Coumadin and Vitamin K
What You Need To Know
The Facts:
Coumadin, or warfarin, helps to slow down the time it takes for your blood to clot. Vitamin K aids in clotting your blood - so coumadin and Vitamin K work against each other. Your doctor uses a test called an INR to make sure your blood is not clotting too quickly or too slowly. Changing how much Vitamin K you eat can change your INR. This change can result in bleeding or an unwanted blood clot.
So Where Do I Find Vitamin K?
Vitamin K is found in dark leafy green vegetables like kale, spinach, collard and mustard greens, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, asparagus, and cabbage. It's also high in some fruits like blackberries, kiwis, and grapes.
The Bottom Line
While it seems scary, there's no need to eliminate Vitamin K from your diet because it's in some of our healthy fruits and vegetables! The most important thing is to keep your Vitamin K intake consistent, about 1/2 cup serving per day.