If you eat fresh grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice, you should know that it could affect medications you may be taking to control your cholesterol levels. A study from the Mayo Clinic found that grapefruit interferes with the body's ability to break down some heart medications. When that happens, the drugs accumulate in the body and can reach toxic blood levels.

Here is what's known about the statin drugs and grapefruit juice:

• Do interact:
  • atorvastatin (Lipitor)
  • lovastatin (Mevacor)
  • simvastatin (Zocor)
• Probably interact:*
  • cerivastatin (Baycol)
• Probably do not interact:*
  • fluvastatin (Lescol)
  • pravastatin (Pravachol)

*Still under investigation

People taking statins to reduce cholesterol levels are advised to avoid grapefruit juice, especially if they are taking high doses. Drinking grapefruit juice can also increase the risk of certain adverse effects of statins such as severe muscle damage.

Grapefruit juice interacts with some drugs taken to lower blood pressure, too. If you are also taking these medications, click here to see the list on lifeclinic.com's Hypertension site.