There are foods containing Vitamin K that are green and leafy vegetables. Everyone knows that vegetables, in particular green vegetables, are good for them because they are a healthy part of a person’s daily eating regimen, or at least they should be. Some people like to load up on green vegetables because they know that they are healthy and provide plenty of vitamins and nutrients.

However, if you are taking blood thinner medication due to a stroke, the medication and consuming foods with Vitamin K does not necessarily bode well for you. You cannot consume a lot of green leafy vegetables and use the medication together. It can cause an adverse reaction, such as severe bleeding. The blood thinner works as the dominant force to keep blood clots away.

While on the medication, you will have to discipline yourself to refrain from eating foods with vitamin K. At first, it can be difficult because they’re probably some of your favorite foods to eat. Eventually, when you realize the seriousness it can do to your health, you’ll get on board.

Foods containing Vitamin K include:

– Asparagus
– Avocado
– Collard Greens
– Lettuce (iceberg)
– Broccoli
– Brussels sprouts
– Cabbage

Consistency is the key with keeping your blood level stable. Make sure that you are taking the medication as directed. There are other healthy foods to eat, but foods with Vitamin K should be avoided.

If you consume foods with Vitamin K, this can affect results from blood tests. When you’re having your blood tested the results can be confusing. Since Vitamin K works to clot the blood, it counteracts with that the blood thinner medication is supposed to do. The medication prevents blood from clotting. Doing this can prevent you from having a recurring stroke or a heart attack.

It can be dangerous for your blood levels to constantly fluctuate. Another thing that can happen is that you can experience bleeding in your gums or nose. If you are coughing up blood or it’s in your urine, contact your physician as soon as possible. It could be a more serious health issue.

You should consult with your physician regarding your post-stroke blood thinner medication and not consuming foods with Vitamin K. They may have to do blood tests on a regular basis until they see that your blood has stabilized. You have to make sure that the medication will work the way it’s supposed to without interference from foods that can block the process.

We all know its better to eat more fruit and vegetables. But concerns about the safety of conventionally grown produce versus organically grown always comes up as well.

When produce is organic, it means that it has been produced without using chemical fertilizers or pesticides. There are some compelling reasons why people choose to buy organic produce. The main reason to eat organic produce is to avoid the pesticide residue left on foods. Hands down, organically raised food is better for the environment. Absence of pesticides results in healthier soil, water, and wildlife. Buying organically grown produce supports small farmers and contributes to biodiversity.

Some people choose organic produce because they believe it has a higher nutritional value than commercially grown produce. The comparisons of nutritional content between food organically grown and conventionally grown produce, however, shows little difference. Consider also that much of the produce we buy today is not always locally grown. We have many fruits and vegetables to choose from year round because they have been shipped from other parts of the country (or the world). The fact that a fruit or vegetable is organic does not necessarily translate to nutritional superiority simply because its organic. If shipped from far away, it may already be past its nutritional peak.

For many health conscious families, the purchase of organic produce is cost prohibitive. As much as they would like to eat more organically grown food, they simply cannot afford the higher cost. Most of us have a food budget and have to make choices about what we buy, and perhaps a compromise is whats called for. There are two things you can do to take advantage of organically grown produce as much as possible.

Buy local organic produce when its in season. In many parts of the USA, that means taking advantage of certain fruits and vegetables during the warmer months when available. Freezing or canning local organic produce is a possible option for when those items are out of season.

Buy conventionally grown produce from the “Clean 15” list, and organic only for those foods that are on the “The Dirty Dozen” list. The Dirty Dozen are the fruits and vegetables which have the largest amount of pesticide residues, and the Clean 15 have the least amount.

The “Clean 15”:

Onions

Avocados

Sweet corn

Pineapples

Mango

Sweet peas

Asparagus

Kiwi fruit

Cabbage

Eggplant

Cantaloupe

Watermelon

Grapefruit

Sweet potatoes

Sweet onions

The “Dirty Dozen”:

Celery

Peaches

Strawberries

Apples

Domestic blueberries

Nectarines

Sweet bell peppers

Spinach, kale and collard greens

Cherries

Potatoes

Imported grapes

Lettuce

When the warm weather arrives again, make a habit of visiting your local farmers’ markets and buy local organic produce throughout the season.

2013 Gretchen Scalpi. All rights reserved. You are free to reprint/republish this article as long as the article and byline are kept intact and all links are made live.