Can You Go Without Sugar for 30 Days ?

[PlateletGal]

This was an article that was e-mailed to me in my weekly newsletter. I was actually on a very strict diet for over two weeks. I had to abstain from corn, wheat (gluten), sugar and dairy products for at least two weeks. The day after my physician recommended this elimination diet for me, I actually started it and DID it ! That was how I found out that I had a gluten intolerance. Also, by the end of those two weeks... I felt so much better.

So Scott Olson, N.D. has challenged us to going thirty days without sugar.

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showArticle.cfm?libid=14210&B1=EG010709

My question is.... would you try it and do you think you can do it ?  ; ^ )

[Lori707]

I saw that show on Oprah with Dr. Oz. I stopped ALL proimmflammatory foods several months ago which also includes sugar. I found that after about 3 weeks, my arthritis pain wasn't as bad, although I still have pain. Also, I wasn't so brain fogged from my fibromayalgia. I started to eat foods that are anti-infllammatory. The diet is BORING and there's not much variety, but as long as my tummy is full and makes me feel better then I'm okay with it. Now I have other new symtoms and going through neurological testings. Have no idea if that's from fibro. Actually, fibro is a neurological disorder...I was told. My doc said fibromyalgia is a name that is put on a disorder and to him personally, he doesn't like to use it.
Lori

[FurballsMom]

I would steer clear of the Splenda.  The hype about it being made from sugar is just the propaganda to sell the product that is chemically altered with chlorine.  I know that it's just not a safe product.  People are far better off with real sugar than with these chemical sweeteners.  

I have used some of the stevia from health food stores, like Sweet Leaf brand.  I would still advise finding a place that sells bulk medicinal herbs and buy the actual dried stevia herb.  It will work great with your herbal tea, too.  Bengal Spice is really good.  It's like chai without the black tea involved.  I used to drink it myself, 'til I developed allergies to some of the ingredients, like the black pepper.  I love Bengal Spice.  That's a great choice when stepping down from coffee, because it's full of flavor.  Bulk stevia herb will work great with Bengal Spice.  Just boil your water on your stovetop like usual.  I find it easiest to just float the stevia herb directly in the hot water, along with my tea bags.  Then, after allowing it to steep, I just use a tea strainer.  I've used other methods, but I think this is the easiest and laziest way of making tea infusions.

[PlateletGal]

Hi ! I have Splenda and have used it once or twice. I have heard good things about it, but you know how that can change in an instant. I have seen Stevia in the health food stores... I may give that a shot.

One thing I have done is one of my New Year's Resolutions. I quit drinking coffee and am now drinking herbal tea in the mornings (Bengal Spice... yummo ! )

[FurballsMom]

I've already been doing this for over a year myself.  The cravings actually subside after a while for anyone struggling with it.  I don't use chemical sugar substitutes either.  When you are avoiding sugar, it's important to avoid all natural forms of sugar, which means all honey, maple syrup and agave syrup.  It also means avoiding high fructose corn syrup, which is actually the worst kind and is worse than plain old white table sugar.  The jury is still out for me about whether I'm sensitive to stevia or not, but it's a good alternative for people who want the sweet flavor without the side effects.  I would recommend finding a place where you can buy the actual dried herb in bulk, though, to be sure you're not getting any strange man-made chemicals in your stevia.  It tastes sweeter than sugar.  You do need to be cautious even when using stevia, too, though, because too much stevia has been known to cause problems, too.  This is why I recommend using the real deal in its natural form.

[Me967]

It wouldn't be that hard for me to take the challenge concerning soda, cake, pies etc.  I basically eat what I catch, grow or kill threw out the year.  I love 15 grain bread (probably bad) use olive oil and (local) fresh honeycomb honey for cooking vs. butter or sugar.

The problem is there is sugar in everything.

Chips would be a hard one for me though being, that salt has sugar in it also and chips also break down into sugars.  I should not have much salt (due to BP issues) but chips are my weakness baked medium thickness.  Yummy.  As for cooking other foods I use Mrs. Dash.   When my sugar drops to low though I eat a 1/2 a peanut butter and jam sandwich along with an orange.    

P. S.  A toasted 1/2 of a peanut butter sandwich and honey sandwich used to put me out like a baby.  Have a cup of hot decaf tea....raspberry leaves work good for cramps.

Unfortunately I can't sleep much anymore.  In which is why I'm typing away at 4 AM.  LOL  Take care.  Me.

[PlateletGal]

I'm not surprised to hear that, ott. It is a well known fact that sugar supresses the immune system and can contribute to your emotional well-being. One of the woman on Oprah who did Dr. OZ's challenge (no soda for so many weeks) said that her brain fog had disappeared after she tried his challenge.

Here is what Dr. OZ has to say about "enriched" products, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats and saturated fats:

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081113_tows_checklist/2

[ott70]

I think it's well known that sugar is bad for us, at least in excess. I would have some doubts about sugar in other forms such as whatever is naturally found in foods such as rice or carrots or certain fruits. I also think stuff like honey and agave syrup are okay to consume, maybe even cane sugar, although I have seen some reports suggest cutting back on those substances also. Without getting all religious about it, I'm in the belief of natural foods found on God's green earth should be okay to consume. I'm all for removing processed foods, especially sugary items, from a diet.

