The Annual FitFest Health Fair is coming soon to the Brewton Area YMCA. It will be on Feb. 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. FitFest is a Health and Fitness Program for senior, retired and everyone interested in improving their health.

Free blood pressure, cholesterol and a blood sugar screening is available for everyone attending. Everyone is asked to wear red in support of February as Heart Health Month.

For more information, contact Carolyn Bivins at 251-867-7760 or Vivian Layton at 251-867-9622
5 Common Food-Drug Interactions

You have probably heard the warnings not to drink grapefruit juice with cholesterol medication. However, that isn’t the only combination of food and drugs to avoid.

Grapefruit juice can interact with numerous other medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. In addition, many other foods commonly interact with drugs, too.

Steve Plogsted, BS, PharmD, BCNSP, CNSC, clinical pharmacist with Nutrition Support Service of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, fills us in on five foods that most commonly interact with medications.

Grapefruit Juice

“Grapefruit juice has the ability to interact with medications in various ways,” Plogsted said.

One-way is by increasing the absorption of certain drugs — as is the case with some, but not all, cholesterol-lowering statins. MedinePlus recommends avoiding grapefruit juice if you are taking statins.

Grapefruit juice can also cause the body to metabolize drugs abnormally, resulting in lower or higher than normal blood levels of the drug.

Many medications are affected in this way, including antihistamines, blood pressure drugs, thyroid replacement drugs, birth control, stomach acid-blocking drugs and the cough suppressant dextromethorphan. It’s best to avoid or significantly reduce intake of grapefruit juice when taking these medications.

But why is grapefruit juice of concern and not other citrus juices?

According to Plogsted, grapefruit juice contains a class of compounds called furanocoumarins, which act in the body to alter the characteristics of these medications. Orange juice and other citrus juices do not contain these compounds. There is some concern for Seville oranges and the pummelo, which are relatives of the grapefruit.
Green Leafy Vegetables

Blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin) interfere with vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. Eating too much green leafy vegetables, which are high in vitamin K, can decrease the ability of blood-thinners to prevent clotting. But you don’t have to give up greens altogether. Problems arise from significantly and suddenly increasing or decreasing intake, as it can alter the effectiveness of the medicine. So eat your greens in consistent amounts.
Natural Black Licorice (Glycyrrhiza)

According to Plogsted, glycyrrhiza — a natural ingredient used to make black licorice — can deplete the body of potassium while causing an increased retention of sodium. When the body is depleted of potassium, the activity of digoxin, a medication used to treat heart failure, can be greatly enhanced, resulting in the heart not beating properly.

Glycyrrhiza can also decrease the effectiveness of high blood pressure medicines. And people taking Coumadin (warfarin) should beware that glycyrrhiza can break down the drug, resulting in an increase in the body’s clotting mechanism.

Excessive amounts of natural licorice should be avoided when taking all of these medications. However, Plogsted notes that artificially flavored black licorice does not contain glycyrrhiza and is not of concern.
Salt Substitutes

Consumers taking digoxin for heart failure or ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure should be careful with salt substitutes, which most often replace sodium with potassium. With an increased consumption of potassium, the effectiveness of digoxin can be decreased, resulting in heart failure. And those taking ACE inhibitors might see a significant increase in blood potassium levels, as these drugs are known to increase potassium.

“There is no real need to avoid salt substitutes, although care should be taken when using the product,” Plogsted said. “If the consumer has decreased kidney function they should discuss the use of salt substitutes with their doctor.”
Tyramine-Containing Foods

High blood levels of the amino acid tyramine can cause an increase in blood pressure. Several medications interfere with the breakdown of tyramine, including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) which treat depression and drugs used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Plogsted advises those taking these drugs to steer clear of tyramine-rich foods. The list is lengthy and includes, but is not limited to: chocolate, aged and mature cheeses, smoked and aged/fermented meats, hot dogs, some processed lunch meats, fermented soy products and draft beers (canned and bottled beers are OK).

When receiving a prescription for a new medication or taking a new over-the-counter drug, Plogsted advises consumers to always read drug warning labels and ask their physician and/or pharmacist about which foods or other drugs they should avoid or be concerned about taking.  Source: Rachel Begun, MS, RDN