Some foods make it harder for the body to absorb medicine.
Bethanne Brown, a professor of pharmacy practice at the James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy at the University of Cincinnati, explained to AARP that minerals in dairy products can bind with certain antibiotics.
That is in the tetracycline or quinolone family, leaving less of the drug available to fight infections.
Even a simple yogurt eaten too close to the dose can make a difference.
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Fiber-rich meals and snacks can also interfere with drugs like levothyroxine and digoxin.
According to Bethanne Brown, nutrients and medication end up competing for absorption, and the medicine often loses.
Fortified food products, like energy bars, juices, breakfast cereals, can create similar issues when they contain added minerals like iron or magnesium.
Foods that raise drug levels in the body
Other foods slow down the body’s ability to break down medication. Grapefruit is the best-known example.
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Dima Qato, an associate professor at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy and a senior fellow at USC’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, told AARP that compounds in the fruit can alter how some statins are metabolized, causing higher drug levels and a greater chance of side effects.
Potassium-rich foods can be problematic as well.
Bananas, avocados, and certain juices may push potassium levels too high in people taking ACE inhibitors, which can lead to irregular heart rhythm in serious cases.
Foods that can trigger sudden reactions
Some combinations are risky because they can set off abrupt, harmful effects.
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Patients taking MAO inhibitors for depression or Parkinson’s disease may experience dangerous blood pressure spikes when they eat tyramine-rich foods such as aged cheese or fermented products.
AARP also points to an FDA warning about black licorice.
Its natural compound, glycyrrhizin, can affect both blood pressure and heart rhythm and may amplify the effects of certain cardiovascular medications.
Ask your doctor
Food–drug interactions vary widely depending on timing, medication type, and the amount of food consumed.
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AARP stress that the safest approach is to check with a healthcare professional if there is any uncertainty about mixing meals and medication.
Sources: AARP.
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