How to Lose Weight While on Coumadin

Doctors often prescribe Coumadin, the brand name for the blood-thinning medication also known as warfarin 1. The medication also has a number of side effects and risks, such as bleeding complications. Vitamin K might affect your blood’s thickness, and because many typical “diet foods” such as spinach and other leafy green vegetables contain vitamin K, you might think you cannot lose weight. Instead of avoiding vegetables, talk with your doctor about the best diet plan for you, and your doctor will work with you so that you can reach your weight loss goals and improve your overall health.

Eat the same amount of vitamin K each day. This way, you can eat salads and other nutritious vegetables, and your doctor can adjust your Coumadin dosage. Vitamin K-rich foods include kale, chard, spinach and collard greens.

What Multivitamin Can You Take With Coumadin?

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Write down what you eat. If you keep track of what you eat, including foods with vitamin K, you can compare your diet to your weight loss 1.** This lets you make adjustments to your eating plan such as portion sizes or fat intake to help lower your caloric intake and improve your weight loss.

Talk to your doctor about starting an exercise program. She might recommend that you start off with walking or other beginning exercise regimens, then gradually increase your pace and activities. Starting off slow will help you avoid injuries, as well as prevent complications from health conditions such as heart disease.

Tips

Before you make changes to your diet or begin an exercise program, talk with your doctor. She will help you formulate a plan appropriate to your nutritional and physical needs.

Warnings

Alcohol and cranberry juice might intensify the effects of Coumadin. Talk to your doctor about whether you should limit your intake of these products.