[Article updated on 19/09/2023]
We hear all day long: “Eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day”…But did you know that certain fruits and vegetables are sometimes contraindicated?
Before reading on
I’m not an expert in this field, but I am passionate about nutrition and health.
The articles you’ll find on my site are the result of in-depth research that I’d like to share with you. However, I would like to stress that I am not a health professional and that my advice should in no way replace that of a qualified physician. I’m here to guide you, but it’s important that you consult a professional for specific questions or medical concerns. Your well-being is important. So be sure to consult the appropriate experts and take the best possible care of yourself.
Despite the great reputation of fruits and vegetables for the positive effects they have on our health, they can be harmful in certain cases!
When we talk about interactions, we think of the side effects linked to taking medications… However, for example, grapefruit juice can cause effects with cholesterol-lowering medications and can increase side effects such as a kind of overdose.
And, for other medications, there is a risk of underdosing as with orange and apple juices which would therefore be likely to reduce intestinal absorption.
It is therefore necessary to avoid taking certain medications simultaneously with certain fruits or at least wait 4 hours.
And how do you know which medications are at risk?
To find out which medications are at risk, it is important to seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist and, above all, read the instructions!
Furthermore, when you take anti-coagulant medications, it is recommended to limit foods containing vitamin K because its role is precisely to clot the blood!
This vitamin will therefore slow down or suppress the drug process.
And which vegetables are rich in Vitamin K?
- Cabbages (also sauerkraut);
- spinach ;
- watercress ;
- dandelion ;
- certain salads (arugula, escarole, romaine lettuce);
- Rapeseed and soybean oils.
Be careful because it is present in certain sauces and industrial products.
It is essential to maintain a varied diet.
The goal is not to eliminate these foods but to not concentrate them all on the same meal or the same day.
Also be wary of certain plant-based food supplements such as St. John’s wort, soy, algae, etc. which can reduce the action of Anti Vitamin K.
Moreover, seek the advice of your doctor before taking any food supplements as you would for medication.
What about coffee, alcohol, anti-depressants, milk?
Be aware that certain antibiotic molecules, especially those used against urinary infections, prevent the natural elimination of caffeine by retaining it in the body.
The side effects are similar to a caffeine overdose: increased heart rate, excitement, hypervigilance, even loss of consciousness.
In the same way, the ethanol contained in alcohol can increase the effects of tranquilizers by influencing the blood concentration of the latter in the body.
The amplification of the effects of the sedative results in impaired alertness, dizziness, or even fainting.
Certain antidepressants and certain treatments which help limit the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease have interactions with chocolate or very mature cheeses, for example, or even draft beer.
Finally, milk reduces the absorption of certain antibiotics (tetracyclines).
To sum up
- Grapefruit juice contraindicated with certain cholesterol medications (so remember to space out the intake by 4 hours);
- Be careful of vegetables rich in vitamin K with the taking of anti-coagulants (this is not a question of banishing them, the balance is achieved over several meals);
- It is important to read the medication instructions!
- And do not hesitate to seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.