Why you should stop eating these spices right now

QUESTION: Dear Dr.Zac, I’ve been taking blood pressure medication for years without any issues – but I recently read that common spices I love and frequently use like ginger and black pepper can interfere with all types of medications.

Now I’m starting to wonder: have my daily meals been affecting my meds this whole time? Or am I now just being paranoid to think my spice rack is doing more harm than good? – Warwick, 48, CanberraANSWER: Dear Warwick, I’ve got some spicy news for you – you’re not being paranoid.You may have been cooking up a storm, but some of your pantry favorites might have been quietly stirring up trouble in your bloodstream.This is one of those alarming but fascinating medical blind spots that very few people talk about.

While your spice rack might look innocent, the truth is that many everyday spices pack serious pharmacological punch.That’s right – your humble curry powder could be moonlighting as a biochemist, tweaking your enzyme levels while you’re just trying to enjoy dinner.Let’s break this down.Black pepper: The enzyme hijackerYou know that satisfying little crack of the pepper mill? Behind that spicy pop is piperine, a compound that slows down enzymes responsible for breaking down medications.

If you’re on medications like propranolol or phenytoin, this could result in dangerously high drug levels in your system.While small amounts are usually safe, regularly consuming 2–4 tablespoons (yes, tablespoons!) of black pepper or popping high-dose pepper supplements can mess with your meds in a big way.

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