What Foods Should You Avoid Eating When Taking Warfirin?

The generically named medication warfarin is prescribed to thin your blood to prevent clots that could lead to strokes or heart attacks. When you take this medicine, avoid certain foods that could interfere with your body's absorption of the warfarin. Some food may even reverse the effects of this anticoagulant medication, while others may increase the effects. Before you take warfarin, ask your doctor for a list of foods that may induce problems with this drug.

Spinach

Spinach contains vitamin K, which may adversely affect the warfarin you take. Vitamin k stops bleeding, while warfarin is an anticoagulant. In other words, vitamin K shortens the time it takes for your blood to clot, creating the opposite effect of taking warfarin. If you normally eat salads with large amounts of spinach, stop and substitute another vegetable instead.

Cranberry Juice

Drinking cranberry juice may increase the blood thinning ability of warfarin, Drugs.com indicates. Avoid this fruit drink while you take warfarin because your blood thinning medication can become dangerous in the event of an injury.

Kale

Kale is a green leafy vegetables that contains large amounts of vitamin K, which changes the effects of warfarin anticoagulant medication. By changing the medication's effects, your blood will become thicker, allowing the clots to get larger. Remove this food from your diet until you speak with your doctor.

Alcohol

Alcohol has blood-thinning qualities that may potentiate the warfarin, making your blood thinner and causing you to bleed internally and externally. If you cut yourself, you may not stop bleeding in the normal amount of time, or you may need medical treatment if the bleeding does not stop at all. Even if you injure yourself without breaking the skin, you may notice blood welling up under the skin, forming a bigger and more serious looking bruise than normal. Always avoid alcohol while taking a blood thinner such as warfarin.

Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are rich in vitamin K, so avoid eating large amounts of them while you are taking warfarin, MayoClinic.com recommends. Although small amounts of this vegetable will not hurt you, you can avoid the risk by not eating Brussels sprouts or other green veggies while on the medication.