I recall an odd teacher in junior high school from over 20 years ago. He was kind of a short mountain man who was really eccentric. He also ended up being one of my all-time favorite teachers. He taught us history, but his teachings were way off curriculum as compared to our counterpart history classes. I always had a feeling that the faculty didn't care for him and I know he was spoke to a few times by the principal on what he should be teaching. I'm also sure that some students transferred out of his class due to his ways.

Anyhow, I always recall one question he asked the class during a day of "current events". He asked us what the "white killer" is. Being kids, we answered with drug names such as cocaine and heroin. Nobody guessed right and he told us the answer was "sugar". Of course, we scoffed at him with our soda drinks and candy bars in hand. That was from over 20 years ago from a supposed history teacher and I don't think he was too far off considering where diabetes and obesity is now. The guy was profound for his time in our little corner of the world.

[PlateletGal]

I only know how how good I felt when I was on my elimination diet (dairy... sugar.... corn & gluten). I felt the best that I had in years after that two weeks. And then of course, I needed to reintroduce these products, one at a time, to see which ones were causing me additional symptoms. I chose the gluten first and had symptoms an hour later. I'm going to do the sugar thing... I actually look forward to doing it and seeing how much my symptoms improve. But I screwed up already this morning... my oatmeal has brown sugar in it. LOL ! I might as well get the coffee started, instead of the herbal tea.

[RobinHood70]

If I ate a slice of 100% Whole Grain bread before every meal, I'd almost certainly lose weight...and be sick as a dog! :)

I gotta vote no on this too, though.  Despite my own Celiac Disease, I feel we're running amok with all this dietary intolerance stuff.  Do these intolerances exist?  Well, I'm obviously the last to say "no", but I'd want to see a lot more peer-reviewed medical data before I start trying any elimination diets.

If I knew it worked for, say, half of all people with Fibro or CFS, sure, I'd be the first to try it.  But if there's only a few cases, or one study, or whatever, then no, I'm not about to.  Also, there would need to be evidence that I was suffering similar symptoms to what you'd expect from an intolerance to whatever food (like I did for Celiac).  I show no signs of intolerance to any of the other foods mentioned in the list apart from gluten.

[kiddthekatt]

  I know, I'm the guilty one that voted no. For the very reason, when I am in a flare like I have been this last couple of weeks, I eat very little. Food makes me so ill. So, I eat apple pies. Thats about the only thing I can keep down, that and oatmeal. My internist knows about this and he's not happy but he agreed I have to eat something. I've dropped a total of 48 pounds since being DXed with this disease. So, if I cut out sugar, I would probably starve to death, ( I wouldn't but who knows for sure?.....:) )

gentle hugs
Angel

[ott70]

No sugar would be tough for me but I have definitely cut back from previous years' intake. I have an occasional soda, but I stopped having them on a regular basis years ago. I think there was one stretch where I had not drank a soda in a year's time and then remember how horrible tasting it was when I finally drank one. I now feel fairly guilty about drinking one every few months or so. It's really scary to think about what I used to eat as a kid when it comes to sugar products.

My weaknesses would be chocolate and ice cream.

The "no sugar" list of foods is tough because there are some items on the "no" list that I would still consider to have healthy benefits (rice, cooked carrots, potatoes).

I have been thinking about doing something like this though since intracellular pathogens feed off of sugar. I'll mull over the menu options and then maybe take a stab at it. Now that the holidays are past, it may be more easier to attempt.

[VaBreeze]

Well that sounds easy enough.  The diet soda is no problem as I don't drink them and the bread w/oil...i'm sure I could do that.  I'm going to try this.  :-)

I missed the Oprah show, but I had a friend growing up who would wake in the mid-morning and go after chocolate.  He would actually eat some, then fall asleep holding onto the bag or wrapper.  I always thought he may be diabetic or something, because it was as if he needed it.  Maybe he was simply 'that' addicted.

[PlateletGal]

Just yesterday, I watched the Oprah Winfrey show and Dr. Oz was her guest. He said that sugar is addictive because our brains get confused after we eat sugar. We keep wanting more because our bodies are looking for the nutrients in sugar.... so that is part of the reason for the addiction.

Dr. OZ has also had some challenges. I think one of them was giving up diet soda and the last one was eating a piece of 100% WHOLE GRAIN bread with extra virgin olive oil on it before you eat. Apparently if you eat this before dinner.... you will lose weight.

[VaBreeze]

I know that sugar is addictive...my hubby is one who is an addict.  I've gone without eating anything like cakes, cookies, chocolate or other sweets before.  The first time afterwords that I ate chocolate, it tasted awful.  I'm trying now to get my hubby to cut back because he eats to much of it.

Thanks for the article PlateletGal.  Good info.