Why must individuals taking blood-thinning medications like Warfarin exercise caution regarding sudden changes in cucumber consumption?
Answer
Vitamin K influences blood clotting, potentially counteracting the medication.
Warfarin is prescribed to thin the blood and slow clotting; its effectiveness relies on maintaining a stable level of Vitamin K intake. Cucumbers are relatively high in Vitamin K, which actively promotes blood clotting. Therefore, a sudden or dramatic increase in cucumber consumption introduces more Vitamin K, which can directly counteract the therapeutic effect of the blood-thinning medication, necessitating consultation with a physician to avoid adverse interactions.
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