What to eat while taking metformin?

Are you struggling within the confines of metformin? Blame it on your genes, experts say. But don’t let this put a damper on your food-loving spirit. Just because some foods are not ideal while taking metformin, doesn’t mean good taste has to go out of the window.

The Basics About Metformin

Before we get deep into what to chomp and what not to munch on while powering through metformin, let’s recap a bit about exactly what it is.

Metformin is:
A medication that helps in controlling blood sugar levels
Usually prescribed for those suffering from type-2 diabetes
Regarded as one of the least risky antidiabetic drugs available today

So far so good right?

The tricky part comes when its game time! And by that I mean meals.

Taming Your Hunger Monsters with these Foods

As mentioned previously, certain types of food may spoil your fun as you power through life with metformin. However, there’s no need to sack all delicious treats just yet!

Low-glycemic index goodies:

Eating low glycemic foods such as sweet potatoes (or ‘kumara’ if you’re down under) can work wonders during your struggle with metformin. Why? Simply because they have less impact on insulin production resulting in better glucose regulation in general.

Other examples include:
– Whole-grain breads and cereals (Kashi brand is my new favorite)
– Steel-cut oatmeal
– Most fruits except pineapple and watermelon (watch out for these sneaky fruit saboteurs!)

We salute thee low GIs!

All hail fibermedies:

Fiber-packed snacks or meals will help prevent wild spikes in blood sugar levels hence keeping them stable throughout the day. Who doesn’t love that?

A few examples of high fiber food options include:
– Nuts/seeds
– Beans, lentils and legumes (aka part of the gas squad)
– Veggies like broccoli and cauliflower (cauliflower gets a special badge for being an adaptable superhero)

Now you’ve got something to bite on! Barely there side effect – feeling full!

Proteins: Brawn meets brain:

With metformin medication in your system, proteins become your ally in mowing down blood sugar spikes at every occasion.

Here are some fun ideas for adding more protein into your diet:
– Salmon sushi rolls
– Turkey bacon (not sure how this became a thing but it’s so great)
– Chicken skewers or kebabs (you can have them with feta cheese!)

Feeling strong yet?

Beware of These Food Obstacles Overcooking Your Insulin Production

While certain foods play nice with Metformin, others may be double-edged swords! Let’s highlight these sneaky snack saboteurs to keep their numbers down to eliminate any insulin production creeper overflow scenarios.

High glycemickers : ‘Eat me’ signs all over!

If the big bad wolf was after sweet treats he’d go straight towards high-glycemic index foods which should hereby be avoided while taking Metformin. This includes most refined sugars such as bakeshop treats, donuts and maple syrup-like lattes.

But wait! There is loads more….think soft drink (soda), sports drinks plus fruit juices just naming a few…

Say no to glucose highs by avoiding these sugary sips/munchies.

Fatty Foods: More Fuel Than You Can Handle?

When digesting fatty food while on medication such as metformin several things happen simultaneously but unfortunately none brings attention or love to you! They speed up GI transit (not ideal already for people who suffer from type-2 diabetes and others affected by insulin resistance).

So yeah back up off the greasy takeout options, in other words. Not worth the pain.

Alcohol: Picking a Fight with Blood Sugar

Every party popper’s worst nightmare – saying no to brews and spirits!

Alcohol affects blood sugar levels which may cause chemical imbalances if you’re taking metformin medication regularly. If your will power is only good enough to reach for drinks during social ‘functions’, try lighter drinks like wine or whiskey instead of beers/mixed cocktails/sweet liqueurs that have high alcohol content.

Small Changes make Big Results:

Small changes can bring big impact into your dietary lifestyle when paired with challenges such as when managing Metformin intake. Sometimes there’s certain food products which are harder on us however this shouldn’t prevent exploring more variety within our meal choices.

Here are some simple swaps:
– Substitute candy bar snacks (we all have guilty pleasures!) out of sight with dried fruit bags!
– Put aside ice cream tubs in exchange for yogurt cups
– Give cola soda its divorce papers and get your carbonation through sparkling water

These little switches provide not just nutrition but an exciting boost of variety too! Try it out!

Wrapping It Up

Jumping hurdles may be unavoidable while working towards becoming healthier versions of ourselves, but we can still enjoy amazing bites alongside them without ending up worse than before!

While living life with medicines such as Metformin isn’t rocket science 101 we should always consider how modifying what hits our plates every day may better suit our needs including reducing the bad symptoms/painful side effects that come along slickly without warning.

Just remember – load upon low glycemic index foods, eat protein-packed meals and fiber-rich bites oh-my! And avoid high glycemic index foods, fatty cuts and excessive booze.

Cheers to tasty success!

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