Hidden Dangers Of Drug Interaction in Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruit juice is one of the healthiest foods around, right?

A glass of grapefruit juice with no white sugar, 100 calories, no fat, more than 100% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C, and had a spicy flavor that can really move in the morning.

However interact with grapefruit juice (fruit grapefruit juice in their late morning) with some drugs, with potentially serious consequences.

What medications do not interact with grapefruit juice?

Grapefruit juice may interact with many medications to take people to preserve their health. If you eat grapefruit or grapefruit juice, you should consult your doctor and pharmacist of drugs that are used to check and ask again, how new drugs interact with grapefruit juice. The following list contains some of the drugs that interact with grapefruit juice. This is not an exhaustive list, if you're a fan of grapefruit, then ask your doctor before starting treatment.

Get Rid of Cellulite By Drinking Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruit is a superfood that can greatly improve the appearance of your legs, stomach and buttocks by minimizing unsightly cellulite. Grapefruit juice is rich in natural anti-inflammatories called bioflavonoids, which are great for your skin. It also stimulates fat burning. Squeeze your own fresh grapefruit juice to get the maximum nutrients.

Cut a grapefruit in half.

Follow the instructions for your juicer to make fresh grapefruit juice.

Drink one full glass of grapefruit juice every morning. The flavonoids in the juice support the blood supply to the skin and stimulate fat burning.

Expand your fresh juice repertoire so you don't get bored. Make grapefruit, orange and celery juice by combining one grapefruit, two oranges and two stalks of celery.

Add fresh mint to the juice to remove toxins from fat tissue.

Eat a grapefruit as an afternoon snack to maximize your intake of bioflavonoids.

Does grapefruit affect the drugs you take?

A: Yes, but only if it's eaten raw or juiced.

If you look at the average breakfast table you'll find many potential health hazards: coffee, breakfast cereals loaded with sugar, greasy bacon and fried eggs. So most of us would think grapefruit is a welcome nutritious addition.

But if you're taking certain medications then you should steer clear of grapefruit. That's because grapefruit contains a substance that interacts with a long list of drugs regularly found in medicine cabinets across the country.

Geraldine Moses, a senior pharmacist from the Adverse Medicine Events Information Line, says there is evidence that an average 200 ml glass of normal strength grapefruit juice (straight from the fruit) can cause "a clinically significant interaction with a list of drugs as long as your arm".

Eating fresh grapefruit can also be a problem, as the compound responsible for the interaction is found in the fruit's pulp. But Moses says eating grapefruit marmalade on toast is unlikely to cause any problems.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is a hybrid of two citrus species, Citrus maxima (pummelo) and Citrus sinensis (sweet orange). Grapefruit has a deep red flesh inside and it is a variety of Florida. It makes an essential nutrient for skin development and eyesight.

Grapefruit

The fruit is yellow orange skinned and its major types are white, pink and red. The color will not affect the flavor where the pink and red grapefruit add Vitamin A to your diet. It makes a perfect breakfast since it comes in a ready-made bowl. It should not be picked until it is fully ripe.

Health benefits

    * Grapefruit is an excellent source of vitamin C
    * It helps to lower the cholesterol level where the seeds have antioxidant properties
    * Grapefruit is rich in nutrients like potassium, folate, thiamin, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and fiber
    * It is an anti-cancer agent that helps to fight against diseases
    * It is very helpful in dissolving inorganic calcium

Grapefruit Juice Can Interact With Medicines!

A nutraceutical is a food or part of a food that allegedly provides medicinal or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Grapefruit juice has been touted as containing many compounds that can reduce hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and even the risk of cancer. Grapefruit juice can, therefore, be justifiably referred to as a classic nutraceutical. However, for many persons taking certain medications, grapefruit juice might actually better be termed a "nutrapollutical!"

It turns out that grapefruit juice can directly or indirectly interact in important ways with a number of medications. This is especially important since grapefruit juice is consumed by approximately one fifth of Americans for breakfast - a time of the day when medications also are commonly taken.

Grapefruit juice blocks special enzymes in the wall of the small intestine that actually destroys many medications and prevents their absorption into the body. Thus, smaller amounts of the drugs get into the body than are ingested. When the action of this enzyme is blocked, more of the drugs get into the body and the blood levels of these medications increase. This can lead to toxic side effects from the medications.

The Effects of Grapefruit and its Juice on Certain Drugs

Certain drugs can cause serious or occasionally life-threatening effects if consumed in combination with grapefruit or its juice.

Background

Consuming grapefruit or its juice (fresh or frozen) can increase, or less commonly decrease, the effects of some drugs. There are several substances in grapefruit that interfere with the way your body handles certain drugs.

These effects are known to be caused by the combination of grapefruit and its juice with certain drugs and health products used in the treatment of medical conditions, including, but not limited to:

Grapefruit juice: Beware of dangerous medication interactions

I like to drink grapefruit juice but hear that it can interfere with some of my prescription medications. Is that true?

Yes, grapefruit juice, other grapefruit products and certain other citrus fruits can interfere with several kinds of prescription medications. Don't take these interactions lightly, as some can cause potentially dangerous health problems. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before consuming any grapefruit products or citrus fruits if you take prescription medications. You may need to eliminate grapefruit products from your diet. Simply taking your medication and grapefruit product at different times doesn't stop the interaction.

Certain chemicals that grapefruit products and citrus fruits contain can interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) various medications in your digestive system. As a result, more medication stays in your body. This can increase the potency of your medication to potentially dangerous levels, causing serious side effects.

Pomelos and Seville oranges, a type of bitter orange often used to make marmalades and compotes, may have a similar effect. Researchers are identifying other foods that also may interact with medications, so check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.