Coumadin, also known as warfarin, is an anticoagulant used to decrease the formation of blood clots by blocking certain clotting factors, according to Drugs.com. Coumadin is used to prevent blood clots in patients with previous histories of heart attack and stroke, in patients with prosthetic heart valves and in patients with blood clots in veins and arteries. MayoClinic.com states that certain foods and beverages can lessen the effectiveness of Coumadin in preventing blood clots.
Vitamin-K Rich Foods
Patients taking Coumadin should avoid eating large amounts of foods containing Vitamin K, according to MayoClinic.com. Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin that helps the blood coagulant. Eating foods rich in Vitamin K lessens the effectiveness of Coumadin in thinning blood. Patients taking Coumadin should first consult with the doctor before adding any vitamin-K rich foods to their diet. Foods rich in vitamin-K include many leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, cabbage, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green onions, endive, lettuce, turnip, collard greens and mustard greens. Large amounts of vitamin-K are also found in soybean oil and canola oil.
Cranberry Products
PubMed Health states that patients taking Coumadin should avoid eating cranberries, drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry herbal products. Cranberry products destabilize Coumadin and increase its effect on the body leading to severe bleeding problems.
Alcohol
Drinking large amounts of Alcohol while taking Coumadin can increase the effect of Coumadin and lead to severe bleeding problems, according to PubMed Health. Patients who consume large amounts of alcohol should inform the doctor.
Herbs
PubMed Health states that patients taking Coumadin should avoid taking herbal products. Some herbal products interact with Coumadin and increase its blood thinning effects leading to bleeding disorders. Herbal products to be avoided include coenzyme Q10, green tea,herbal teas containing tonka beans, sweet clover or sweet woodruff, bromelains, coenzyme Q10, dong quai, garlic, Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and St. John's wort.
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