Before getting into our main topic, a small diversion: A couple of days ago a dear reader sent me an e-mail asking about the “benefits” of bicarbonate of soda; she thought many of the articles on the Internet seemed too exaggerated. She apparently has some cartilage problems in her knees and asked if drinking bicarbonate of soda might help.
I gave her a brief reply, but decided to write about acidity / alkalinity AND THE BENEFITS OF BICARBONATE OF SODA next week. In fact, “joint discomfort”, it turns out, could be a sign of a too acidic body.
Please read “Lemon Juice and Bicarbonate of Soda-A Super Combination”, posted on August 21, 2015, while waiting for next week’s post.
What not to combine
Remember the “What Not to Mix With What” post, dated January 5, 2017? Well this is, sort of, a follow up to that. The other day a close friend and follower of the blog called and asked me if he should consume grapefruit given the medications he was taking. The answer was NEVER; he preferred it coming from me directly, rather then him reading about it.
READ THESE POSTS CAREFULLY; YOUR HEALTH MAY DEPEND ON IT.
- FISH OIL (Omega-3)
Drug interactions: Taking fish Oil with blood pressure lowering drugs can increase the effects of these drugs, and may lower blood pressure too much. Birth control pills may interfere with the triglyceride-lowering effects of fish oils.
Supplement interactions: Taking high doses of fish oil with herbs that slow blood clotting (including ginkgo) may cause bleeding.
- CALCIUM
Drug interactions: Calcium can reduce the absorption of many medications, including the prescription osteoporosis drugs known as bisphosphonates, antibiotics in the tetracycline and quinolone families (like Cipro), and levothyroxine, which treats hypothyroidism.
- ECHINACEA
Drug interactions: Echinacea’s ability to stimulate the immune system may interfere with drugs that decrease immunity, such as steroid prednisone.
- MELATONIN
Drug interactions: Since Melatonin may make you drowsy; taking it with sedative drugs may cause too much sleepiness. Melatonin may slow blood clotting, so taking it with anticoagulant medications such as heparin or warfarin (Coumadin) may increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Avoid using melatonin if you’re taking medication to control blood pressure, as it may raise blood pressure.
Supplement interactions: Taking melatonin with other supplements that have sedative properties (including St. John’s wort and valerian) may increase the effects and side effects of melatonin.
- JOHN’S WORT
Drug interactions: Taking St. John’s with antidepressants may lead to too-high levels of serotonin in your body, which can result in serious side-effects including heart problems. St. John’s wort may make birth control pills less effective. It may also interact with common migraine medications such as sumatriptan and zolmitriptan.
- VITAMIN D
Drug interactions: Vitamin D might decrease the effectiveness of the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin (Lipitor). Taking high doses of Vitamin D along with a diuretic medication may result in too much calcium in the body, which can cause kidney problems.
The moral of the story?
Eat properly; EAT REAL FOODS. EXERCISE, and CALM YOUR MIND. Almost all diseases stem from a not so healthy life style.
If you are not on any kind of medication, you have little to worry about combining health supplements.
That’s it; see you all next week.
