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Has anyone learned whether it's safe to take the Acai and Cleansing regiment if you're on heart meds? I know the Acai should not mix withi any blood thinners and am wondering if it's safe to go OFF the meds for a brief period while using Acai. Anyone out there on heart meds and taking Acai?
Exercise Cholestyramine Propranolol Triamterene Lisinopril Cardiomyopathy Beta blockers Hypertension Metoprolol Heart attack Captopril Enalapril Digoxin Spironolactone
I found this if it helps?
Can I Take Acai Together with my Heart Medications?
With early prevention, acai can lessen your need for expensive heart medications. However, if maintenance drugs should be used, no data has been found as to the drug-drug or drug-food interactions with acai and the common heart conditions.
Be cautious when taking medications containing anti-coagulants or blood thinners because acai contains vitamin k, which exerts the opposite effect.
Potassium is abundant in acai, so you might as well be careful with drugs reacting to potassium:
• ACE-inhibitors which are used for the treatment of hypertension. Examples are captopril, enalapril, lisinopril. Potassium levels may increase further with ACE inhibitors especially those with diminished kidney function.
• Potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, triamterene, or amiloride may increase potassium levels in the blood.
• Heparin which is a blood thinner, used for the prevention of heart attacks. Potassium levels may be further increased with concomitant use of acai, aside from with the antagonistic effect of vitamin K present in acai.
• Beta blockers such as metoprolol and propranolol that are used to treat high blood pressure can potentially increase blood potassium levels when mixed with acai.
The high amount of calcium in acai may create potential reactions with certain medications:
Beta-blockers. Calcium may interfere with the blood levels of beta-blockers and vice versa.
Calcium-channel blockers are a class of anti-hypertensives. Calcium may reverse the therapeutic effects of calcium-channel blockers, although studies are conflicting.
Digoxin is used to treat irregular heart rhythms. Calcium may make this drug ineffective.
Anti-cholesterol drug, particularly bile acid sequestrants such as cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam, may interfere with calcium absorption and increase loss of calcium in the urine.
http://acaifactsonline.com/acai-berry-with-heart-medications
Lidia xx
Thanks grace - I was looking for some information about acai, and since I am on most of the medication categories you listed, I know I don't wish to mess with it. Better to keep to the medications which are working! Blessings! Great-Gram
Good grief - do not go 'off the meds' for any reason unless you get the go-ahead from your doc (which you WON'T because docs don't seem to like their patients to bleed out or develop restenosis in their coronary arteries by arbitrarily stopping their meds for an unproven and potentially dangerous thing like this Acai cleanse.
XOXOXO
http://www.myheartsisters.org
Grace,
That is great information! I keep getting spams to buy the product, and am tempted. But never put the energy to research....thanks!
I just can't imagine, going of heart medications to take a cleanse. I don't understand that thinking...but then I may be inside the box so far because it has taken three years to get the meds right.
Hi -- I don't know if you are on beta blockers, but if you are it is NOT safe to go off them without your doctors' assistance! I don't mean to offend anyone who takes acai, but according to information from the Center for Science in the Public Interest --- acai doesn't do anything different than strawberries, raspberries, etc. And, if you obtain it over the web, you really don't know what you're getting. PS:
my daughter got hooked into a terrible financial scam because she signed up for acai through the web. Be very careful!!! Hugs, laurali
Thanks for the article. My son wanted to know about it too. Guess that's another thing he'll have to add to the list that he cannot drink. No energy drinks, no gatorade, no caffeine, no grapefruit, etc.....poor kid. Please don't stop any meds without having a talk with your doctor.
Laurali, thanks for that tip about CSPI! I have a friend who recently got involved in one of those multi-level marketing/pyramid schemes to sell acai berry juice and she has turned into a monster. 'Pushy' would be an understatement to describe her relentless flogging of this stuff. We recently were at a big wedding together (daughter of a friend) and I actually overheard her trying to sign up the poor schmucks sitting at her table during the reception!) And because I'm the only person she knows who's had a heart attack, she especially wants ME to buy her product for my heart health. Now I'll have something scientifically concrete to fend her off with, instead of just trying to avoid her!
