Foods And Meds You Shouldn't Mix

Dietician Keri Glassman On Foods To Avoid When On Certain Prescription Drugs

(CBS)  If you're taking particular prescription medications, they may not be as effective as they could be if you eat certain foods, says registered dietician and Early Show contributor Keri Glassman.

That's because of the way those drugs interact with the foods, she explains.

Here are a few Glassman says you should steer clear of. Right off the bat is one food group that may surprise you:

GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES

IF you're taking blood thinners. Your good-for-you greens contain vitamin K, which helps clot blood, the opposite of what thinners do. Your dose is customized to you, so if you eat say a salad a day, continue doing that, but don't all of a sudden become Popeye!

AGED CHEESE

Such as parmesan and blue cheese. IF you're taking MAO inhibitors (antidepressants such as Nardil). These cheeses contain tryramine (also in soy and wine) which, when consumed with MAO inhibitors, can add to a rise in blood pressure.

ALCOHOL

IF you're taking antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds (such as Xanax), diabetes drugs, cold and flu meds, beta-blockers, or sleeping pills. If the label says not to drink alcoholic beverages, DON'T EVEN SNEAK A SIP -- you may end up with your head in the toilet! Also, alcohol will heighten the side effects of the drugS, from upset stomach to drowsniess. Diabetics may have low blood sugar episodes.

COFFEE/CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES

IF you're taking asthma meds, anti-anxiety drugs, or decongestants. You may experience jitters and/or a rapid heartbeat.

DAIRY PRODUCTS

IF you're taking antibiotics. Dairy foods can interfere with absorption. Thus, you won't get the benefits of the meds you're taking!

GRAPEFRUIT JUICE

IF you are taking cholesterol-lowering meds, blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, tranquilizers, or antidepressants. Enzymes in our digestive system and liver destroy meds to a certain degree. Grapefruit juice knocks these enzymes out, increasing the amount of drug that enters your bloodstream, which could cause a stomachache, diarrhea or, in rare cases, kidney failure.

[barbaraf4]

I wonder why these warnings aren''t on the drug label.

[carlylaine]

The meds will get you before the disease does.

[daphnep3]

I am a student pharmacist and I just watched this segment on the Early Show today and was extremely disappointed. Not once was it mentioned that people may talk to their pharmacist about their medication(s) and the foods and drinks they should not consume while taking certain medications. Pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare professionals to the community and are the medication experts. If patients have questions about their medication(s), they should speak with their pharmacist.

[gowerd]

To Barbaraf4

Yes these warnings are on the drug med containers, I know I am the reciprient and heed these warnings very well. If in doubt check with your doctor. Anything new to take I check it out with doctor or pharmacy.

[hagar39]

My doctor or pharmacist never told me ***. I found out everything on my computer. I''m taking 5 different drugs. Grapefruit juice? Their should be a label on the container about the side effects if you are taking a heart medicine.

[tchfcc]

I am frustrated by the content of this article and its presentation during the Early Show. The information included herein is so generalized and unspecific that it actually is a disservice to the community. Glassman needs to choose her words more appropriately when contributing information such as this, especially when she is pressed for time in the TV studio. Here''s a couple examples:

I agree that consistantcy is the key for patients taking blood thinners when eating foods high in vitamin K. The presentor during the Early Show stated that patients should "avoid" these foods. This is incorrect.

Dairy products only interact with some drugs, not all, and certainly not all antibiotics. Furthermore, just because a drug interacts with calcium doesn''t mean a patient can''t ingest dairy while taking antibiotics; simply that the drug must be taken at an appropriate time before or after the drug dose.

Sometimes it''s OK to generalize, but not with medications. If the goal of the article is simply to alert the community and encourage patients to ask questions, say so and indicate the article''s very general nature. By the way, information such as this is contained with the patient insert included with your medication. Always ask your pharmacist if you have questions.

[kittykatty2]

Is Keri Glassman a full fledged doctor? If not, is it legal for her to be dispensing medical advice? I would consider the above to be medical advice.

[rxjray]

I would have to say this was a pretty disappointing segment. When specific information was suggested it was inaccurate. I would suggest that if you are going to have a story on medications that you have a clinical pharmacist as your resource - dieticians are not trained in complex pharmacology and do not possess the skills to discuss drug interactions even when it is with food.

[oigen]

For the little or no good whatsoever "meds" with their innumerable deleterious side effects have for what ails one you would be better off dumping the pills. After all, you are what you eat. Eh what?

[coppertales]

Next, they well tell us that you should not eat chips while smoking pot...

[uscitizenvet]

All good advice in this article. If you take the time to read the pamphlets that come with your med''s. you will find all the mentioned information. Between my wife and I, we take several of the mentioned drugs and we already knew these things because we either read the pamphlets, ask the Dr. or pharmacist and we look up information on line. For those of you that either don''t believe or just are too lazy to seek information, if someone handed you a "goat-ball" and said: swallow this, it will cure you, would you do it?

[mswolfestock]

The pharmacists at my local CVS Drugstore are a great source of information for all of my medical questions and concerns, from prescriptions through OTC meds and vitamin supplements.

I think I''m gonna spend more time reading labels and literature in the future, too. I only had a vague awareness that certain foods would cause reactions with drugs.

[lbecker32]

I just discovered today that if you are taking thyroid medication, you should not take soy (including drinking soymilk) within 3 hours of taking your thyroid medicine. Soy can interfere with the absorption rate of the medicine. Even my doctor wasn''t aware of this!

