Did you know that the majority of the medications we use today are derived from plants?
It’s true!
I think that is the one thing that surprised me most about prescriptions. When I studied medicinal chemistry in college, we spent months learning how common medications were made. It really helped educate me and understand why they are so expensive too!
For instance, I learned about an injection I had taken for many years. One of the ingredients in this injection was extracted from a very uncommon plant found only in one place. Not only was it a long process to extract that chemical from the plant, but it took hours of research and testing. Then years of manufacturing the product! I suddenly understood why that injection was thousands of dollars every month!
I have shared many aspects of having Rheumatoid Arthritis like how to stay in shape, how to stay active, nutritional studies and home workouts. I haven’t shared much about prescriptions with you, and I thought this was some great information to know! Especially if you take any type of medicines, even common ones.
Food, like medications, contains many chemicals, minerals, and vitamins. Some of these can react with your prescription causing serious side effects or hindering it from working!
I have shared some of my husbands healthy journey on the blog before, but he doesn’t have a colon anymore after many years of serious illness. He has to be on antibiotics every single day to keep everything working okay. The one thing he just cannot eat is dairy! (why I make so many dairy-free treats 😉 ). When you take antibiotics, dairy is something you definitely need to avoid!
This graphic is the Ultimate List of Foods You Don’t Want to Mix with Prescriptions! It covers many of your basic, common types. If you do take another type of medication, do your research to make sure you don’t eat anything bad!
[Tweet “Ultimate list of foods you don’t want to eat with medicine! @chemistrycachet”]
I hope this helps you for future reference! It’s amazing how chemistry is literally in everything we eat, drink, or take so there is a need for constant awareness of what we ingest 🙂
Thank you to Blink Health for creating this graphic. This company helps find prescriptions at a lower price! Blink Health created the Ultimate List Of Foods You Don’t Want to Mix with Prescriptions.
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Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
Oh yikes! Good to know! I never would have guessed some of these don’t mix well! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
I know!! It is crazy how things can actually interact with medication.
This is great info! I knew that grapefruit (fruit and juice) did not play well with lots of drugs. I looked up my hubby’s high blood pressure meds and see if there were contraindications – no worries – phew! Interesting about NSAID and cola – is it the caffeine in the cola that is the aggressor? If you look at Exedrin’s active ingredients, they are acetaminophen, aspirin (NSAID) and caffeine. Curious. Thanks for keeping us alert to what goes in our bodies!
It is a little bit of caffeine, but I think it is more so the high sulfuric acid content in coke that can react with the blood thinners! We did a study once in a chem lab about the high acidity of soft drinks, and it was really disturbing lol. Have a good day!! 🙂
I would have never guessed thinks like cheese, milk or coca cola would negatively affect medications. Thanks for the expert advice!
Isn’t that crazy!! It blows my mind how things react together 🙂
OMG!!! I had no idea mixing any meds with foods could cause issues. I can’t count the times that I have given my child an antibiotic and let him down some chocolate milk. Great tips! Thank you for sharing on Funtastic Friday!
Thanks Lacie! Isn’t that amazing how food reacts with medication? It always blows me away! have a great day!
Wow, great to know this info that I was unaware of. Thank you for linking with us at #HomeMattersParty. We would love to have you again next week.
Thank you!! I will definitely be back next week!
Hey, I love learning about this stuff! Thank you!
Two questions though:
1.) Someone told me that grapefruit also makes birth control not work…is that true?
2.) Does all cheese mess with anti-depressants? Or is it just certain types? If so, how can I tell the diff? Thank you!
Such great questions!!!
These are awesome questions! As far as the grapefruit, it definitely can react with it, but it normally won’t be as serious. It can increase the absorption of hormones in the body. I take birth control and eat a lot of grapefruit too 🙂 My doctors have always said it is fine in moderation. For the cheese, it is really going to depend on how rich or aged it is. That chemical increases when a cheese is aged, so that is what reacts with an anti-depressant. Most processed cheeses we eat today don’t contain much Tyramine 🙂