Foods Low in Vitamin K for a Warfarin (Coumadin) Diet

If you are taking an anticoagulant or a blood thinner, like Warfarin (Coumadin), then it is important to keep your PT/INR (Prothrombin Time and International Normalized Ratio) levels stable. PT/INR measure factors for blood coagulation.

In order to maintain stable PT/INR levels you should not eat more than 1 serving of a high vitamin K food, and no more than 3 servings of a food with moderate amounts of vitamin K. What is important is that your intake of vitamin K stays consistent. Having a cheat day where you eat a large amount of vitamin K, like a spinach salad, could be extremely harmful.

This is a guide of what foods you can eat and in what amounts. Exact amounts depend on your dosage of Warfarin. Listed below are foods low in vitamin K presented by food group with sample serving sizes and amounts of vitamin K. For more ideas, use the nutrient ranking tool to sort by food group and serving size.

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General points when taking Warfarin (Coumadin)

• A low INR means you have increased risk of clotting
• A high INR means you have an increased risk of bleeding
• Warfarin increases INR, Vitamin K decreases it
• Most doctors aim to keep INR around 2-3, but can range to 2.5-3.5 for heart valves or other extreme cases
• When a doctor prescribes Warfarin, they are trying to balance it with how much vitamin K you eat
• Regularly check your PT/INR levels
• Take the same amount of Warfarin at the same time each day
• Keep your intake of vitamin K consistent from day to day
• Eat no more than 1 serving of food that contains 200%-600% DV of vitamin K
• Eat no more than 3 servings of food that contains 60-200% DV of vitamin K
• Eliminate alcohol if you can, or limit yourself to no more than 3 drinks a day
• Take no more than 800IU of vitamin E supplements
• Avoid cranberries and cranberry juice as they can raise INR and risk of bleeding
• Limit or avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice
• Avoid drinking green tea as it antagonizes Warfarin and lowers INR
• Work with your doctor when taking CoQ10 as it can hamper the effectiveness of Warfarin
• Many natural herbs, roots, berries, and supplements affect PT/INR levels, so it is best to avoid them unless your doctor advises otherwise. The following supplements definitely affect PT/INR levels:
  • Arnica
  • Bilberry
  • Butchers Broom
  • Cat's Claw
  • Dong Quai
  • Feverfew
  • Forskolin
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Gingko
  • Goji Berries
  • Horse Chestnut
  • Insositol Hexaphosphate
  • Licorice
  • Melilot (Sweet Clover)
  • Pau D'arco
  • Red Clover
  • St. John's Wort
  • Sweet Woodruff
  • Turmeric
  • Willow Bark
  • Wheat Grass

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List of Vitamin K foods to limit to 1 serving per day (200%-450% DV)

Food	Serving Size	Vitamin K Content
Boiled Kale	1/2 cup	(442% DV)
Boiled Spinach	1/2 cup	(370% DV)
Boiled Mustard Greens	1/2 cup	(346% DV)
Boiled Collard Greens	1/2 cup	(332% DV)
Boiled Turnip Greens	1/2 cup	(220% DV)
Boiled Swiss Chard	1/2 cup	(239% DV)
Raw Parsley	1/4 cup	(205% DV)

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List of Vitamin K foods to limit to 3 serving per day (60%-100% DV)

Food	Serving Size	Vitamin K Content
Raw Spinach	1 cup	(121% DV)
Raw Turnip Greens	1 cup	(115% DV)
Raw Endive	1 cup	(96% DV)
Boiled Brussels Sprouts	1/2 cup	(91% DV)
Raw Broccoli	1 cup	(77% DV)
Raw Romaine Lettuce	1 cup	(40% DV)

