Taking Prednisone? Here Are Some Foods to Avoid While on Steroids

Prednisone Uses and Side Effects

Prednisone is a corticosteroid, a group of drugs that act similar to hormones made by the adrenal glands, according to Mayo Clinic. Other corticosteroids include hydrocortisone, cortisone, and methylprednisolone (Medrol). They are typically used to reduce inflammation and immune response in conditions such as asthma, arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, skin rash, and severe allergic reactions, among others. They may also be given if your body isn't producing enough of these hormones, MedlinePlus notes.

Side effects of prednisone depend on how high your dose is and how long you take the medication. A short-term and lower-dose course of prednisone may cause mild side effects, while higher doses or longer use may boost your risk of more troublesome side effects.

Among several possible prednisone side effects, Mayo Clinic cites these as ones you may be able to combat with diet changes:

• Weight gain
• High blood sugar
• High blood pressure
• Fluid retention

Avoiding Weight Gain With Prednisone

Prednisone, particularly in higher doses, can increase your appetite and may cause fat to be redistributed to the face, back of the neck, and the abdomen, according to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Health.

To prevent weight gain, UCSF recommends that people on prednisone limit saturated fat and cholesterol by avoiding:

• Fried foods
• Foods with extra oil, butter, margarine, or mayonnaise

Prednisone causes your body to excrete less salt, so sodium levels rise, which can lead to fluid retention and high blood pressure. To counter this, limit or avoid salty foods like potato chips, pretzels, salty condiments, packaged snacks, and processed foods, and increase your intake of potassium, which helps prevent fluid retention.

Try eating several smaller, balanced meals throughout the day to prevent overeating, and make sure they all contain some protein and fiber, says Stacy Kennedy, MPH, RD, a registered dietitian in Wellesley, Massachusetts, who is board-certified in oncology nutrition.

"Eating a variety of fruit and vegetables, you get your potassium and fiber," she says. The protein and fiber help satisfy hunger pangs, and the fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that help fight inflammation and boost the immune system.

Prednisone can also raise glucose, or blood sugar levels, so it’s important to watch your carbohydrate intake. It’s best to skip “simple” carbs like cookies, cakes, candy, jams, sugar-sweetened beverages, and other highly processed foods, and focus on complex carbs. These include roasted or baked potatoes (though not drenched in butter or salt) and old-fashioned oatmeal, Kennedy says.

Additionally, she suggests limiting alcohol and excessive coffee consumption, as too much can dehydrate the body. She also cautions against drinking soda, which often contains caffeine and extra sugar.

When plain water doesn't cut it, Kennedy advises adding a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.

Add These Foods to Your Diet

Prednisone and other steroids may disrupt your body's absorption of important nutrients like calcium, potassium, protein, and vitamins C and D, according to National Jewish Health. Add foods that are rich in vitamins and potassium to your diet, including:

• Orange juice
• Bananas
• Apricots
• Cantaloupe
• Tomatoes
• Baked potatoes

To counter calcium loss, Kennedy recommends including:

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Nondairy milks fortified with calcium and vitamin D

Dairy products, as well as lean cuts of meat, poultry, fish, beans, and eggs are also good sources of protein to add to your diet while taking prednisone, notes the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research.

And because prednisone may upset your stomach, take it with food or milk, and don't lie down for a few hours after a dose, according to the University of Pennsylvania's OncoLink.