
What medication should you not eat grapefruit?
The cardiovascular drugs which are known for their drug interaction with grapefruit include:
- Drugs for heart rhythm disorders (amidodaren, dronedarone, and quinidine)
- Anti-clotting drugs (apixaban, rivaroxaban, and ticagrelor)
- Drugs to control high blood cholesterol (statins)
- Anti-angina drugs (felodipine and nifedipine)
Can eating grapefruit be harmful?
The citric acid in grapefruit can make stomach problems worse. If you have frequent stomach pains as the result of gastritis, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests limiting your intake of grapefruit and other citrus fruits. Citric acids may also worsen stomach problems caused by ulcers, heartburn or indigestion.
Which medicines interfere with grapefruit?
Which Drugs are Most Dangerous to Take with Grapefruit Juice?
- Some cancer drugs, antibiotics, or heart medications may lead to an abnormal heart rhythm when combined with grapefruit.
- Muscle and kidney damage can be a serious side effect with statins used for lowering cholesterol.
- Some immunosuppressants used after organ transplants have been reported to cause kidney damage.
What are the health benefits of eating grapefruit?
Here’s an overview of the most important antioxidants in grapefruit:
- Vitamin C. This is a powerful, water-soluble antioxidant that is present in high amounts in grapefruit. ...
- Beta-carotene. It’s converted into vitamin A in the body and is thought to help reduce the risk of some chronic conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and eye-related disorders like macular ...
- Lycopene. ...
- Flavanones. ...
See more

What are the negative effects of grapefruit?
Adverse effects can include acute kidney failure, respiratory failure, internal bleeding and sudden death. While it is well known that some patients should avoid grapefruit, or grapefruit juice, the list of drugs involved has risen sharply in recent years.
Is grapefruit bad for certain medications?
Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice can affect some medicines. In most cases, it increases the level of the medicine in your blood. This can increase the risk of side effects or alter the effect the medicine has.
What happens if you eat a grapefruit everyday?
Regularly consuming grapefruit is thought to improve heart health by reducing risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. In one study, people who ate grapefruit 3 times daily for 6 weeks experienced significant reductions in blood pressure over the course of the study.
Can too much grapefruit be bad for you?
As Marino explains, excessive consumption could lead to an attack on your body. “Grapefruit can inhibit that one enzyme and lead to significantly increased concentrations of medicines in your body.” The enzyme Marino is referring to processes drugs or medicines you may take.
Is grapefruit bad for high blood pressure?
Studies have shown that eating grapefruit every day can lower systolic blood pressure by as much as five points. This may be due to grapefruit's high levels of potassium, which neutralize the negative effects of sodium (a common cause of hypertension).
What blood pressure meds should not be taken with grapefruit?
Do all medicines interact with grapefruit?High cholesterol: atorvastatin (one brand: Lipitor) and simvastatin (one brand: Zocor)High blood pressure: felodipine (one brand: Plendil), nifedipine (one brand: Procardia), and nisoldipine (one brand: Sular)More items...•
Is one grapefruit a day too much?
While grapefruit is a healthy food choice, eating too much of any one food won't provide your body with the variety of nutrients it needs. Too much grapefruit can also cause gastrointestinal reactions, such as diarrhea or nausea, due to its high vitamin C content.
Does grapefruit burn belly fat?
Grapefruit is the best food to help reduce abdominal fat. Grapefruits are a source of nutrients that help support weight loss, including satiating fiber. And data published in the Journal of Medicinal Food shows that eating half of a fresh grapefruit before meals is linked to significant weight loss.
Is grapefruit good for your liver?
Citrus fruit Citrus fruits stimulate the liver and help it turns toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water. Grapefruit is especially good as it contains naringin and naringenin, which are antioxidants that reduce inflammation to protect the liver from injury.
Is grapefruit hard on kidneys?
High in potassium: Grapefruit contains high levels of potassium, meaning people with kidney infections should approach with caution. Their kidneys may not be able to filter out excess potassium, which can be life-threatening for such individuals.
Does grapefruit raise blood sugar?
Grapefruit is low on the glycemic index. This means that it provides nutrients but does not have a significant negative impact on a person's blood sugar levels.
Is grapefruit juice good for your kidneys?
