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Ask Dr. Gourmet
Is orzo safe for those on Coumadin (warfarin)?
I would like to know if Orzo (coffee substitute drink) is ok to drink if someone is on 5 mg of Warfarin?
Dr. Gourmet Says...
Orzo is a coffee substitute that originated in Italy and has not spread widely to the rest of the world. There are varieties of the drink found in Spain and South America.
It is made from ground roasted barley and is made much like espresso. Barley is caffeine free and contains very little Vitamin K. A cup of barley has about 3 micrograms of Vitamin K and therefore orzo should be safe.
Note that because orzo is made using ground barley, it does contain gluten and would not be safe for those with Celiac Disease.
Thanks for writing,
Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet