The Best Foods to Eat When Taking Saxenda

By Heather Smith, RN, BSN

Saxenda is a GLP-1 medication that helps teens and adults manage their weight. 

When taking Saxenda, it is important to eat a balanced diet to help support the actions of this medication. 

While there are no foods you must avoid while taking Saxenda, some foods may hinder your health goals, decrease the benefits of the medication, or give you uncomfortable side effects. 

Learning how Saxenda works can aid in making food choices that help you feel your best.

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Best Foods To Eat While Taking Saxenda

When taking Saxenda, it is a good idea to follow a balanced diet to support the actions of the medication. Doing this also reduces possible side effects and promotes your overall health. 

A balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein-rich foods. These give your body the nutrients it needs while helping you feel full and satisfied.

Fruits And Vegetables

Eating fruits and vegetables is highly suggested while taking Saxenda. Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals that support your body’s overall health and function. 

The amount of fruits and vegetables you need daily depends on your age, size, gender, and other factors. 

Fruits and vegetables also contain a high amount of fiber.

Fiber is especially important when taking Saxenda as it digests more slowly than other foods, which can help you feel full for longer and help prevent mindless eating. 

Fiber also helps regulate digestion and promote gut health, which can help you feel better and work towards achieving your health goals. 

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Whole Grains

Eating whole grains is also important while taking Saxenda. Whole grains include foods such as:

• Whole wheat bread.
• Quinoa.
• Oatmeal.
• Brown rice.
• Whole cornmeal.
• Barley.

Whole grains are different from refined grains, which have part of their nutrition removed during milling.

Removed nutrients may include fiber, iron, and B vitamins. Whole grains maintain their nutritional value and are better to eat while taking Saxenda.

Whole grains are a good source of B vitamins, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and several minerals.

They help keep blood sugar levels more stable and the fiber may help you feel full for longer.

These aspects make it a good food to eat with Saxenda to help you maintain your health.

How many grains you need to eat daily depends on your age, gender, height, weight, and other factors.

At least half the grains we eat should be whole grains.

Protein-Rich Foods

Eating protein is also important while you take Saxenda.

Protein is an essential nutrient for functions such as building and repairing muscles and promoting immune function. 

Protein-rich foods include:

• Meat.
• Poultry.
• Seafood.
• Eggs.
• Nuts and Seeds.
• Beans, Peas, and Lentils.
• Soy Products.

Choosing lean protein sources helps minimize your saturated fat intake, which helps support Saxenda’s actions. 

How much protein you need to eat each day depends on several factors. 

When selecting your proteins, try to choose a variety rather than the same type.

For example, try adding beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds to your diet rather than just focusing on meat proteins.

Eating several types of proteins helps your body meet its nutritional needs. 

Example Of A Diet Plan On Saxenda

Here are some meal ideas while you are taking Saxenda.

Breakfast

• Oatmeal with skim milk, fresh berries, and sliced almonds.
• Whole-grain toast topped with mashed avocados and a boiled egg.
• Greek yogurt mixed with low-sugar granola with a side of scrambled eggs.

Lunch

• Grilled chicken salad with mixed greens, chickpeas, and a variety of vegetables, topped with vinaigrette dressing.
• Lentil soup with a turkey wrap made in a whole wheat tortilla.
• Quinoa and black beans on a salad of mixed greens, cucumbers, corn, diced tomatoes, and feta cheese, drizzled with a lemon vinaigrette.

Dinner

• Marinated grilled chicken breast with roasted vegetables and brown rice.
• Baked salmon with baked potato and steamed asparagus.
• Vegetable stir fry, including snap peas, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots with tofu and brown rice.

Snacks

• Vegetable sticks, like carrots, cucumber, yellow bell pepper, and hummus.
• Mixed nuts with blueberries.
• Celery sticks with a thin spread of peanut or almond butter and raisins or sliced apples.

Foods To Avoid When Taking Saxenda

When taking Saxenda, there are no specific foods you can’t eat while taking Saxenda, but it’s a good idea to limit certain foods, such as:

• Foods high in added sugars.
• Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white pasta, and white rice.
• Unhealthy fats such as fried foods or pastries.

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The Importance Of Eating Satisfying Meals

Eating satisfying meals is important while taking Saxenda.

Because Saxenda works to reduce your appetite and promote feelings of fullness, choosing foods that will help you feel full for longer periods is important. 

Meals high in fiber and protein and include healthy fats can be particularly satisfying.

They take longer to digest and promote well-being, which may help you avoid mindless snacking throughout the day.

Incorporating a variety of textures and flavors into your meals can help make them more satisfying and enjoyable enhancing your journey to better health.

Building A Meal While Taking Saxenda

When assembling a meal, start with a foundation of high-fiber vegetables, such as leafy greens, broccoli, brussel sprouts, green beans, or asparagus. 

Next, add a portion of lean protein, such as grilled chicken, legumes, tofu, or seafood.

Include a serving of whole grains or starchy vegetables, like quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, or carrots.

Add in healthy fat, such as an avocado or nuts to round out the meal. 

Lifestyle Tips On Saxenda

Embracing a lifestyle that promotes overall health is important while taking Saxenda. 

• Regular physical activity: Strive to get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes weekly of vigorous activity, along with twice weekly strength training.
• Drink water: Your water intake needs depend on several factors including your activity level. Try to drink between 91 and 125 fluid ounces. 
• Manage portions: Learn how to correctly portion each food group and make it a point to manage your portions to prevent overeating. 
• Get enough sleep: Adequate sleep is important for weight management and overall health. Aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
• Manage stress: Learning healthy ways to handle stress, such as meditation, mindfulness, gentle yoga, or talking with a professional helps with weight management. 

What Is Saxenda?

Saxenda is a brand-name GLP-1 medication that is a tool for managing weight. It is indicated for teens and adults.

Saxenda is an injectable medication that comes in pre-filled injection pens for daily administration.

Injection sites include your thigh, upper arm, or stomach area.

You can take Saxenda with food or on an empty stomach.

The key is to take it at the same time each day. 

The Food and Drug Administration approved Saxenda in 2014 for long-term weight management in adults.

In 2020, they also approved Saxenda for long-term weight management for teens 12 and older.

How Saxenda Works

The active ingredient in Saxenda, liraglutide, mimics a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).

This hormone’s job is to regulate appetite and digestion. 

Saxenda binds to the same receptors GLP-1 binds to and sends signals to your brain to reduce appetite, increase feelings of fullness, and slow digestion. 

Saxenda has three actions in your body:

• Increase insulin secretion from your pancreas when you eat to help your blood sugar stay stable.
• Slow down the rate at which food leaves your stomach, which helps you feel full for longer. 
• Decrease the amount of glucose (sugar) your liver releases to help your blood remain stable and reduce blood sugar crashes and cravings throughout the day.

It’s important to note that Saxenda is a tool that works alongside dietary and lifestyle changes.

Without making certain changes, such as increasing your physical activity level and eating nutrient-rich foods, Saxenda may not help with your long-term weight management goals.

Side Effects Of Saxenda

The most common side effects of Saxenda include:

• Changes in bowel movements such as diarrhea or constipation.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Skin reaction at the injection site.
• Low blood sugar.
• Fatigue.
• Headache.
• Dizziness.
• Stomach pain.
• Change in lipase (an enzyme) levels in your blood.

Serious side effects may include:

• Serious allergic reaction: Symptoms may include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe itching or rash, rapid heartbeat, and feeling dizzy or faint. This is a medical emergency, call 911.
• Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, symptoms may include dizziness, light-headedness, blurred vision, irritability, anxiety, mood changes, slurred speech, sweating, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jittery. This is a medical emergency, call 911.
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis): Symptoms may include stomach pain that may radiate to the back with or without vomiting.
• Gallbladder problems: Symptoms may include upper stomach pain, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stool.
• Kidney problems (kidney failure): Symptoms may include decreased urination, dark urine, and swelling in the lower legs.
• Increase in heart rate: Symptoms may include heart racing or pounding that may last for several minutes.
• Depression or thoughts of suicide: Symptoms may include changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. 

Call your doctor right away if you have thoughts of harming yourself or are experiencing symptoms of a serious side effect.

Certain people should not take Saxenda. These include:

• People with an allergy to liraglutide or any of the other ingredients in Saxenda.
• People with a personal or family history of thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
• People with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
• People who are planning to be pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

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Takeaway

Saxenda is an effective medication for weight management when combined with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and other healthy lifestyle habits. 

Focusing on lean proteins, whole grains, and fiber-rich vegetables can support the medications appetite-suppressing effects. 

Also, making it a priority to get enough sleep, regularly exercise, stay hydrated, and manage stress are lifestyle changes that also help support healthy weight management.

How A Dietitian Can Help

A registered dietitian can offer personalized nutritional advice for weight loss that complements Saxenda.

They offer evidence-based strategies and meal plans to help you manage your weight. 

A dietitian can be there to guide you, and also be a source of encouragement and accountability during your journey.

Find a weight loss registered dietitian with Nourish who can give you personalized nutritional guidance.