The Hidden war: How food interactions alter medication effectiveness

Food influences how medications are absorbed, distributed, metabolised and eliminated from the body. [Courtesy]

Have you ever noticed feeling drowsy after taking a pain reliever on an empty stomach? Or perhaps a medication seems less effective when taken with a large meal? Have you ever wondered how the food you eat or the herbs you consume might affect the medications prescribed to you? Whether it's food that diminishes the efficacy of a drug, nutrients that amplify side effects, or herbs that alter a medication's metabolism, the implications are significant.

Food influences how medications are absorbed, distributed, metabolised (broken down), and eliminated from the body. Foods, nutrients, and herbs interact with medications in ways that can either support or sabotage treatment.