Food & Supplement Inquiry ...

[annamdg]

I think the last time I posted here was something about a green powder. I did not get that powder tho' I am considering a whole food one with nutrients for my vitamin intake. Plus, with a home test meter now I can keep a closer watch. I would still be eating along with the powder, it was just going to be additional nutrients as I do not take any multivitamins or other supplements. I like to use powders as I cannot always get pills down. I am being very careful tho' when choosing a powder with a lot of nutrients that way I know not to pick anything else that would go overboard.

I really really like veggies and fruits. My heart gets saddened if I couldn't have those. So, as long as one is consistent everyday by consuming the same supplement and foods while testing with a meter everything would be okay ?

I ask because I do not want to not enjoy what I am consuming. I love green smoothies and other smoothies in the morning since I can not stomach solids at that time. I do not want to have to give those up.

I was reading something about luna bars causing a stroke. Was that because she ate them all at once in the course of a week ? If she had kept eating them everyday as a part of her diet and had her warfarin adjusted would that have made a difference ?

You see when I was younger my parents were misinformed and told to avoid vitamin k at all costs. They didn't know any different at that time. It is not until I wanted to eat differently that I started doing more research. I am thankful there is this forum of wonderful souls to help me avoid any issues.

 

[Cooker]

There has been several questions about diet lately and It is good to revisit theses questions ... I am one who holds to the dose the diet life ... I eat whatever I want when I want and my warfarin rarely needs adjusting ... I refuse to be held hostage by a low vitamin K diet when it is totally unnecessary ... everyone has an opinion on this and it sounds to me that your research will lead you to the correct answers for you....

 

[Philip B]

Eating

Eating

Eat what you want and adjust your dosage to keep you in range.

I've never heard of Luna Bars causing anyone to have a stroke.

-Philip

 

[Protimenow]

It's a matter of keeping consistent. If you have a similar intake of sources of Vitamin K consistently (preferably a similar amount every day), you should be able to dose the diet to account for the effects of the K in your foods.

Recent research cites beneficial health effects of Vitamin K, so complete avoidance is probably NOT good for any of us.

Keep in mind, if you're starting on the powders or other Vitamin K rich foods that it may take a few days for your INR to rise (just as it takes a few days for the effects of a dosage change to show in your INR). If you have a meter, it certainly wouldn't hurt to do more frequent testing to monitor INR changes, just in case. Once your diet is consistent, you should be able to adjust your dosage so that you stay in range.

(If any of the greens have sources from grapes, it's possible they have some factors that RAISE, rather than LOWER INR, but probably not enough to actually cause measurable changes.)

The old mantra to Diet the Dose applies here - as does the one about consistency.

(I hadn't heard that story about Luna bars. I've seen them in the stores, but personally know nothing more about them than that. I guess it's possible that someone could have started eating a lot, for quite some time, and lowered the INR to an unsafe level, and not tested his or her INR to detect the risk, but, again, I don't know what's in a Luna Bar or if the story is true)

 

[Bina]

I think the last time I posted here was something about a green powder. I did not get that powder tho' I am considering a whole food one with nutrients for my vitamin intake. Plus, with a home test meter now I can keep a closer watch. I would still be eating along with the powder, it was just going to be additional nutrients as I do not take any multivitamins or other supplements. I like to use powders as I cannot always get pills down. I am being very careful tho' when choosing a powder with a lot of nutrients that way I know not to pick anything else that would go overboard.

I really really like veggies and fruits. My heart gets saddened if I couldn't have those. So, as long as one is consistent everyday by consuming the same supplement and foods while testing with a meter everything would be okay ?

I ask because I do not want to not enjoy what I am consuming. I love green smoothies and other smoothies in the morning since I can not stomach solids at that time. I do not want to have to give those up.

I was reading something about luna bars causing a stroke. Was that because she ate them all at once in the course of a week ? If she had kept eating them everyday as a part of her diet and had her warfarin adjusted would that have made a difference ?

