When food affects medicine

Foods can affect drug action in many ways. The most common is when foods interfere with absorption, which can make a drug less effective. For example, calcium in milk can bind to the antibiotic tetracycline, interfering with its absorption. Nutrients or other components of food can also interfere with a drug’s metabolism, or how it is broken down in the body. Finally, foods can affect the elimination of drugs from the body.

So some drugs should not be taken with food. Other drugs must be taken with foods to prevent stomach irritation.

When medicine affects nutrients

Some drugs interfere with the absorption of nutrients. For example, some cholesterol-lowering medications reduce the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Others affect the body’s use or elimination of nutrients, like diuretics, which ca cause a depletion of potassium, and lead to a deficiency.

Dangerous interactions

The following are some of the more serious interactions that can occur between food and medicine:

MAO inhibitors and foods containing tyramine

 Mixing monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors-a class of medications used to treat depression-with foods high in tyramine produces one of the most dramatic and dangerous food-drug interactions. Symptoms include a rapid rise in blood pressure, severe headache, collapse, and even death. Foods high in tyramine include aged cheese, chicken liver, certain red wines, yeast extracts, processed meats, dried or pickled fish, legumes, soy sauce, and beer.

Grapefruit

 Grapefruit juice contains a compound that can increase the absorption of certain drugs, which can result in receiving a larger dose than was intended. This effect is not seen with other citrus fruit juices. Example of drugs that are affected include AIDS medications, cholesterol-lowering “statins” calcium channel blockers, antihypertension drugs, and cyclosporine, an immune system suppressant. As a general rule it is better to stay away from taking any medication with grapefruit juice. Since compounds in grapefruit juice can stay in the blood for 24 hours, effects may be noted even if the medication is not taken directly with the juice.

 Foods high in vitamin K

Vitamin K is essential for clotting blood. Foods high in vitamin K, such as Swiss chard, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and other leafy greens, can interfere with blood thinners.

 Alcohol

 Alcohol and medications do not mix well. Alcohol can slow down the body’s metabolism, so medication stay active longer than they should. In some cases, mixing alcohol with medication can be fatal. Try to avoid it completely when taking prescription or over the counter medication.

There is a lot of debate as to what the greatest vitamin actually is. Each vitamin has its own essential functions that contribute to a person’s general health and well-being.  It is impossible to actually state that one of these is the greatest vitamin. Our body need all of them to work properly. However there are a number of foods that provide the greatest vitamin quantities.

The greatest vitamin sources vary for each vitamin. It is important to have a balanced diet to ensure that the required amounts of each vitamin are obtained. However, it may be useful to list the greatest vitamin sources for each vitamin to be used as a guide.

* Greatest vitamin A sources are milk, eggs, butter, yellow fruits & vegetables, dark green fruits & vegetables, liver

* Greatest vitamin B1 sources are brewer’s yeast, whole grains, blackstrap molasses, brown rice, organ meats, egg yolk

* Greatest vitamin B2 sources are brewer’s yeast, whole grains, legumes, nuts, organ meats, blackstrap molasses

* Greatest vitamin B3 sources are lean meats, poultry & fish, brewer’s yeast, peanuts, milk, rice bran, potatoes

* Greatest vitamin B4 sources are egg yolks, organ meats, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, soybeans, fish, legumes

* Greatest vitamin B5 sources are organ meats, egg yolks, legumes, whole grains, wheat germ, salmon, brewer’s yeast

* Greatest vitamin B6 sources are meats, whole grains, organ meats brewer’s yeast, blackstrap molasses, wheat germ

* Greatest vitamin B7 sources are egg yolks, liver, unpolished rice, brewer’s yeast, sardines, legumes, whole grains

* Greatest vitamin B8 sources are who1e grains, citrus fruits, molasses, meat, milk, nuts, vegetables, brewer’s yeast

* Greatest vitamin B9 sources are dark-green leafy vegetables, organ meats, root vegetables, oysters, salmon, milk

* Greatest vitamin B12 sources are organ meats, fish, pork, eggs, cheese, milk, lamb, bananas, kelp, peanuts

* Greatest vitamin B13 sources are root vegetables, liquid whey

* Greatest vitamin B15 sources are brewer’s yeast, rare steaks, brown rice, sunflower, pumpkin & sesame seeds

