Can you eat grapes when taking warfarin?
In this article we are going to answer the questions: can you eat grapes when taking warfarin, what is warfarin, if grapes can thin the blood, are grapes high in vitamin K, what foods to avoid when taking warfarin and how to add grapes to your diet.
Can you eat grapes when taking warfarin?
Yes! You can eat grapes when taking warfarin. Grape juice contains large amounts of flavonoids and there has been a suggestion that it interacts with warfarin. There is no clinical evidence of any interaction between grapes and warfarin.
The interaction has implications for patients that are consuming muscadine grapes and quercetin supplements.
What is warfarin?
Warfarin is a blood thinner prescribed by doctors for people that have a higher risk of blood clots or have a blood clot near the heart that could trigger stroke, heart attack, or organ damage.
It works by slowing the clotting factors the body produces by using vitamin K. It has been proven that vitamin K reduces the effectiveness of warfarin. The same action that prevents blood clotting can result in bleeding, that is why is very important to have control over:
- Incorrect use of drugs
- Use of certain medications or supplements
- Diet changes
- Illnesses
There has been a link between quercetin and warfarin in clinical studies. Quercetin is a plant pigment that is known as a flavonoid or antioxidant.
Warfarin binds to a protein known as Human Serum Albumin (HSA). There is evidence that quercetin metabolites are able to strongly displace warfarin from HSA suggesting that quercetin at high doses can interfere with warfarin therapy. Food high in quercetin are
- Apples
- Onion
- Parsley
- Sage
- Tea
- Red wine
This interaction has been shown more with quercetin supplements or muscadine grapes; they have higher quantities of quercetin.
Can grapes thin the blood?
It depends on the portions and how much other moderate vitamin K you are eating. According to the USDA, a cup of grapes contains 22 micrograms of vitamin K, which is about 28% of the recommended daily intake. They might help to decrease inflammation and make blood less sticky, so they help to reduce the risk of blood clots.
What food should I avoid when taking warfarin?
Adult men need 120 mcg of Vitamin K while adult women need 90 mcg. You should avoid high quantities of:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Brussels sprouts
- Collards greens
- Mustard greens
- Chard
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Green tea
Also, certain drinks increase the effect of warfarin which may lead to bleeding problems:
- Cranberry juice
- Alcohol
Even small amounts of this drink are very dangerous when taking warfarin.
What are the benefits of eating grapes?
Grapes are super nutritious fruits that don’t have any side effects to be known.
- Helps immune system
- Lowers blood pressure
- Protects against heart disease
- Reduces high cholesterol
- Protects against diabetes
- Helps maintain a healthy brain
- Slows down aging
Helps immune system
They are an excellent source of Vitamin C, which helps your immune system to stay healthy. They will keep you away from infections.
Lowers blood pressure
Grapes are low in sodium and high in potassium. These two electrolytes help to balance blood pressure.
Protects against heart disease
They are high in resveratrol, it helps prevent heart disease.
Reduces high cholesterol
Fruits are high in fiber and grapes are not the exception. In a study, people who ate 3 cups of red grapes a day for 8 weights had lower total cholesterol levels.
Helps maintain a healthy brain
Once again resveratrol, a super antioxidant, protects your brain against the development of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s by reducing oxidative stress.
Slows down aging
Resveratrol stimulates a gene that has been linked to a longer lifespan.
How to add grapes to my diet?
You can simply eat them the natural way as a snack, just add some protein like yogurt, cheese, or almond butter so your glucose (sugar in the blood) doesn’t go up.
They paired excellently with your salad or add it to your smoothie. When you pair fruit with protein, it helps to keep you satisfied for longer. I’ll leave a link to the 5-minute grape sorbet you are going to love.
Other FAQs about Grapes that you may be interested in.
Can you eat grapes when breastfeeding?
Why does grape flavor not taste like grapes?
Conclusion
This article answered the questions: can you eat grapes when taking warfarin, what is warfarin, if grapes can thin the blood, are grapes high in vitamin K, what food to avoid when taking warfarin and how to add grapes to your diet.
Citation
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thrombophlebitis/expert-answers/warfarin/faq-20058443
https://www.rampfesthudson.com/can-you-eat-grapes-when-taking-warfarin/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324419
