Should I avoid lettuce while on Coumadin?

I was told that if you are on Coumadin you should not eat lettuce. Is this true?

The Health meets Food Team Says...

Because Vitamin K can have an effect on how Coumadin® (warfarin) is processed in your body it is important to have about the same amounts of Vitamin K each day.

Lettuces are members of the cabbage family. As a rule cabbages contain higher amounts of Vitamin K. Part of eating healthy is to eat a lot of green leafy vegetables but this can be a problem for those people who use Coumadin. If you are going to begin eating lettuce and other members of the cabbage family, it is important to be consistent. By that I mean you should eat about the same amount of such green leafy vegetables each day so that your INR doesn't fluctuate.

Here is a link to a list of the relative levels of Vitamin K content of food. If you print this out, you can take this to your doctor and discuss eating a consistent serving of such foods. That way the two of you can more closely monitor your INR while you are adapting your diet.

Thanks for writing.

Read More Questions

Will non-alcoholic beer affect your Coumadin dose?
Does grapefruit really interact with medications? (See also....)
Are almonds a good snack for those on Coumadin?
Is regular tea, iced or hot, contraindicated while taking Coumadin?
I can't have broccoli or cauliflower because of its high Vitamin K levels - why is it in your recipes?
Does salt increase INR levels?
If I'm on Coumadin, can I use Green Tea for weight loss?
Is Mona Vie (acai juice) safe with Coumadin?
Can those on Coumadin (warfarin) eat eggs or Eggbeaters?
Can I cook with parsley while on Coumadin?
Are peanuts affecting my Coumadin?
Should you avoid cranberry juice on Coumadin (warfarin)? Updated information!
Are there foods that interact with Coumadin even though they are low in Vitamin K?
Does freezing "kill" the Vitamin K in foods?
Can a person on Coumadin (warfarin) eat black eyed peas?
Can foods low in Vitamin K still affect my INR levels?