by Dr. Michael Pritsker, DC
I just read a true story that shocked me. I bet it will shock you, too. If you are taking certain medications and eat grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice you may be a ticking time bomb. Here is why. In this story, a retiree spends his summers up north and winters in the south. This is what natives call a snowbird. Two months after arriving in sunny Florida, this retiree was dead. Doctors believe the cause was a deadly interaction between the 2-3 glasses of fresh grapefruit juice he drank everyday and his medication. Drinking grapefruit juice can be deadly for people who take certain medications, according to a recent paper. In this particular case, the fatal interaction is believed to be between the grapefruit and Lipitor.
This casualty had elevated cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease. Because of this, doctors put him on Lipitor and he began a diet and exercise program to get improved. Two weeks after going to Florida for the winter, he went to the infirmary complaining of muscle trouble, exhaustion and fever. That's where he went into kidney stoppage and passed died. Although experts know the trouble exists, the majority of people and doctors are still in the dark about the fatal risks, even though the FDA requires all prospective novel drugs to be tested for interactions with grapefruit juice. A caution about grapefruit juice is included in the food and drug interactions that come with many of medications.
Since grapefruit juice is metabolized by the same enzyme in the liver that breaks down many drugs, it is one of the foods most likely to cause problems with drugs. When the system is overloaded, scientists said the grapefruit juice can "swamp" the system, keeping the liver from doing its complete job and blocking it from breaking down drugs and other substances.
Scientists say that the worst effects are likely with some statin drugs. While the liver spends its resources to the grapefruit juice, the medication can build up to very dangerous levels. This causes a breakdown of the body's muscles and can even lead to kidney failure. This eventually can lead to an untimely death.
So here is a tip. If you are taking any prescription medication especially when it comes to statin drugs, be sure to ask your primary doctor about the possible interactions with grapefruit juice. You should also read the warning labels on your medication bottle. Even though there may be a lot of fine print in these labels, it could make the difference between life and death.
Why do you think there is so much small print in the first place on these labels? This is because all drugs have some form of toxic side effects. That is not to say they don't save lives. They are needed in many situations. Clearly they are important. But the goal of real health should be to have kept your body working properly without drugs, or at least with as little drugs as possible. This is possible through proper diet, exercise, stress management and regular chiropractic care. If at all possible, do it naturally when you can. To get more information, contact New Century Spine Centers at 619-630-9153.
Looking to find the best information on nutrition, then visit www.BackCareTreatment.com to find the best advice on chiropractic care for you.
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