Animal proteins also contain phosphates, another factor that may raise the risk of kidney stones. Drink Florida Grapefruit Juice – along with other citrus beverages, grapefruit juice has citrate, which may help prevent kidney stones.
What fruits interfere with high blood pressure medication?
People taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs should limit their intake of high-potassium foods like bananas, oranges, avocados, tomatoes, white and sweet potatoes and dried fruits —, especially apricots.
Why can't diabetics have grapefruit?
Grapefruit is typically eaten with sugar sprinkled on top, which can add significantly to the amount of carbohydrates one has to take insulin for and can even put you at the risk of experiencing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
Can I eat grapefruit with a statin?
Grapefruit contains a chemical that can interfere with your body's ability to break down or metabolize certain statin medications. When statin takers eat large amounts of grapefruit, the level of statins in their blood can increase, raising the possibility of side effects.
Can I eat grapefruit in the morning and take atorvastatin at night?
Does Lipitor have a grapefruit warning? Yes, you should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking Lipitor (atorvastatin). Compounds in grapefruit can negatively interact with certain statins, including Lipitor, Altoprev (lovastatin), and Zocor (simvastatin).
Is it safe to eat grapefruit?
Filling up on grapefruit might help you drop a few pounds, but proceed with caution: It could be hazardous to your health. Turns out, eating grapefruit can cause serious—even life-threatening—side effects if you mix it with any of 43 drugs, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal .
Can grapefruit kill you?
The Fruit That Could Kill You. Grapefruit and its juice can turn a number of common drugs into health hazards. Here, whether or not you should keep it out of your diet. Filling up on grapefruit might help you drop a few pounds, but proceed with caution: It could be hazardous to your health.
Does grapefruit cause drug toxicity?
This ingredient in grapefruit deactivates an enzyme in the stomach that breaks down drugs, which can cause the amount of the drug in your blood to go up, says Graedon. “Because the drug isn’t metabolized the way it normally would be, you end up with a greater potential for toxicity,” he says.
How to prevent tooth decay after eating grapefruit?
To help prevent dental problems, avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating a grapefruit, and always brush with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Vigorous brushing may push the acids of the fruit further into your teeth, exacerbating the problem.
How do you know if you have an allergy to grapefruit?
If you think you may have an allergy to grapefruit, it is important to get an allergy test to prevent any life-threatening complications that may result. Advertisement.
Does grapefruit cause blood clots?
Furthermore, large amounts of grapefruit can increase a woman's risk of developing blood clots while taking birth control pills. According to an article in the MailOnline, large amounts of grapefruit block an enzyme that digests the estrogen found in birth control pills.
Does grapefruit affect birth control?
This effect increases the likelihood of experiencing side effects from your prescriptions. Furthermore, large amounts of grapefruit can increase a woman's risk of developing blood clots while taking birth control pills. According to an article in the MailOnline, large amounts of grapefruit block an enzyme that digests the estrogen found in birth control pills. With estrogen levels increased, blood clots become more likely. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to talk about all possible interactions with your doctor.
Does grapefruit cause stomach pain?
The citric acid in grapefruit can make stomach problems worse. If you have frequent stomach pains as the result of gastritis, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests limiting your intake of grapefruit and other citrus fruits. Citric acids may also worsen stomach problems caused by ulcers, heartburn or indigestion.
Can you eat grapefruit a day?
While most people can eat a grapefruit a day with no problems, several a day may cause a number of severe or chronic problems.
Is grapefruit good for you?
Image Credit: Hill Street Studios/Blend Images/Getty Images. Grapefruit is a healthy addition to any day. Red grapefruit is particularly beneficial because it is full of antioxidants like lycopene, vitamin C and beta-carotene. However, you may have noticed that grapefruit causes you more pain than it is worth.
Why does fruit affect the digestive system?
Problems arise because chemicals in the fruit can interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) the medication in your digestive system. As a result, the medication may stay in your body for too short or too long a time. A medication that's broken down too quickly won't have time to work.
Can grapefruit be used with prescriptions?
Yes. Grapefru it and certain other citrus fruits, such as Seville oranges, can interfere with several kinds of prescription medications.
Can grapefruit juice be used in soft drinks?
Another potential problem is that some foods and drinks may contain grapefruit but don't say so in the name or on the ingredients list. For example, numerous citrus-flavored soft drinks contain grapefruit juice or grapefruit extract.
