Be Cautious: Certain Foods Can Interfere with Your Medications

Don't Eat This if You're Taking That is a practical and informative guide co-authored by married experts Madelyn Fernstrom, a nutrition and diet specialist featured on NBC’s Today show, and John Fernstrom, an award-winning neuroscientist and pharmacologist. The book explores how everyday foods and supplements can interact with prescription medications, potentially reducing their effectiveness or increasing the risk of harmful side effects. The authors emphasize that it’s not just other drugs that cause problems—anything you consume, even seemingly healthy foods, can impact how medications work in the body.

The Fernstroms highlight several common and potentially dangerous food-drug interactions. For example, fish oil supplements can increase bleeding risk when taken with blood thinners, though eating fish in moderation is generally safe. People taking statins such as Lipitor or Zocor should avoid grapefruit, which can interfere with liver enzymes and lead to dangerously high drug levels.

Individuals with diabetes should be cautious with high doses of cinnamon, as it can lower blood sugar too much when combined with diabetes medications—though small amounts used in cooking are fine. Patients on MAOI antidepressants should steer clear of aged cheeses, red wine, and chocolate, which contain tyramine, a compound that can trigger dangerous spikes in blood pressure when not properly broken down.

For those on calcium channel blockers to treat high blood pressure, too much calcium from supplements or fortified foods can reduce the medication’s effectiveness. Likewise, ACE inhibitors, another common type of blood pressure medication, can cause the body to retain potassium. Eating excessive potassium-rich foods like bananas, oranges, or leafy greens may lead to serious heart-related issues.

Being aware of these interactions can help you avoid unexpected medical complications. For more detailed information, check out the full book, Don't Eat This if You're Taking That. It's a valuable resource for anyone taking prescription drugs, encouraging readers to stay informed, make thoughtful dietary choices, and consult healthcare professionals to prevent potentially dangerous interactions.

Courtesy of AARP.

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