You see when I was younger my parents were misinformed and told to avoid vitamin k at all costs. They didn't know any different at that time. It is not until I wanted to eat differently that I started doing more research. I am thankful there is this forum of wonderful souls to help me avoid any issues.

The Lunabars won't technically cause a stroke on their own but they are a high source of protein that is derived from the main ingredient which is soy. Soy tends to make the INR drop as it inhibits the action of Coumadin/warfarin. So if somebody started to suddenly use these bars as a daily meal replacement without checking their INR, that could cause INR problems.
Your breakfast of fruit smoothies sounds great, throw in some plain yogurt and it becomes a good meal.
You can also add wheat germ for extra vitamins.

 

[Philip B]

Options

Options

Opinions and experiences obviously vary with regards to diet, vitamin K, and INR managment. Others may like the challenge of attempting to "diet the dosage." Personally, I don't like the complexity of dealing with diet to adjust my INR. For me, it's easier to eat what I want and take a pill or two to keep in range. About all that's consistent about my diet is how inconsistent it is.

For what it's worth, I've gone through periods of frequent and steady intake of Luna Bars without suffering a stroke or impacting my INR. Sometime back, I ate a steady diet of Luna Bars for a couple of weeks. As bad as that sounds, my wife and I really dislike cooking and neither of us was in the mood to fix anything. Luna Bars and a soy-based diet drink were all I did for meals.

This is, of course, isn't to say that my experience is the same as everyone else's. Experiences here tend to be as varied as the opinions offered by members.

-Philip

 

[Eva]

After my surgery, I was anxious and concerned about my green food intake. Now, I eat what I like without thinking about my INR. It is a blessing to be able to measure your INR at home as this will help you to easily balance your green food intake and INR levels.

Since I am not always in the mood for salads, I hate to deprive myself from the benefits of Vit. K. Since I love smoothies in the morning, I add some fresh spinach leaves and/or parsley, lettuce, celery, etc. So eat what will keep your heart happy and adjust your dose accordingly.

 

[annamdg]

@Cooker @Philip B @Protimenow @Bina @Eva thank you all for your prompt responses ... my apologies on the delay of responding we had a power outage here and was unable to get back

I did not realize that about soy which explains a lot. This is making me feel a bit better and less limited than I thought. And Eva your morning smoothie sound delicious. Also, Bina wonderful idea on the yogurt and wheat germ.

I'll just keep close watch at the INR at first and let the doctor adjust the dose as needed. It tends to fluctuate a bit at the moment tho' I am believing it will stable out.
Thank you all again =)

 

[KristyW]

I'll just keep close watch at the INR at first and let the doctor adjust the dose as needed. It tends to fluctuate a bit at the moment tho' I am believing it will stable out.
Thank you all again =)

Anna,
I see you mention that your INR fluctuates. All of our INRs fluctuate. I've been on warfarin for 9 years, and it's very, very rare to have 2 tests the same. My INRs go from 2.3-3.8 without any changes in diet or exercise. I consider that a stable INR. It's in my "practical range of 2.0-4.0" . My doctors sometimes fuss when I get over 3.5, but I don't change anything.

Just something for you to think about.

 

[jerseysue]

The whole issue with diet is being consistent. I've been on Coumadin for 17 yrs. and eat salad and green vegetables. I love them. What I don't do, however, is "pig out" on anything that I know is loaded with Vit. K. I've lived in several states over the course of the years, and every cardiologist has said that it was fine to eat what I wanted, just be as consistent as possible. I self-test every week, so that helps me know where I am with the INR issue. Only time I had a problem was when a Chiropractor told me to give up coffee and switch to green tea. He evidently didn't know it is loaded with Vit. K, and I went haywire for while until I discovered what the problem was.
The other things that affect my INR are changes in weather and my level of exercise. But it hasn't been too difficult to manage.
Sue Sommer
St. Jude aortic valve replacement 8/1993 in Bellevue, WA