Altered Taste Buds / Foods Tasting Different
Users on Reddit report a variety of changes in their taste perception and food preferences while on GLP-1 medications. These alterations range from foods tasting better or worse, to new cravings and aversions.
Experiences with Altered Taste Buds / Foods Tasting Different:
Foods Tasting Worse or Different: Conversely, some users experience negative taste changes. For example, coffee has been a common complaint, with users describing it as tasting "awful"[7] or like "dish water. "[12] One user noted, "since I started, all of my cups have been 'okay whatever'. "[7] Another said, "I legit can't stand it, and even tea at this stage... it all tastes like dish water... I used to have 6 coffees a day and now I can barely drink 1 tea.... only on it 3 weeks and been like this for 2 and a half.... has to be the drug. "[12] Specific food aversions were also reported: "I can no longer eat Tuna Fish, which was high on my list of good foods and I can no longer eat Italian sausage (and I'm Italian). "[10] Another user found that "some things don’t taste good any more. Like those pink and white Mother’s cookies taste like garbage to me now. "[15] One person mentioned, "I can't eat food I used to like due to taste changes". [24]
New Cravings: Many users report developing new cravings, especially for sweets and sugary items, even if they didn't have a sweet tooth before. [3, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37] One user shared, "Me too! I thought I was crazy, I didn’t even like to eat candy, yet now I find myself getting a bag of skittles here and there and it taste like heaven". [16] Another said, "My cravings have definitely shifted from salty/cheesy/savory foods to sweet foods. "[19] Some also develop cravings for healthier options: "I crave leafy greens way more. Before, a salad would feel like a chore... the salad sounded better to me. "[6]
Loss of Enjoyment/Desire: Beyond specific taste changes, some users lose their desire for certain foods or drinks. Coffee is a frequently mentioned example, with users stating, "my coffee consumption went way down"[8] or "My desire for coffee dropped actually. "[9] One user lamented, "now coffee is no longer my sip of heaven every morning. "[11]
Remedies, Preventions, or Management Strategies Recommended:
Users have shared various ways they manage these taste changes and new cravings:
Electrolytes and Hydration: Some suggest sugar cravings might indicate a need for electrolytes or better hydration. [31] One user noted, "I sometimes get this when Im low of and need magnesium / up my electrolytes. "[36]
Addressing Potential Low Blood Sugar: Several users theorize that intense sugar cravings could be due to low blood sugar. One suggested, "Try a glass of orange juice. This medicine lowers your blood sugar so that might be sending your body into a sugar panic. "[35] Another found that eating before exercise or having a little raw honey helped, suspecting "it’s a low blood sugar thing possibly triggering panic eating sugar. "[34]
Healthy Sweet Alternatives: "My go to when I crave sweet is full fat Greek yoghurt with fruits and nuts or nut butter. "[38] Others opt for "zero added sugar fudge pops"[40] or "sugar free chocolate pudding or no added sugar nesquick powder". [41]
Supplements: One user mentioned, "How are your ferritin levels? Women will crave sugar when iron reserves are low... I started supplementing iron and the sugar cravings started to subside. "[42]
Moderation and Mindful Indulgence: Many users advocate for allowing sweets in moderation. "My trick is to just have them in moderation lol I’ll have a few instead of a whole bag one or two times a week. "[31] Another said, "The difference is I can have 1-2 cookies and stop vs eating half a tin of butter cookies. "[31] One user advised, "If you want some candy, have some candy! Tracking the calories and enjoy being in control - you’ll find you can have the fun size snickers and be done with it. "[43]
Small Treats: "My ‘hack’ is eating a tootsie roll every time I crave sugar! :)"[39] or using mints. [28]
Managing Coffee Aversion/Taste Change:
Time: Some users found their taste for coffee returned over time. "When I first started ozempic I lost the taste for coffee for a while. But now I’m back to daily drinking," one user shared, noting it took about a year. [10] Another mentioned, "it does seem to get better over time luckily. "[12]
Temporary Switch: One user suggested, "Generally I'll just swap over to tea for a few weeks and eventually I'll get a craving for coffee again eventually and swap back. "[7]
Switching Medication: For one user experiencing intense sugar cravings and other issues on Semaglutide, switching to Tirzepatide reportedly helped manage the cravings better, which they also linked to blood sugar levels. [34]
It's important to note that experiences vary widely, and what works for one person may not work for another. Some users don't experience significant taste changes at all.
Experiences with Altered Taste Buds / Foods Tasting Different:
- Foods Tasting Better: Some users find that foods, particularly sweets, taste better or more intense.
Remedies, Preventions, or Management Strategies Recommended:
Users have shared various ways they manage these taste changes and new cravings:
- Managing Sugar Cravings:
- Increase Protein: "Eating a lot of protein helps" with candy cravings.
It's important to note that experiences vary widely, and what works for one person may not work for another. Some users don't experience significant taste changes at all.