[G H M]

a registered dietician Keri Glassman
wow!!
Where do they find this stuff???
What proof???
That''s this week, next week is going to be ????

[wh1teth0rn]

So --- does this mean that a moderate quantity of grapefruit juice is required in order to ensure our prescription drugs are not too strong for us?
Specifically, I take Losartan Potassium (known as Cozaar) and it would be helpful to know whether I should actually avoid grapefruit juice or simply take a small quantity of juice. And anyway as grapefruit juice is a citrus, I wonder if lemons and oranges also should carry a warning?

[wh1teth0rn]

So --- does this mean that a moderate quantity of grapefruit juice is required in order to ensure our prescription drugs are not too strong for us?
Specifically, I take Losartan Potassium (known as Cozaar) and it would be helpful to know whether I should actually avoid grapefruit juice or simply take a small quantity of juice. And anyway as grapefruit juice is a citrus, I wonder if lemons and oranges also should carry a warning?

[leprechankid]

Pomegranates and pomegranate juice should be avoided by people taking cholesterol lowering meds. It has the same effect as grapefruit juice.

[nlm2383]

I agree that consistantcy is the key for patients taking blood thinners when eating foods high in vitamin K. The presentor during the Early Show stated that patients should "avoid" these foods. This is incorrect.

Posted by tchfcc at 09:27 AM : Oct 20, 2008

This is not completely incorrect... I am currently taking blood thinner, going on 3 months now, and it is easier to just pretty much avoid foods high in vitamin K. I only have to get my blood checked once a month, so I will eat them here and there, but when it was being checked every other day, it was a rarity that I ate any at all. Getting your dosage of blood thinner figured out is a complete pain and easier if there is nothing in your system interacting with it.

[urboydigger]

So --- does this mean that a moderate quantity of grapefruit juice is required in order to ensure our prescription drugs are not too strong for us?
Specifically, I take Losartan Potassium (known as Cozaar) and it would be helpful to know whether I should actually avoid grapefruit juice or simply take a small quantity of juice. And anyway as grapefruit juice is a citrus, I wonder if lemons and oranges also should carry a warning?

Posted by wh1teth0rn at 12:30 PM : Oct 20, 2008

No... don''t drink grapefruit juice. At all.

[erasmus81]

Next, they well tell us that you should not eat chips while smoking pot...

Well, that is just common sense. If you start eating chips, you won''t be able to stop at one. You will end up eating the whole bag, and that ain''t good.

[erasmus81]

Next, they well tell us that you should not eat chips while smoking pot...

Well, that is just common sense. If you start eating chips, you won''''t be able to stop at one. You will end up eating the whole bag, and that ain''''t good.

Posted by erasmus81 at 03:07 PM : Oct 20, 2008

Sorry, that should have been:

"Next, they well tell us that you should not eat chips while smoking pot..."

Posted by coppertales at 10:30 AM : Oct 20, 2008

[erasmus81]

Another thing people shouldn''t be doing, is swallowing pills with anything but water. Taking pills with juice or POP can be bad.

[slim1h2o]

Well, that is just common sense. If you start eating chips, you won''''t be able to stop at one. You will end up eating the whole bag, and that ain''''t good.


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Posted by erasmus81 at 03:07 PM : Oct 20, 2008


You must be eating Lays then.

Buddy Hacket couldn''t stop either:)

LOL

[slim1h2o]

That''''s this week, next week is going to be ????




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Posted by ghm1 at 12:10 PM : Oct 20, 2008


Oh well,,next week will be if we inhale carbon-dioxide, we''ll grow old...

LOL

[erasmus81]

You must be eating Lays then.

Buddy Hacket couldn''''t stop either:)

Posted by slim1h2o at 03:43 PM : Oct 20, 2008


I wasn''t talkin'' about ME! Geez. :)

[perm3800]

According to Ms. Glassman''s website, she holds a Masters in Nutrition and is a registered and certified dietician/ nutritionist. Since these are the same folks who pushed us to get used to skim milk by adding Tang and to switch from butter to oleo and to give up eggs to reduce colesterol, I don''t put much faith in their advice.

[ausus-2009]

If you don''t get comprehensive advice from your doctor or pharmacist, perhaps you should change both. Whenever I am prescribed something, my doctor tells me what to avoid and then I get the same message from my pharmacist - both unsolicited, but welcome.

[Netterz]

We must understand first & foremost ALL media outlets are bought & paid for ALL THE TIME. One marketing company will slam there competitions in all things, especially TV, bought/sold like a corner hooker . Look at the current run for Prez. Obama has flooded every media outlet including buying his very own cable/sat TV channel, because he has the most $. So, look who has the highest in the polls? Obama. There were about 30 ppl running in the begining. 25 of those America never HEARD of. One of those ppl very well could have been the quaalifed, but couldnt afford exposure. So if someone isnt paying enough $ for advertising there product, You will be told not to eat it, drink it, or smoke it. This is how competitions/advertising work now, in the world of the rich & famous. Can eat it this wk, next wk it will kill you, so personally, I dont care anymore.

[ausus-2009]

OldThought,

I am not sure what your rambling is about. Perhaps it is advertising prescription drugs. In many countries this practice is banned. The drug companies get around this by advertising the problem and then saying consult your doctor, providing free samples and incentives such as travel to doctors or advertising in unofficial medical journals.