{"id":630389,"date":"2024-11-19T09:30:17","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T14:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=630389"},"modified":"2024-11-12T14:59:17","modified_gmt":"2024-11-12T19:59:17","slug":"food-to-avoid-contrave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/food-to-avoid-contrave\/","title":{"rendered":"4 foods to avoid on Contrave"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contrave<\/span><\/a> is a brand-name prescription weight-loss medication. It has two active ingredients:<\/span> bupropion<\/span><\/a> (an <\/span>antidepressant<\/span><\/a>) and <\/span>naltrexone<\/span><\/a> (an <\/span>opioid agonist<\/span><\/a>). They work together to decrease appetite and control cravings, which helps with long-term weight management in people with obesity. However, like most <\/span>weight-loss drugs<\/span><\/a>, Contrave works best alongside lifestyle changes, including a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. That means avoiding certain foods\u2014like fatty or sugary items\u2014while prioritizing others can help make this medication more effective and minimize your side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

4 foods to avoid with Contrave<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cI would advise any patient taking Contrave or any other <\/span>weight-loss medication<\/span><\/a> to maintain a balanced diet without restricting any food group,\u201d says<\/span> Ishita Prakash Patel, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified endocrinologist at Texas Diabetes and Endocrinology.<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, while you don\u2019t need to cut out entire food <\/span>groups<\/span><\/i>, she and<\/span> Angela Ginn-Meadow<\/span><\/a>, RD, CDE, a registered dietitian, and certified diabetes educator, recommend limiting a few specific foods, including:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Processed foods<\/span><\/h3>\n

Processed foods do nothing to help people lower their body weight or <\/span>high BMI<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThey contain empty calories, high amounts of refined sugars and sodium, as well as endocrine-disrupting chemicals,\u201d says Dr. Patel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plenty of research suggests that regularly eating processed foods\u2014fast food, potato chips, pastries, and other packaged snacks\u2014is bad for your health. One<\/span> meta-analysis<\/span><\/a> that included more than 334,000 individuals linked ultra-processed food consumption to a heightened risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity. Ultimately, these foods will undermine the efficacy of <\/span>Contrave<\/span><\/a> while also triggering <\/span>Contrave side effects<\/span><\/a> such as nausea and an upset stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Caffeine<\/span><\/h3>\n

Bupropion, one of the active ingredients in Contrave, has the potential to cause seizures. <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> shows that caffeine can also increase the risk of seizures in susceptible people. Given that, Ginn-Meadow recommends avoiding caffeine while on Contrave. That means severely limiting or cutting out caffeinated beverages such as coffee, soda, and energy drinks.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Fatty or greasy foods<\/span><\/h3>\n

Contrave should never be taken with a high-fat meal. Doing so can <\/span>increase the risk of seizures<\/span><\/a> on this medication. But even if you take a morning dose of Contrave, it\u2019s a good idea to avoid greasy or fatty foods for the rest of the day. <\/span>\u201cConsuming foods high in fat can increase the likelihood of experiencing nausea,\u201d explains Ginn-Meadow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Foods high in saturated fats<\/span><\/a> are also detrimental to <\/span>heart health<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>weight loss<\/span><\/a> efforts. Ginn-Meadow recommends avoiding or limiting fried foods, high-fat meats (bacon, sausage, spare ribs, meat with visible fat marbling, and chicken or turkey skin), full-fat dairy (heavy cream, butter, and cheese), and cream-based sauces and dressings. In general, eggs are considered a healthy source of animal fat and protein, but it might be a good idea to decrease consumption while taking Contrave because of their high fat content\u2014about<\/span> 5 grams of fat per egg<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Foods high in refined sugar<\/span><\/h3>\n

Avoid sugary foods like candy and cake, as well as sugary drinks like soda and sweetened lattes while taking Contrave. Sugar does not directly interact with this drug, but high-sugar foods and beverages introduce empty calories into your daily diet.<\/span> Research<\/span><\/a> also shows a link between sugar consumption and obesity or being overweight. If you\u2019re at the stage of taking prescription <\/span>drugs for weight loss<\/span><\/a>, sugary foods will reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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