by Courney Moskal
Some foods just make a delicious combination – milk and cookies, chocolate and peanut butter, macaroni and cheese! But when it comes to combining foods with medication, your physician (not your taste buds) should be consulted.
Milk products can block the absorption of certain antibiotics; chocolate can cause a spike in blood pressure when taking certain antidepressants; and the consumption of natural black licorice (glycyrrhiza) can deplete the body of potassium and sodium thereby reducing the effects of some blood pressure drugs. Some of the problematic food and drug pairings are well recognized, while other combinations aren’t as eminent.
One of these more recognized problematic pairings is the interaction of Coumadin and vitamin K. If you’ve been diagnosed with a blood clot, a medication called Coumadin (warfarin) may be prescribed. Blood clots could cause serious health problems as they have the potential to block the flow of blood to the heart or brain. Vitamin K is chiefly found in leafy green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli, and enters your body when these foods are consumed. The body uses this vitamin to generate the series of chemical reactions that form a blood clot. Problems occur when the consumption of vitamin K is suddenly changed by a significant amount, which can negate the blood-thinning effect. The fix here – eat your greens in consistent amounts.
What other potentially dangerous food and drug pairings exist? You’ve probably heard the warnings not to drink grapefruit juice with cholesterol medication. But with the influx of new medications, the number of drugs that can be unsafe when taken with grapefruit is on the rise. There are more than 85 drugs that are affected when consumed with grapefruit – antihistamines, blood pressure drugs, thyroid replacement drugs, birth control, stomach acid-blocking drugs, and even cough suppressants. Grapefruit contains a class of compounds called furanocoumarins, which alter the characteristics of the medications. Other citrus fruits such as limes, Seville oranges (used in marmalade), and pomelos contain these compounds, but haven’t been as widely investigated.
Researchers note that grapefruit interaction is specific to certain drugs and doesn’t inevitably affect an entire drug class. Check with your doctor as it only takes a minimal amount of grapefruit to produce a dangerous interaction. If you aren’t taking drugs that interact with grapefruit, this fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C and can help to support the immune system, so eat up!
About the Author:
Courtney Klein Moskal, MS, RD, CDN is a Registered Dietitian and Wellness Coordinator for Walsh Duffield Cos., Inc. For more information on corporate wellness programs or nutrition consultations, call 716-362-7379 or email cmoskal@walshins.com.
