Warfarin, sold as Coumadin, is often prescribed to help prevent blood clots. Blood clots can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke. While there is no set diet to follow while on warfarin, the National Institutes of Health states that you should monitor your diet to avoid an excessive intake of vitamin K-containing foods. The fat-soluble vitamin K helps blood clot. Too much vitamin K may interfere with the way warfarin works in your body.
Warfarin and Vitamin K
Warfarin is a type of blood thinner used to prevent blood clots. It is prescribed for people with irregular heartbeats, those with prosthetic heart valves and recent heart attack sufferers. The drug can also be used to help prevent or treat vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Vitamin K does the opposite: it helps clot blood. Because of this, it is important to maintain a balanced, steady intake of vitamin K when taking warfarin to prevent unwanted side effects.
Usage
Warfarin is taken by mouth once, at the same time, each day. Even if you feel you are getting better, it is important to continue taking the medicine as prescribed by your doctor. Only your doctor can tell you when it is safe and appropriate to stop taking warfarin. Be sure to tell your doctor about all other medicines, including over-the-counter cold medicines, you are also taking. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states that medicines containing aspirin can decrease the blood's clotting ability and may increase your risk of bleeding while taking a blood thinner like warfarin.
Diet
The NIH states that, when taking warfarin, it is important to follow a normal healthy diet and avoid excessive, irregular intake of foods high in vitamin K. Avoid eating large amounts of vitamin K foods in one sitting, and be sure to discuss any diet changes with your doctor. Foods high in vitamin K include dark green leafy vegetables like kale, collard greens, turnip greens, dandelion and mustard greens, spinach and some varieties of lettuce. Other foods with moderate to high vitamin K content include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green onions, prunes, dried plums, tofu, asparagus, okra and black-eyed peas. Your doctor may also request that you avoid cranberries.
Herbs
Herbs and botanical products can play a role in warfarin's effectiveness. According to the NIH, herbs and extracts such as garlic, Ginkgo biloba, ginseng and St. John's wort may affect your body's response to warfarin. It is important to discuss all herbal medications with your doctor and avoid starting or stopping the use of any herbal medications without first discussing this with your doctor.
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