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Chef Tim Says...

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Dr. Tim Says....

On Coumadin® (warfarin) and eating healthy

My email box is filled with Ask Dr. Gourmet questions. Every one of the hundreds and hundreds received is quite interesting and I work hard at answering every one that I receive. The topics range from questions about ingredients and techniques to food allergies and requests for specific recipes.

By far the most common request that comes to me is for help with those who use Coumadin® (warfarin). Being on this medication can be frustrating for many because the target therapeutic range for this drug is very narrow. Too much medication and the blood is too “thin” and there is an increased risk of bleeding. Too little and the medication is not effective.

The other issue is that many people who take Coumadin also have other conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and obesity and want to eat healthy. Because foods that contain Vitamin K can impact the effectiveness of Coumadin there are some things that shouldn’t be eaten while on this medication.

The number one question that I receive is about how to eat healthy and avoid such foods. Visitors to the website want to follow a healthy plan and are concerned about the amount of Vitamin K that they will be getting in their meals. So I have created a cookbook for those on Coumadin.

There are many other resources for Coumadin users on the Dr. Gourmet website including three lists that range from a quick and simple listing of foods that contain Vitamin K to a comprehensive list of ingredients used in Dr. Gourmet recipes. At the bottom of this page are the links to those lists.

Also every recipe now has a section of Special Diet Information that can help determine if a recipe might be safe for you if you are using Coumadin or have other health issues like GERD / Acid Reflux, Lactose Intolerance or need to be on a low-sodium diet. Over the coming months this section will be expanded to include other conditions, such as gout, as well as information for those who are sensitive to gluten (wheat products).

Eat well, eat healthy, enjoy life!

Dr. Gourmet
June 26, 2006

Basic list

http://www.drgourmet.com/md/warfarinbrief.pdf

List of foods with relative amounts of Vitamin K

http://www.drgourmet.com/md/relativewarfarinlist.pdf

Comprehensive list

http://www.drgourmet.com/md/warfarincomprehensive.pdf

Last updated: 06/26/06