Food to avoid while taking medication

A lot of people are not aware that the food they eat can interfere with certain drugs they are taking. Grapefruit is one of these food as it can interact with more than 85 oral medications and cause serious side effects . Other examples include:

- Vitamin K-rich foods can make warfarin (anticoagulant used to prevent blood clots) less effective  according to Britain's National Institutes of Health. Foods containing high amounts of vitamin K include herbs such as parsley and coriander, leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard, soybeans and chickpeas.

- Licorice if taken in high quantities it can increase the chances of toxicity for people taking the medication Lanoxin (used to treat congestive heart failure and heart rhythm disorders). Licorice can also make certain blood pressure drugs and diuretics less effective according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

-Calcium from dairy foods or from supplements can interfere with the absorption of thyroid medicine.

Finally,  alcohol can cause problems for people taking a wide range of medications, including blood-thinning drugs like warfarin, antibiotics, anti-depressants, diabetic medication, anti-psychotics and anti-seizure drugs.

Take home message: it is always advised to read the labels on the drugs and ask the doctor or pharmacist about any potential food interaction or side effects. 

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