When you are taking a blood thinner, you have to be careful about what you eat and drink because of reactions that can occur. You also have to be careful about what alternative and herbal medications you take, as some of those products might contain food-based ingredients that can affect the way the blood thinner works, as well as the way your body reacts to the blood thinner.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K can reduce the effectiveness of blood thinners. Some foods that contain Vitamin K include leafy green vegetables, liver, Brussels sprouts and vegetable oils. You don't have to completely stop eating these foods, but you should only enjoy them in moderation. According to MayoClinic.com, the daily allowance of Vitamin K for women is 90 micrograms, and for men, it is 120 mcg. Before you reduce your Vitamin K intake, consult your doctor because your body does need some Vitamin K to function properly.
Cranberries
Cranberries can increase your bleeding while you are on blood thinners. Because of this, you should completely avoid eating cranberries. You should also avoid cranberry juice, as well as any teas or other drinks and foods that contain cranberries or cranberry juice. This includes herbal products, such as pills, which contain cranberries.
Alcohol
Alcohol thins your blood, so if you take it with a blood thinner, you are likely to bleed profusely if you get cut. Because of this, it is vitally important that you give up alcohol once you start taking a blood thinner. Ask your doctor to recommend a support group or other help if you aren't able to stop drinking alcohol on your own.
Other Foods
Sweet woodruff, tonka beans and sweet clover all affect the efficiency of blood thinners. These ingredients are often found in herbal remedies, but they might also be found as supplements. Tonka beans are illegal in the United States due to a law passed in 1954 because they contain a toxic chemical compound called coumarin.
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