Some of you may recall that I suggested the consumption of some unusual foods, in my May 18, 2015 post.
Please re-read the post to refresh your memory as to the unbelievable health benefits of consuming turmeric and ginger.
Turmeric
We can summarize the beneficial properties of curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, by stating that it is a powerful anti-inflammatory compound, and that it has great anti-thrombotic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-oxidative properties.
However, one should be careful when using turmeric in great amounts or in combination with some medication.
- As it has “anti-thrombotic” (blood thinning) properties, don’t combine it with medication like aspirin and warfarin, which are taken to reduce the occurrence of blood clots. If you combine these with turmeric, it can cause bleeding.
- Diabetes medication is taken to lower ones blood sugar. Turmeric does the same, so if you combine them you might end up with a blood sugar level that is too low. This can cause anxiety, delirium, blurred vision and shakiness.
- If you are using medication to reduce stomach acid, like Ranitidine, Famotidine, Cimetidine, etc., don’t combine it with turmeric, as turmeric increases the production of stomach acid and you may end up with pain, nausea and bloating.
- Sometimes, the excessive use of turmeric can cause allergic reactions, followed by hives, rashes or more serious anaphylaxis. Stop using it, or at least reduce it.
Ginger
Ginger is a plant native to China and is thought to be one of the healthiest herbs in the world. It is a good source of Vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and copper. It promotes the release of intestinal gas, increases cardiovascular circulation, relieves morning sickness and motion sickness, and is protective against osteoarthritis pain, and the pain of several cancers like ovarian, colorectal, lung and breast.
It is suggested that ginger not be used in combination with, or not at all if one has the following disorders:
- Just like turmeric, ginger has blood-thinning properties, so people taking blood thinning medication and people with hemophilia should avoid it.
- People taking high blood pressure and diabetes medication should avoid Ginger; it tends to alter their effects.
- Underweight people should avoid consuming ginger. Ginger alters blood pH levels which can result in fat loss and loss of appetite. This could lead to menstrual irregularities, loss of muscle mass and hair loss.
- Finally, women should try to stay away from it during pregnancy. A small amount for morning sickness can be OK.
As a substitute, one can use sweet peppers, cayenne peppers and red peppers.
Pineapple
With its lightly sweet aroma and tart flavor, pineapple is a nutritious fruit packed with vitamin C. However, if you are taking certain medications, you need to be a bit careful about the amount of pineapple you consume.
Certain drugs and medications can interact with the BROMELAIN enzyme in fresh pineapple.
Bromelain is commonly used for medical purposes. For example, the bromelain enzyme triggers the body to produce specific substances, which fight inflammation.
Bromelain also contains specific chemicals that slow the growth of tumor cells.
It has been used as a treatment for arthritis, muscle pain, inflammation, ulcerative colitis and swelling after injury.
If you are taking medications AND YOU CONTINUE EATING PINEAPPLE it will be like overdosing, and could increase the side effects.
- Do not combine with Amoxillin or tetracycline antibiotics.
- Do not combine with medications that prevent or slow blood clotting, as this may result in bruising and bleeding.
- Do not combine with sedative drugs, such as anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines and alcohol as bromelain will increase their effects.
- Pregnant women should avoid eating large amounts as bromelain so as not to risk miscarriage.
- Additionally, because bromelain affects the body’s ability to clot or coagulate, those who are about to undergo surgery should stop eating large amounts, 2 weeks prior to their procedure.
- Patients with liver or kidney disease should also avoid eating large amounts of pineapple as these organs produce many of the blood’s clotting factors.
- Finally, an unripe pineapple is extremely toxic; don’t eat it. It can cause severe and excessive vomiting.
Grapefruit
A nutraceutical is a food, or a part of a food, that allegedly provides medicinal health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease.
Grapefruit, and grapefruit juice in particular, has been touted as containing many compounds that can:
- Reduce hardening of the arteries, and
- Reduce the risk of cancer.
However, it turns out that for many people taking medications, grapefruit juice is not “what the doctor ordered”. This is quite important because many people drink grapefruit juice at breakfast and this is usually when medications are also taken.
Why is this so, you ask. Well 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 drug get into the body than are ingested. When the action of this enzyme is blocked, more of the drug gets into the body and the blood levels of these medications increase. This can lead to toxic side effects from the medications.
Please note that this enzyme blockage continues for 24 hours, so you can’t have a glass of grapefruit juice in, say, 2 hours.
The grapefruit juice-drug interaction can lead to unpredictable and hazardous levels of certain important drugs.
Conclusion
The normal interpretation of what I’ve stated above would be:
Don’t eat or drink the foods listed above if you are on medication, skinny or pregnant.
NOT AT ALL. WHAT I SUGGEST IS THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE SO THAT YOU DON’T NEED THE MEDICATIONS.
By lifestyle, I mean:
- What you put in your mouth
- Movement/exercise
- Serenity
With the right lifestyle you can open up good genes and shut off bad ones. Don’t be a slave to what you perceive to be your genetic inheritance or to the smoke elimination (rather than fire prevention) impositions of your allopathic doctor.
See you all next week.
