Prescription medications are needed to help with a certain disease or condition. Each oil or drug contains a unique formulation. Along with medical treatment, maintaining a healthy balanced diet is also crucial for wellbeing. But when you are on medication, even healthy foods like milk, certain fruits and vegetables can interact with the medications leading to complications.
Therefore, it is important that we are aware of these interactions and make wise food choices accordingly. This could involve eating a particular food before or after taking medicine. Our body responds to various drugs differently according to what we ate, when we ate and other factors like age and body weight. These factors in turn play a significant role in the way the body absorbs, metabolizes and transports the drugs/ medicines we consume.
1. Grapefruit and pomegranate
This zesty combination would look good and taste great in a fruit salad. These fruits are packed with fiber, vitamin C and potassium. But be warned, grapefruit contains a compound known as furanocoumarins. They block the enzyme CYP3A4 which helps the small intestine absorb medications. Grapefruit is known to affect more than 50 drugs! The Canadian Medical Association Journal, in a review cautions about the interaction between grapefruit and its juice on various food and drugs. It works in 2 ways- it makes some drugs more effective and on the other hand reduces the efficiency of others. Lipid lowering drugs tend to increase in concentration with grapefruit. This is not good and has possible side effects, they include- muscle pains. For those suffering from kidney disease, a combination of grapefruit and statins can result in other complications like kidney failure. Antihistamines on the other hand are blocked by the furanocoumarins so their uptake is inhibited and their concentration in the blood is lowered.
Pomegranate is thought to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It may also help prevent atherosclerosis. Pomegranate juice may react with anticoagulant drugs that prevent blood clots. Those scheduled for surgery are advised not to consume pomegranate or its juice for 2 weeks before the surgery.
2. Milk and antibiotics
Milk contains calcium, magnesium and casein (protein). Anti-biotics containing tetracyclines should not be consumed along with dairy as calcium binds with them rendering the drug ineffective. Calcium and iron also affect the absorption of quinolones which is a type of antibiotic. You need to keep a gap of 3 hours between drinking milk/ eating an iron or calcium supplement and taking an antibiotic.
3. Chocolate and sleep/ depression medications
Dark chocolate with its high percentage of cocoa can weaken the effect of sleep or anti-depression medications (Antidepressant Monoamine Oxidase- MAO). Chocolates also contain caffeine, and so tends to interact with stimulant drugs increasing their effects. It can also lower the effect of certain sedative drugs. Combining bronchodilators (used by those suffering from asthma to help open airway passages for easy breathing) with chocolate or caffeine containing foods, can result in an increased heartbeat, sweating, nervousness and anxiety.
4. Potassium rich foods and blood pressure medication
Foods with a high content of potassium like bananas can increase potassium levels in the body on interaction with Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. This can result in an irregular heart beat and palpitations.
5. Green leafy vegetables and blood thinners
Greens like spinach are naturally high in vitamin K. This helps in blood clotting. Those who consume greens or salads need to maintain their intake at a constant level while on treatment with a blood thinner. Blood thinners reduce the ability of the liver to use Vitamin K for the production of proteins.
It is also important to note the time that you take medications. This can help increase their benefits while lowering the side effects. Medications and diet are closely interlinked with the circadian rhythm. Some drugs also require stomach acids for their metabolism, while others combine with vitamins and minerals in food for their adequate utilization.
Next time your Physician gives you a prescription, make sure you ask all the relevant questions so that you take those medicines at the right time with the right foods!
With inputs from:
1. http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-affect-medication?ecd=wnl_hrt_060817&ctr=wnl-hrt-060817_nsl-ld-stry_1&mb=ri86HnZL4oMc5EuzZv4MmBXFE73IOX1cvaAhLmb8nyg%3d
2. https://www.getscience.com/content/4-surprising-things-can-affect-your-medications
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-medications-can-affect-your-balance
4. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/20/food-drug-interactions/1827229/
5. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-392-pomegranate.aspx?activeingredientid=392&activeingredientname=pomegranate
6. http://www.livestrong.com/article/458683-the-effect-of-pomegranate-juice-on-blood-clots/
7. http://www.livestrong.com/article/455557-foods-to-avoid-when-taking-antibiotics/
8. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Medication-Interactions-Food-Supplements-and-Other-Drugs_UCM_437377_Article.jsp#.WYL42YSGPIV
9. www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/asthma_inhalers_bronchodilator
10. www.clotcare.com/vitaminkandwarfarin.aspx
11. https://www.stoptheclot.org/vitamin-k-and-coumadin-what-you-need-to-know.htm
12. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/.../chocolate-the-good-the-bad-and-the-angry