Q: Can a person on Coumadin (warfarin) eat black eyed peas?

My pastor is on Coumadin (warfarin).

Can he eat black eyed peas? Yes, it’s a staple in the Southeast diet. I found black beans and other common peas on your guide – but not the black eyed peas. THANKS !!

Q: Dr. Gourmet Says...

Sauerkraut has 81 micrograms (mcg) of Vitamin K in a cup.

If you are going to pan fry cabbage then it's best to avoid using very much oil since eating less fat is good for you. Avoid fats or oils that are higher in saturated fat like butter or lard. Because of the Vitamin K content in canola and soybean oil it is best to choose olive oil or grapeseed for your cooking. A teaspoon should be fine to cook about 2 - 3 cups of shredded cabbage in a large non-stick pan over medium heat.

There doesn't appear to be a great loss of Vitamin K during cooking. The USDA reports that a head of raw white cabbage has 748 mcg of Vitamin K. A head of cabbage boiled and drained has 617 mcg. It's probably better to err on the side of safety and use the value of a raw ingredient to see how it might fit with your diet plan for Coumadin® (warfarin).

Thanks for writing,

Dr. Gourmet
Eat well, eat healthy, enjoy life!