Winglover, what does your son like to drink now?
PS Are you ready for Friday night??!?!
XOXOXO
http://www.myheartsisters.org
Thanks for all your replies but I guess I wasnt real clear. Since the heart attack, I quit smoking (after 30+ years), which in turn has resulted in 30+ lb weight gain. Wanted to try the Acai and Cleanse to lose the weight which is contributing to the high blood pressure and all other problems. I think if I eliminated the CAUSE of the problem, I won't need all the chemicals/drugs. Would rather take something natural that has NO known side effects than the 7 different pills full of chemicals that have KNOWN side effects. Just found new website for med reactions with other meds and herbal remedies. FYI EVERYBODY- iguard.org
Kenna,
Yes, we are ready! Puck drops in less than 20 minutes. Listen and you'll hear us yell.......
My son likes decaf pop, green tea and lots of water. He doesn't leave home without it. Hates that he can't have all those vitamin waters out now, but understands why. He has become a sodium detective now.
Lisa
Hi Lisa
My son in law is predicting Detroit 4-2 over Penguins. We'll see....
Beachluvr, it doesn't matter what the reason behind the acai/cleanse is - I suspect the answer is the same. Don't do it! Acai berries might be 'natural' but that doesn't mean they have no side effects for heart patients on blood thinners. Not sure if you mean that your intention is to stop taking seven of your cardiac meds?
I too gained weight after I quit smoking years ago - it's very very common. Apparently nicotine not only reduces appetite, it also (slightly) increases metabolism, which is why most ex-smokers gain about 10 pounds on average. More weight than that, and I'd look at what else is going on. For example, a couple things that were directly responsible for my post-smoking weight gain were #1: snacking instead of reaching for a smoke (I ate pretty well nonstop! Can't blame the metabolism for that!) so I had to relearn healthy snacking and couldn't even allow anything remotely non-healthy into the grocery cart, plus #2: drinking. I was one of those smokers who had a drink in one hand and was lighting up with the other, so when I quit drinking alcohol, even a glass of wine with dinner, I found it way easier, not to mention several hundred fewer calories per day. That and a 30 minute walk every day took care of the quit-smoking weight gain. And exercise is an effective way to manage that high blood pressure too!
Here's some helpful info on weight gain after smoking: http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/preparation/f/whygain.htm
XOXOXO
http://www.myheartsisters.org
I am a fan of acai, but not the multi-level marketing. There are good products out there. Until my recent heart problem, I was a regular of the product. I personally know of great results others have had. While I am on my heart medications, I have been reluctant to take a mult-vitamin.
I appreciate the comments and suggestions that have been shared. I struggle with what I can eat and drink and what I can't. I miss my coffee and green tea.
Hi! Again, I don't want to offend any heart sisters but...this really hit one of my hot buttons because I have this discussion with my daughter all the time (she has Rx that she must take too). What is the world made of??? What are our bodies made of??? (the answer is chemicals!) Did you know that Digoxin (an important Rx for arryhmias) is a derivative of Foxglove -- a beautiful flower that I have growing in my garden. The difference between eating a foxglove flower for VT, and taking digoxin is that the Rx has been synthesized and measured and purified to do exactly what is needed, with side-effects defined by studies. I always tell my daughter, if you want to try these "natural" chemicals, talk to your doctor first and if he agrees then take them in addition to your meds. Sorry for the soapbox but, as I said, this is a hot spot for me. My daughter also drinks alcohol which probably has more negative effects on her than any med -- yet, that's ok because alcohol is "natural." Go figure! Take care...end of rant! Hugs, laurali
Linda, just wondering: with cardiomyopathy, is coffee a no-no? There are a number of studies out there saying that for other heart patients, coffee is actually fine! Yay!
And I am SO with you Laurali - I'll take well-researched and scientifically proven products any day over popular but anecdotally-hyped products. The system ain't perfect - but it's better than the crapshoot that is the unregulated so-called 'natural' supplement industry.
XOXOXO
http://www.myheartsisters.org
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