Can grapefruit be taken with medication?
Simply taking your medication and grapefruit product at different times doesn't stop the interaction. Alternatively, you can ask your doctor if there's a comparable medication you can take that doesn't interact with grapefruit . Problems arise because chemicals in the fruit can interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) ...
What are the chemicals in grapefruit?
Grapefruit and a few of its close relatives, such as Seville oranges, tangelos, pomelos, and Minneolas, contain a class of chemicals called furanocoumarins. Furanocoumarins disrupt the normal function of CYPs. In fact, studies show that they increase the blood levels of over 85 medications ( 1 ).
Can you take antidepressants with grapefruit?
Most antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are safe to use with grapefruit.
Can you take grapefruit juice with Clopidogrel?
A study of 7 patients taking clopidogrel with 200 mL of either grapefruit juice or water showed lower activation of the drug with the juice. However, its ability to treat blood clots was not affected ( 13 ).
Does grapefruit juice affect blood pressure?
One study found blood levels of nifedipine increased dramatically when taken with about 2 cups (500 mL) of grapefruit juice, compared with no juice. This resulted in a rapid drop in blood pressure, which could be dangerous if unsupervised ( 6. Trusted Source. ).
Does grapefruit affect CYPs?
Furanocoumarins disrupt the normal function of CYPs. In fact, studies show that they increase the blood levels of over 85 medications ( 1 ). By slowing the way in which CYPs normally break down medications in your gut and liver, grapefruit can increase the side effects of these drugs ( 1 ).
Does grapefruit cause bleeding?
Contrarily, grapefruit increases the blood levels of other medications on this list, which can result in bleeding ( 14 ).
Does grapefruit interfere with blood pressure medication?
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a calcium channel blocker like felodipine and nifedipine, which also does not interact with grapefruit ( 6. ). Though grapefruit does not interfere with most blood pressure medications, it can cause a few medications to overcorrect blood pressure.
How much weight did grapefruit lose?
They were given placebo capsules, grapefruit juice, grapefruit capsules, or fresh grapefruit. The fresh grapefruit group lost an average of 1.6 kg, more than the other groups.
How much fiber is in grapefruit?
One of the advantages of grapefruit is its high fiber content. One cup has 3.7 g, which is almost 15% of the daily recommended intake of fiber. This provides satiety which is beneficial for those bodybuilders cutting down their calorie intake.
Does Grapefruit Help Muscle Growth?
Grapefruit could help you add on the calories needed to have a caloric surplus, which aids in increasing muscle mass. But, on its own, it won’t help muscle growth since you need proteins and fats to achieve the best results. Other fruits that are more calorically dense, like bananas, are better for bulking.
How many calories are in a grapefruit?
One of the benefits of grapefruit is its calories. One cup of fruit has less than 100 kcal.
Does grapefruit juice have carbs?
Although grapefruit is low in carbs, if you have grapefruit juice, this could easily increase your daily calorie intake. Juices tend to be easy to consume, which often leads to having more calories than expected. Make sure to measure each portion.
What fruits are low in calories?
Other low-calorie fruits include dragon fruit, strawberries, and watermelon. Check out my article on:
Is grapefruit good for you?
Grapefruit is an excellent choice of fruit if you are a bodybuilder. It is low in calories and high in fiber, perfect for those in a cutting phase. It is also high in vitamin C and several other natural antioxidants that help decrease inflammation for optimal muscle recovery.
How does grapefruit juice affect drugs?
How Grapefruit Juice Affects Some Drugs. When drugs are swallowed, they may be broken down (metabolized) by enzymes and/or absorbed using transporters in cells found in the small intestine. Grapefruit juice can cause problems with these enzymes and transporters, causing too much or too little drug in the body.
Can you take fexofenadine with apple juice?
Fexofenadine (brand name Allegra) is available as both prescription and OTC to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies. Fexofenadine may also not work as well if taken with orange or apple juice, so the drug label says, “ Do not take with fruit juices.”.
Does grapefruit juice help with cholesterol?
As shown above, grapefruit juice can block the action of these enzymes, increasing the amount of drug in the body and may cause more side effects. Other drugs, like fexofenadine, are moved by transporters into the body’s cells.
Can grapefruit juice cause kidney failure?
