Someone taking Coumadin wanted to know why her INR was so different every time she had it checked at her doctor’s office. It is probably because she ate different amounts of green leafy vegetables from day-to-day, and week-to-week. The Vitamin K in green vegetables counteracts the effect of the medication. Green leafy vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet, but doctors frequently tell their patients taking Coumadin to avoid greens.  That is one way to deal with the problem. Or, you can eat greens, but you need to take in the same amount of Vitamin K every day so that the dose of Coumadin can be adjusted.  Well, even people who love spinach will get tired of eating spinach every day. They might like to eat kale instead of spinach every once in a while!

It is not easy, but it is possible, to  eat the same amount of Vitamin K every day.  It just takes a bit of extra thought when you are preparing your meals. The USDA web site has a list of the Vitamin K content of foods, so that you can estimate the amount of greens you can eat from day to day, and still keep your Vitamin K intake level. This first link is sorted by Vitamin K content , and this second link is sorted alphabetically.

If you do choose to eats greens every day, take it seriously and be careful. There is a very, very good reason why you are on Coumadin, and it is simply not worth the risk if you cannot be consistent.

This site provides scientific and information on health for the general public. By no means, is this site meant to render medical advice. Nothing can take the place of regular medical care from a competent professional. This is especially true if you are diabetic, or hypertensive, or overweight, or especially obese. True, diet and exercise help people live longer and healthier lives, but it is best to be safe. Make an appointment with your physician for a check-up.

Liability for actions or omissions based on information in this site is expressly disclaimed.