Ask Dr. Gourmet

Are these foods safe for Coumadin (warfarin) users?

I had Deep Vein Thromboses. I am taking Warfarin (Coumadin) 10mg. Are the following foods safe for me?

Venti (Large size) Non-Fat Latte and an Apple Fritter from Starbucks
Veggie Cheese - lactose free
Gardenburgers
Veggie chicken burgers

Dr. Gourmet Says...

There are some challenging food items when it comes to knowing the exact Vitamin K content. We have a complete list of foods as part of my book The Dr. Gourmet Diet for Coumadin® Users. The downloadable version does let you easily search the lists. The information in the book is taken from USDA data, but unfortunately, that data is not always complete because of such items that don't have to be reported such as the Apple Fritter. The Non-Fat Latte should be safe, but there's no telling about the pastries and exactly what ingredients are included.

For instance, Granny Smith are perfect apples for baking and the skins do contain more Vitamin K than other apples. You just have no way of knowing.

The Gardenburgers and Veggie Chicken Burgers are in a bit of a gray area. They are made from soy, and unprocessed soy beans are high in Vitamin K. However, generic "veggie burgers or soy burgers" are low in Vitamin K as reported by the USDA (3 micrograms per patty). Whether the manufacturer included other ingredients that might change this is unknown because they are not required to report it. You might be safe - but there's no guarantee.

A good rule of thumb is to work toward a diet that is as fresh as possible so that you know exactly which ingredients are in what you are eating. You don't want to eliminate all Vitamin K. The key is to avoid those ingredients with very high levels.

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet

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