Some foods can cause problems with prescription and over-the-counter medications. Sally Parr looks at what to watch out for and explains why we should always read the small print
A pill for every ill? It certainly seems that way, with more than 1,100m prescriptions handed out in England in 2017/181 and the numbers rising year on year.2 We might view such figures as progress, because it implies that conditions are being more accurately diagnosed and that appropriate treatments are available; yet every time we pop a pill, there’s a ‘risk versus benefit’ to weigh up.
Whilst some drugs do relieve pain, alleviate unpleasant symptoms or treat specific conditions, there is also the potential for negative interactions with drinks, foods, nutritional supplements, herbal products or other drugs.3 It is also possible that even the bacteria in our gut can affect medication or supplements.
Recent research from the University of California San Francisco, USA, for example, identified how specific bacteria in the microbiome can interfere with a drug taken to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa (L-dopa) is taken to deliver dopamine to the brain, alleviating symptoms of the disease; but its effectiveness can vary from person to person. Because previous research had shown antibiotics to improve patients’ response to L-dopa, it was speculated that bacteria might have a role in affecting L-dopa’s efficacy. In this recent study, scientists discovered that one strain of bacteria Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) was responsible for degrading L-dopa every time.4
Prediction problems
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
A Summer Selection Of Goods And Goodies
Lazy Vegan frozen Chunky Pulled Peaz is a gluten-free, plant-based protein source suitable for vegans and — with a substantial texture — flexitarians.
Do Something Different
As many of us are concerned about keeping our brains active, Ellie Smith investigates whether trying something completely new could boost both our brain health and mental wellbeing
Lifting Weights, Lifting Confidence
When Bianca Mills was bullied at school she could not have dreamt that she would be able to speak in front of a group of women, let alone coach them in lifting free weights. She told Louise Wates why she believes buddying-up is just as important as physical strength for fostering confidence
Teaching Children How To Forage
Catherine Morgan finds out how foraging can teach children (and adults) about more than nature’s store cupboard, and can foster an understanding of and respect for the environment.
Keep Calm And Curry On
In August, India celebrates the anniversary of Indian Independence, yet the Anglo-Indian community, a legacy of the British Raj with its roots in European and Indian ancestry, still treads the cultural line between both communities. Jenny Mallin, author of A Grandmother’s Legacy, tells us about the fusion food in her family and recipes passed down through the generations