Foods Low in Vitamin K to eat on a Warfarin (Coumadin) Diet

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Vegetables Low in Vitamin K

Food	Serving Size	Vitamin K Content
Turnips (Raw or Cooked)	1 cup	0.1μg (0% DV)
Beets (Raw or Cooked)	1 cup	0.3μg (0% DV)
Sweet Corn (Raw or Canned)	1 cup	0.5μg (1% DV)
Onions (Raw or Cooked)	1 medium (331g)	1μg (1% DV)
Rutabagas (Raw or Cooked)	1 cup	0.5μg (1% DV)
Pumpkin (Cooked)	1 cup	2μg (2% DV)
Winter Squash, Butternut/Spaghetti (Cooked)	1 cup	2μg (2% DV)
Summer Squash (Cooked)	1 cup	3μg (3% DV)
Potatoes (Cooked)	1 cup	3μg (3% DV)
Sweet Potatoes (Cooked)	1 cup	7μg (6% DV)
Eggplants (Cooked)	1 cup	3μg (4% DV)
Bamboo shoots (Raw or Canned)	1 cup	0μg (0% DV)
Portabella Mushrooms (Raw or Cooked)	1 cup	0μg (0% DV)
White Mushrooms (Raw or Cooked)	1 cup	0μg (0% DV)
Shiitake Mushrooms (Cooked)	1 cup	0μg (0% DV)
Tomatoes (Raw)	1 cup	14μg (12% DV)
Tomatoes (Cooked)	1 cup	7μg (6% DV)
Cucumbers (Raw)	1 cup	17μg (14% DV)
Iceberg Lettuce (Raw)	1 cup shredded	17.4μg (14% DV)
Artichokes	1 medium	18.9μg (16% DV)

See the full list of vegetables low in vitamin K or check the nutrition facts for individual foods. Low vitamin K does not necessarily guarantee safe administration of Warfarin (Coumadin).

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Fruits Low in Vitamin K

Food	Serving Size	Vitamin K Content
Watermelon	1 cup diced	0.2μg (0% DV)
Litchis	1 cup	0.8μg (1% DV)
Bananas	1 medium (105g)	0.6μg (1% DV)
Pineapple	1 cup	1.2μg (1% DV)
Apples	1 medium (182g)	4μg (3% DV)
Nectarines	1 medium (142g)	3μg (3% DV)
Strawberries	1 cup	3μg (3% DV)
Peaches	1 medium (150g)	4μg (3% DV)

Avoid grapefruit and cranberries.
Citrus fruits, like oranges, should also be limited or avoided. Approach mangoes, blueberries, and pomegranate with caution as these fruits can also affect PT/INR.
See the full list of fruits low in vitamin K. Low vitamin K does not necessarily guarantee safe administration of Warfarin (Coumadin).

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Grains/Starches Low in Vitamin K

All grain products are low in vitamin K. Here are some examples:

Food	Serving Size	Vitamin K Content
White Rice	1 cup	0μg (0% DV)
Brown Rice	1 cup	0.4μg (1% DV)
Couscous	1 cup	0.2μg (0% DV)
Cornmeal (White or Yellow)	1 cup	0.4μg (0% DV)
Bulgur	1 cup	0.9μg (1% DV)
Pearled Barley	1 cup	1.3μg (1% DV)
Pasta (Plain)	1 cup	0μg (0% DV)
Whole Wheat Bread	1 Slice	0μg (0% DV)
Buckwheat	1 cup	3.2μg (4% DV)
Millet	1 cup	0.5μg (1% DV)
Quinoa	1 cup	0.0μg (0% DV)

See the full list of grains low in vitamin K. Low vitamin K does not necessarily guarantee safe administration of Warfarin (Coumadin).

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Other Food Groups

All meats are low in vitamin K with the exception of some canned fish packed in oil, and abalone.All Dairy and Egg Products are low in Vitamin K. Besides black-eyed peas, soybeans, soy products, and green beans, all beans and legumes are low in vitamin K. If you are into juicing, here are some low vitamin K juice recipes.

Warnings

• Avoid making any big changes to your diet. If you try any new food, try it in small quantities and monitor your PT/INR
• Even though a food is low in vitamin K it does not mean that it will not interact with Warfarin (Coumadin).This article is intended as a general guide for foods low in vitamin K and is for information purposes only.As stated above, try new foods with caution and consult health care providers or literature before trying new foods.