If you have high levels of bad cholesterol, you have an increased chance of developing heart disease and statins can help lower your cholesterol. Some people like to take their medication with fruit juice, the question is can I drink pomegranate juice with statins?
One of the patients I’ve been attending to has been struggling with high cholesterol levels for some years now. He was taking statin drugs to help lower his cholesterol levels. Then a month ago he started taking pomegranate juice every day, he was admitted yesterday with complaining of muscle pain and muscle weakness. Pomegranate juice has some chemicals that can interfere with the enzymes in your intestines which can cause the drugs not to be effective.
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Statins
These are certain drugs that are prescribed to help reduce the high cholesterol levelsin your blood. By lowering your cholesterol you reduce the risk of getting a stroke or heart disease. Statins are said to be very effective in reducing your bad cholesterol levels because not all cholesterols are bad. High levels of good cholesterol prevent plaque buildup in your arteries and help in eliminating bad cholesterol from your blood to the liver. Your liver then disposed of it from your body. Click here to learn more about pomegranate juice and statins.
How do statins work?
Statins block the liver enzymes from producing cholesterol, excess cholesterol causes plaque build-up on the artery walls which causes your arteries to become narrow and harden. This can cause a stroke or heart attack if there is a blood clot in these arteries. Statins lower your bad cholesterol and your triglycerides and increase your good cholesterol.
They also reduce plaque in your arteries preventing heart problems. If you’re on statin you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle so that the drugs can be effective. By exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, avoid smoking, and reducing your alcohol intake the drugs should be effective.
Can I drink pomegranate juice with statins?
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Pomegranate juice is a great source of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are essential for a healthy heart diet. Pomegranate juice contains a chemical that interacts with the enzymes that metabolize the statin drugs in your intestines. By blocking these enzymes pomegranate juice interferes with the metabolism of the drugs increase the number of statins in your blood causing serious side effects.
Pomegranate juice contains ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and gallic acid, components that interfere with drug delivery through proteins. Gallic acid is found in grapes, tea, fruits, and berries, while oleanolic and ursolic acids are mainly found in plants. These proteins help in drug distribution and absorption. They also help in transporting toxic material to your liver and kidneys where it is then disposed from your body. The interaction of these pomegranate acids and statins can lead to interfering with the drug’s performance in your body which can make things worse.
Pomegranate has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are used in herbal medicines.Whether you eat or drink pomegranate juice these acids are the same and they can also be found in other foods and still cause problems. If you’re drinking pomegranate juice and taking statin drugs, it’s important to tell your doctor. There are other drugs that can interact with statins that can increase the risk of you having side effects. Before being put on statins your doctor also needs to know any other drugs your taking.
So, to answer your question, can I drink pomegranate juice with statins? The answer would be not necessarily. However, it’s not advisable because it interferes with the drugs making them not to be effective in their work in your body. It can also cause some serious side effects.
Be careful when on statins and taking pomegranate juice.
The work of statins is to lower your cholesterol levels and pomegranate juice has components that inhibit the drugs from being effective in your body. These components can cause serious side effects like extreme muscle inflammation, damage to your kidneys, and even cause kidney failure. To be on the safe side it’s advisable to stay away from pomegranate juice and foods that contain pomegranate compounds. If you’re taking statins and pomegranate juice it’s important that you inform your doctor or even before you start taking the juice, consult your doctor.
FAQ?
Is pomegranate juice a blood thinner?
Pomegranate juice removes the plaque and cholesterol buildup in your arteries improving your blood circulation and preventing your arteries from rupturing. It also thins your blood and helps in the disposal of toxins and waste from your body.
How much pomegranate juice should you drink to lower your cholesterol?
Pomegranate juice contains very high levels of antioxidants three times more than oranges and green tea. These antioxidants help to reduce your bad cholesterol levels because too much cholesterol in your blood can cause heart problems.
Is pomegranate good for the heart?
Pomegranate juice is considered to be the most heart-healthy juice. It prevents your arteries from getting clogged by plaque and cholesterol buildup and from becoming hard and thick. This improves blood flow to your body.
What medication does pomegranate interfere with?
Pomegranate interferes with immunosuppressant drugs like Cyclosporine, statins like Atorvastatin and lovastatin, protease inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and Antiarrhythmics. However, there are more drugs pomegranates can interact with that haven’t been mentioned here.
What are statins side effects?
The most common side effect is muscle pain, your muscles are weak, tired, and feel sore. If you have diabetes statins may also increase your blood sugar levels which can lead to type 2 diabetes, liver inflammation, and develop memory loss and confusion while on statins.
