Food-Drug interactions (5/6): Dietary fibers

This is a guest blog post by Seuna K. Linda Eva

Did you know that the everyday foods we eat can totally change the way prescription drugs act in the body ? Medically, it is known that some common foods can interact with prescription drugs, with the most commonly known culprit being grapefruit juice. However, there are a lot more of food and drug interactions to be concerned about.

Here is the fifth out of 06 food-drugs interactions to avoid we are going to present in series…

Insoluble dietary fibers, such as wheat bran, brown rice or other whole grains are well-known for slowing down the body’s ability to absorb of heart medication like digitek, digitalis, digoxin, and lanoxin.

Whole grains can also take a long time to move through your digestive tract because their energy-rich starches are encased in indigestible bran. That means medications you’ve taken with or just before your meal can spend longer than they should in the high-acid environment of your stomach, and their effectiveness can be impaired by the time they reach your intestine.

Please keep in mind that you should not abstain from insoluble fiber because it plays a vital role in keeping you healthy. Today’s Geriatric Medicine advises taking the medication one or two hours before eating. You can also take the medication one or two hours after eating.

How do I check for food-drugs interactions ?

Anytime you’re given a newly prescribed or over-the-counter medication, you’ll want to always read the drug warning labels.

Be sure to ask your doctor and/or pharmacist about which foods or other drugs you should avoid or be concerned about taking, based on your diet.

You may want to see if there is a different medication you could take, that would work better with your diet.

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