how these drugs work.

Ideally you should consume the same amount of Vitamin K daily.

However, Vitamin K does not influence the action of other blood thinners, such as heparin or low molecular weight heparins (Lovenox, Xaparin, Clexane, Fragmin, or Innohep).

Can Vitamin K affect my INR?

Yes.

INR stands for International Normalized Ratio. INR is a standardized way to measure how long it takes your blood to clot.

The lower your INR, the quicker your blood clots (the "thicker" your blood gets). Too low of an INR indicates risk for clotting problems.

The higher your INR, the slower your blood clots (the "thinner" your blood gets). Too high of an INR indicates risk for bleeding problems.

With an increase in Vitamin K, your INR could drop.

Alternatively, a decrease in Vitamin K intake may increase your INR.

As a side note, other things, like medications, antibiotics, and herbal products may also influence your INR.

What if I suddenly eat a food with a lot of Vitamin K?

If you are on a blood thinner like Warfarin (Coumadin) then you should alert your healthcare provider, because your blood thinner dosage may have to be adjusted to counteract the change in your body's clotting activity.

Where does Vitamin K come from?

Vitamin K is often found in food. Leafy green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and broccoli usually contain the most amount of Vitamin K.

Vitamin K is also produced by bacteria in your intestines and is contained in vitamin supplements.

Why is Vitamin K important?

Blood clots are formed through a series of chemical reactions in your body. Vitamin K is essential for those reactions.

Vitamin K is known as the clotting vitamin, because without it, blood would not clot.

Vitamin K increases the chemical reactions in your body needed for your blood to clot. The more Vitamin K you take, the more chemical reactions your body makes for your blood to clot. Hence your blood gets "thicker".

Also, some studies suggest that it helps maintain strong bones in the elderly.

Similar Foods

Citations

Fig.1. knottyboy, "Bitter melon," Published February 21, 2011. https://www.flickr.com/photos/knottyboywayne/5467338740/. Accessed August 9, 2015.
"Balsam-pear (bitter gourd), pods, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt", NDB 11711, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Nutrient Data Laboratory. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page, http://www.ars.usda.gov/ba/bhnrc/ndl. Accessed October, 2014.

Nutrition Calculator Amount per serving (Balsam Pear (Bitter Melon Or Gourd, Pods, Cooked, Boiled, Drained, With Salt))

Calories 23.56

Calories from fat 1.98

Total Nutrition
Vitamin K	5.95 µg
Total Fat	0.22(g)
Saturated Fat	(g)*
Trans Fat	(g)*
Cholesterol	0.0mg
Sodium	300.08mg
Protein	1.04(g)
Carbohydrate	5.36(g)
Fiber	2.48(g)
Sugars	2.42(g)
Vitamin A	7.44µg
Vitamin C	40.92mg
Calcium	11.16 mg
Iron	0.47 mg
Vitamin B-6	0.05 mg
Vitamin B-12	0.0 µg
Niacin (Vitamin B-3)	0.35 mg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2)	0.07 mg
Vitamin D	0.0 IU
Vitamin K	5.95 µg
Vitamin E	0.17 mg
Potassium	395.56 mg
Caffeine	0.0 mg
Selenium	0.25 µg
Zinc	0.95 mg

* = this food has ingredient(s) with missing nutrition information

Missing Nutrient Information:

Saturated Fat and Trans Fat

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Vitamin K in Balsam Pear (Bitter Melon Or Gourd, Pods, Cooked, Boiled, Drained, With Salt)