For example, if you drink a lot of grapefruit juice while taking certain statin drugs to lower cholesterol, too much of the drug may stay in your body, increasing your risk for liver and muscle damage that can lead to kidney failure.
Does grapefruit juice affect antihistamines?
Some antihistamines, such as Allegra (fexofenadine). Grapefruit juice does not affect all the drugs in the categories above. The severity of the interaction can be different depending on the person, the drug, and the amount of grapefruit juice you drink. Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist, and read any information provided ...
Does grapefruit juice affect blood pressure?
Here are examples of some types of drugs that grapefruit juice can cause problems (interact) with: Some statin drugs to lower cholesterol, such as Zocor (simvastatin) and Lipitor (atorvastatin). Some drugs that treat high blood pressure, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both nifedipine).
Can you drink grapefruit juice while taking a prescription?
Food and Drug Administration has required that some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs generally taken by mouth include warnings against drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit while taking the drug . Here are examples of some types of drugs that grapefruit juice can cause problems (interact) with:
What is the grapefruit diet?
Unlike single food diets like the cabbage soup diet, the grapefruit diet consists of more than just grapefruit. The diet calls for a protein-rich meal plan that incorporates a grapefruit or grapefruit juice at every meal.
What are some examples of grapefruit?
Examples of meals include: Breakfast: two boiled eggs, two slices of bacon, and 1/2 grapefruit or 8 ounces of grapefruit juice. Lunch: salad with dressing, any meat in any amount, ...
How many calories are in a grapefruit snack?
Multiple versions of the grapefruit diet exist, but every version is high in protein and low in carbohydrates and calories. Some versions limit you to just 800 calories per day.
How long does the grapefruit diet last?
How to follow the grapefruit diet. There are multiple versions of guidelines for the diet, but many sources claim it should last 2 or 3 weeks. Every version is low in carbohydrates and calories and high in protein. In some versions, the diet calls for consuming no more than 800 calories per day.
Can you eat grapefruit on a low calorie diet?
In addition, most salad dressings and meats you can eat on the grapefru it diet — especially the daily morning bacon — are high in saturated fats and cholesterol. Summary. Low calorie diets like the grapefruit diet may result in initial weight loss, but they have their share of health drawbacks.
Is grapefruit a low calorie food?
Although grapefruits are a low calorie, nutrient-dense option with many health benefits, this diet is problematic for other reasons.
Is grapefruit good for weight loss?
Incorporating low calorie, highly nutritious foods like grapefruit into your diet is a smart and healthy choice — not just for weight loss, if that’s your goal, but for your overall health. A single grapefruit contains over 60% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin C.
What is the secret to the interaction between grapefruit and statins?
The secret to the interaction between grapefruit and these statins is in furanocoumarins, according to a 2017 study. Furanocoumarins are organic chemical compounds present in many different plants, including grapefruit.
Can grapefruit affect medication?
Most incidents of negative reactions involved consuming large amounts of grapefruit. If you accidentally consume a small amount of grapefruit, it isn’t likely to affect your medication. However, check with your doctor if you experience ill effects, since it’s unclear how common these interactions are.
Does grapefruit affect statins?
Grapefruit doesn’t affect other statins because they are metabolized by a different enzyme, CYP2C9. Interestingly, the interaction between grapefruit and medications poses a danger only when taken orally. This is because the interaction happens in your digestive tract.
Can you mix grapefruit with statins?
If you’re prescribed a statin, it’s important to understand which ones can interact negatively with grapefruit and grapefruit juice. One misconception is that you shouldn’t mix grapefruit with any statin drug. For this reason, you might avoid the fruit altogether.
Does grapefruit affect the central nervous system?
Grapefruit also interacts with drugs used to treat nausea and urinary tract infections, anti-rejection drugs, medications to treat cancer, and many drugs that affect the central nervous system, including anti-anxiety drugs. According to the FDA. Trusted Source.
Can grapefruit be taken with a drug?
Sometimes, grapefruit interacts with only some of the drugs in a category, not all. For example, you might need to stop taking lovastatin, atorvastatin, or simvastatin, but you might be able to take fluvastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, or rosuvastatin to lower your cholesterol.
Can you drink grapefruit juice with other medications?
It’s also recommended to avoid grapefruit juice when taking other medications, too.
