Ask a Healer Prescription Drugs Series

Healthy Juices and Prescription Drug Interactions
© Neva J Howell, All Rights Reserved


Fruit juices that are high in antioxidants and nutrition are called liquid nutritionals. They are very popular today and most every store has drinks containing at least one of them.

The most popular liquid nutritionals are Mangosteen, Himilayan Goji, Polynesian Noni, Acai and Pomegranate Juice.

Being so readily available, and promoted as healthy alternatives to carbonated diet drinks, these juices do provide a better choice for many. However, there are certain considerations if you are on prescription drugs.

Antioxidant Juices and Drug Interactions

Back in the early 90's, when I started as a wellness coach and spiritual healing facilitator, things were simpler.

I didn't really concern myself too much with drug interactions when taking natural remedies because people did not seem to be on as many different prescription drugs as they are now and because you just didn't hear about drug interactions like you do now.

Now, and especially with all the new drugs that are coming out and that have their own unresearched problems that so often result in them being pulled back off the market due to deaths or unexpected results, it has become virtually impossible for me to ever say that a natural supplement, or even a food, is safe for everyone.

In fact, I say the opposite. In this day and time, when most the people I know who have heart disease are on about a dozen different medications, and a lot of those medications are the "new kid on the block" for that application, I just simply won't suggest anything natural any more.

I can provide educational information but if you have decided that the prescription drug route is the best option for your healing, then I'd advise just sticking to that.

If you choose to add natural remedies, be sure to discuss with both your pharmacist and your doctor to rule out drug interactions before starting.

Getting Juiced: The big nutritional thing today is antioxidant-rich juices including Goji, Mangosteen, Acai, Pomegrante and Noni.

On the surface, what is not to like? They are all rich in nutrition, most containing fiber, vitamins, and high antioxidant values. For many, they provide helpful benefits including more energy and less pain.

Yet, even these health-promoting juices are not absolutely health for absolutely everyone. It's important to know the nutritional properties of each and to also understand how any prescription drugs you are taking may react to or interact with each juice.

It can be challenging to rule out drug interactions from antioxidant juices and what makes it harder still is that almost all the juices being sold and promoted also contained other juices, vitamins, minerals or herbs.

The added ingredients complicates things when you are trying to determine potential drug interactions or side effects because you must then look at each added ingredient separately.

Part 2: Controlling symptoms vs. true healing
Part 3: Natural Healing vs. Drugs

Here's just a very few examples of potential prescription drug interactions that can occur with the use of healthy and otherwise harmless nutrionals:

Information on the pages below are NOT represented as a complete list of all possible drug interactions. Check with your doctor if under a doctor's care

More on prescription drug safety * Prescription Drug Recalls * Generic Drug Programs

Noni Juice Drug Interactions
Acai Juice Drug Interactions
Mangosteen Juice Drug Interactions
Goji Juice Drug Interactions
Pomegrante Juice Drug Interactions

Going in the hospital soon? One question you can ask nurses and even doctors, to reduce your risk of getting a staph or MRSA infection - Did you wash your hands?

Health Care Disclaimer: Pregnant women and nursing mothers are always advised to consult with their doctors on any nutritional changes they want to make and before taking anything, whether natural or prescription.....I mean, ALWAYS. Regardless of how safe a product is, there is just almost no one who will say it's safe for a pregnant or nursing woman so check with your doctor, period. Those with diabetes should always consider sugar content in any juice, whether these I've researched or other.