Huh: this is why you should avoid grapefruit when you’re on the pill
I knew that alcohol and medication don’t exactly go well together. Although I have to admit that I don’t always stick to that rule, which probably isn’t always the wisest choice. But okay: you do that consciously. But apparently, grapefruit is also something you should avoid. Even if you’re not taking medication, but you are on the pill! WHUT?
Seriously, I had genuinely never heard of this before. But grapefruit and many medications are a no go. According to the general website of Apotheek: ‘Substances in grapefruit and oranges slow down the absorption of the medication or temporarily prevent it. As a result, less of the medication enters your body. The medication then works less effectively. This happens every time you eat grapefruit or oranges or drink their juice.’ Curious to know which medications this applies to? You can read about it here.
Grapefruit and oranges
With many medications, it’s best to avoid oranges and grapefruit completely, and I really think this should become more widely known. Especially orange juice: so many people start their day with it. Does that also mean that an aspirin won’t work against your hangover if you have a glass of OJ alongside it…? Suddenly, so much is becoming clear to me.
So avoid them
But anyway, not eating these two fruits when you’re taking medication should obviously be manageable. But grapefruit in particular is also best avoided if you’re on the pill. At least if we believe the Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics, and I do. Grapefruit causes the CYP3A in your body to decrease – an enzyme that ensures that foreign substances are absorbed. This means that your pill may not be absorbed as effectively and therefore may not work as well.
And yes, the same applies to oranges (and limes) when you’re on the pill, but to a lesser extent. Grapefruit is therefore the sneaky devil of fruits.
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