* Greatest vitamin B17 sources are whole kernels of apricots, apples, cherries, peaches, plums

* Greatest vitamin C sources are citrus, cabbage family, chilli peppers, berries, melons, asparagus, rose hips

* Greatest vitamin D sources are salmon, sardines, herring, milk, egg yolk, organ meats, sprouted seeds, sunflower seeds

* Greatest vitamin E sources are cold-pressed oils, eggs, wheat germ, organ meats, molasses, sweet potatoes, nuts

* Greatest vitamin F sources are vegetable oils, butter, sunflower seeds

* Greatest vitamin K sources are green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, safflower oil, blackstrap molasses, cauliflower

* Greatest vitamin Q sources are pinto beans, legumes, soybeans

* Greatest vitamin T sources are sesame seeds, raw seeds, butter, egg yolk

* Greatest vitamin V sources are raw cabbage, sauerkraut, leafy vegetables

a.Sugar is ‘good friend’ of cancer cells. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc. are made with Aspartame
and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts.

b.Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened Soy milk cancer cells arebeing starved. Soy in Moderation.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics,growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d.A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e.Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties.Water-Best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

f. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refrain or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy
the cancer cells.

g. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Florescence,Essiac, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs, etc.) to enable the body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted,or unneeded cells.

h. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

i.Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level.Oxygen therapy is another means employedto destroy cancer cells.

References:

www.whattimetuesday.com
www.upcspine.com
www.uppercervicalpatient.org

The first one - Broccoli, rich in various kinds of Vitamins, is well-known for its high anti-aging effect. Broccoli contains selenium that neutralizes active oxygen, and has anti-cancer function, so that it is highly effective for anti-aging. Moreover, it also contains Vitamin A and beta-carotene to strengthen skin resistance making your skin healthy, and contains two times as much Vitamin C, well-known for its whitening effect, as lemon and seven times as much as potato. Broccoli contain multiple cancer fighting chemicals (indoles for example). Indoles can affect estrogen, converting it to a benign form that will not stimulate abnormal cancer cells.

The second one is - Tomato. Tomatoes contain lycopene – an anticancer substance that some researchers suggest may be stronger than beta carotene. Lycopene is the red carotenoid found predominantly in tomatoes and in a few other fruits and vegetables such as watermelons, carrots.Claims have been made that lycopene may be beneficial in diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease as well as other chronic conditions. Vitamin C , an antioxidant that can prevent cellular damage leading to cancer, is also found in tomatoes.

Garlic and onions

Garlic(Allium sativum) and onions(Allium cepa) are widely used around the world for its pungent flavour, as a seasoning or condiment or to enhance other flavours. Garlic and onions both contain allium compounds (diallyl sulfides). Allium is a powerful antibiotic and anti-fungal compound (phytoncide). It can increased the activity of the immune cells that fight cancer and indirectly help to break down cancer -causing substances. Garlic also able to fight cancer directly (ajoane chemicals) and it can stimulate body’s defense mechanisms. Onions also contain high amount of vitamin C.

Grapes – Grapes contain ellagic acid. Ellagic acid block enzymes that are necessary for cancer cells to grow, and slowing the growth of tumors. Grapes also contain compounds that can prevent blood clots. Another substance in grape skins (resveratrol) prevents the deposit of cholesterol in arteries.
Citrus fruits

Citrus contain limonene which stimulates cancer killing immune cells (T lymphocytes and others) . They also break down cancer causing substances. Oranges have shown strong anticancer properties. More than 60 anticancer chemicals are contained in citrus fruits. Lime and celery also fall into this category, though they are less potent.

# green/yellow vegetables – 3 or more servings daily

#grains, including cereal, rice, whole grains breads – 2 servings daily

#potatoes or sweet potatoes – 2 servings daily

# various fruits – 3 or more serving daily

#beans and peas – 2- 3 servings daily

Certain carbohydrate – rich vegetables and fruits show cancer protective effect.

*Those high in Vitamin A-Orange and yellow in color: carrots, pumpkin, watermelon, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, plums and peaches.

*Those high in Vitamin C-Oranges, cauliflower, tomatoes, cantaloupe, strawberries, spinach and cabbages. Cruciferous vegetables Include cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower – eat several times a week