How does green vegetables affect blood clotting?

Vitamin K Helps Blood Clot (Thickens Blood) This means that eating foods rich in vitamin K (primarily found in leafy green vegetables) can interact with blood thinning drugs, making them less effective. Therefore, it’s important to talk with your doctor to make sure that your dosage is appropriate for your diet.

Is spinach a blood thinner?

Spinach contains large amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K is used by the body to help blood clot. Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. By helping the blood clot, spinach might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin).

What green vegetables thicken blood?

Vitamin K aids clotting, so patients on the anti-clotting drug (or “anticoagulant”) warfarin are often warned by their physicians to limit the amount of foods rich in the nutrient. These foods include green vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and many others.

Can kale and spinach cause blood clots?

A word of caution: Kale is very high in vitamin K , known as the clotting vitamin because without it, blood won’t clot properly. If you are taking blood thinning or anti-coagulant drugs, like warfarin (brand name Coumadin), you need to avoid large amounts of kale.

Who should not eat spinach?

People who are taking blood thinners, such as warfarin, should consult with their healthcare practitioner before eating large amounts of spinach ( 34 ). People who are prone to kidney stones may want to avoid spinach. This leafy green is also very high in vitamin K1, which can be a problem for people on blood thinners.

Can eating too much spinach cause blood clots?

Spinach is loaded with vitamin K, a vitamin which plays a role in forming blood clots, therefore reducing the efficacy of blood thinners, allowing blood clots to thrive.

What foods thicken your blood?

Foods with more than 100 mcg per serving:

• ½ cup of cooked kale (531 mcg)
• ½ cup of cooked spinach (444 mcg)
• ½ cup of cooked collard greens (418 mcg)
• 1 cup of cooked broccoli (220 mcg)
• 1 cup of cooked brussels sprouts (219 mcg)
• 1 cup of raw collard greens (184 mcg)
• 1 cup of raw spinach (145 mcg)

Can drinking water thin your blood?

Even water can naturally thin the blood. Dehydration causes the blood to thicken, which can lead to an increased risk of clots. So drinking plenty of water can be good for cardiovascular health.

Is it good to avoid green vegetables when taking blood thinners?

So, in answer to the original question, no, it isn’t necessary to avoid green vegetables because the Vitamin K they contain enables a better control of both coagulation and medication. Good to know, those who have the most difficulty managing their INR are often those who do not eat (or do not eat enough) Vitamin K and green vegetables.

What foods are bad for your blood clotting system?

They are leafy green vegetables, and like all other leafy greens, it is also a source of vitamin K and triggers blood clotting, which is harmful to those at risk of abnormal blood clotting.

Is it OK to eat leafy green vegetables while on Coumadin?

“Changing the amount of leafy green vegetables consumed day-to-day for people on Coumadin may increase the risk of blood clots or increased bleeding. It’s fine to eat leafy green vegetables while on blood thinners, but the most important element is to keep the intake consistent,” she continues, referencing this study.

Can certain fruits and vegetables reduce blood clots?

In addition to these medications, there are also natural fruits and vegetables that can help reduce the risk of blood clots. You may have heard of physicians prescribing an aspirin a day to reduce the risk of blood clotting.