The truth about sugar addiction from a former sugar addict

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  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
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    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Thanks!

    To be clear, I'm trying to walk the middle path. I think some of us need to be careful about sugar/starchy foods, but I don't really buy into the idea that we should cut them (or any food) out. That is often just a set up for difficulty maintaining this pattern of eating long term and makes it hard to partake in some really cool things like mochi ice cream and holiday parties :)

    Totally agree with this.

    Yep. :smile:
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
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    sugar is a dead end anyway, my cardiologist told me to cut off most sugar as it even damages arteries and now they think it plays a role in heart disease. It ages the skin makes us look older. There is no benefit in refined sugars other than it tastes good., and feeds our emotional needs. Sugar has no nutritional value at all. No vitamins, no minerals nothing.

    False!!!

    I had heart disease and now reverse it eating sugary things!! Explain that!!!!
  • kyta32
    kyta32 Posts: 670 Member
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    Serah87 wrote: »
    sugar is a dead end anyway, my cardiologist told me to cut off most sugar as it even damages arteries and now they think it plays a role in heart disease. It ages the skin makes us look older. There is no benefit in refined sugars other than it tastes good., and feeds our emotional needs. Sugar has no nutritional value at all. No vitamins, no minerals nothing.

    False!!!

    I had heart disease and now reverse it eating sugary things!! Explain that!!!!

    If your Dr. is recommending that you eat sugar to reverse heart disease, I would suggest you get another Dr.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862465/
    "Recently, in the Nurses Health Study, a positive association between SSB (sugar sweetened beverages) intake and risk of CHD (nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD) was observed even after accounting for other unhealthy factors53. In over 88,000 women followed for 24 years, those who consumed ≥ 2 SSB per day had a 35% greater risk of developing CHD compared to those who consumed <1 SSB per month"

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/94/2/479.short
    "The present data show potentially harmful effects of low to moderate consumption of SSBs on markers of cardiovascular risk such as LDL particles, fasting glucose, and hs-CRP within just 3 wk in healthy young men"

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10946914?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000,f1000m,isrctn
    Glucose increasing oxidative load.

    The American Heart association states you should get no more than 100 calories for added sugars a day for a woman, and 150 added sugars a day for a man.

    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyEating/Added-Sugars-Add-to-Your-Risk-of-Dying-from-Heart-Disease_UCM_460319_Article.jsp
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
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    SLLRunner - that's so great! I hope you enjoy the heck out of your chocolate every night :) I am proud that I have a bunch of goodie bags to give to people full of my favorite candies from Hawaii, and I haven't broken into any of them over the past two weeks.

    Thank you. :)

  • jijiyode
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    You are a an inspiration. I have failed many, many times at trying to rid my diet of sugar. I will keep trying. I have to. I now have insulin resistance and have every reason to clean up my act, but I continue to struggle.
  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
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    Congratulations! The only way I've been able to overcome my own love of sugar was cutting it out completely for a few weeks at a time. I still eat it moderately but I don't feel like I "need" it the way I did before. I now feel like I have control over my sugar cravings, instead of feeling like it controls me. :)

    That's great. I will say I did cut down substantially at first although I never attempted to eliminate it. But I was probably having something sugary once every 1-2 weeks for the first 6 weeks. I'll have to look back at my diary sometime to see. I have insulin resistance, so I'll always need to be more careful about foods that impact insulin than others.

  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
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    kyta32 wrote: »
    Serah87 wrote: »
    sugar is a dead end anyway, my cardiologist told me to cut off most sugar as it even damages arteries and now they think it plays a role in heart disease. It ages the skin makes us look older. There is no benefit in refined sugars other than it tastes good., and feeds our emotional needs. Sugar has no nutritional value at all. No vitamins, no minerals nothing.

    False!!!

    I had heart disease and now reverse it eating sugary things!! Explain that!!!!

    If your Dr. is recommending that you eat sugar to reverse heart disease, I would suggest you get another Dr.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862465/
    "Recently, in the Nurses Health Study, a positive association between SSB (sugar sweetened beverages) intake and risk of CHD (nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD) was observed even after accounting for other unhealthy factors53. In over 88,000 women followed for 24 years, those who consumed ≥ 2 SSB per day had a 35% greater risk of developing CHD compared to those who consumed <1 SSB per month"

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/94/2/479.short
    "The present data show potentially harmful effects of low to moderate consumption of SSBs on markers of cardiovascular risk such as LDL particles, fasting glucose, and hs-CRP within just 3 wk in healthy young men"

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10946914?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000,f1000m,isrctn
    Glucose increasing oxidative load.

    The American Heart association states you should get no more than 100 calories for added sugars a day for a woman, and 150 added sugars a day for a man.

    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyEating/Added-Sugars-Add-to-Your-Risk-of-Dying-from-Heart-Disease_UCM_460319_Article.jsp

    LOL, good thing none of the studies you've posted rely on super accurate food recall data, oh wait

    20130124-114258.jpg?w=645

    Post-Hoc.jpg

    6352537484_892f791f9e_z-636x310.jpg
  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
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    jijiyode wrote: »
    You are a an inspiration. I have failed many, many times at trying to rid my diet of sugar. I will keep trying. I have to. I now have insulin resistance and have every reason to clean up my act, but I continue to struggle.

    I think trying to get rid of sugar altogether is a really hard goal. It means that one slip and you are failing at the goal. To treat my insulin resistance I have a goal to limit the amount of carbohydrates from added sugars or starchy foods to 30g per eating occasion and always balancing with protein and/or fat to smooth out blood sugar levels. My general day I have about 30g of starchy carbs for breakfast (oatmeal, grits) with protein, and then for lunch and dinner about 3-4 oz of meat, half a cup of starchy food (e.g., veggie patty, quinoa, corn, rice). My snacks are generally protein bars, coconut flakes, fruit, nuts, beef jerkey (i.e., I don't have starchy or sugary foods for snacks). I mostly make my own food or eat premade things from trader joe's or mariano's, but I do go out 1-2x/week. I usually don't buy sweets for myself, but if they are there I may have a small portion (ideally balanced with other food, again to keep blood sugar even).

    I developed this from reading about insulin resistance. I am certainly able to lose weight losing this way. I'll be getting my blood levels rechecked this month or next so I can report back how it has impacted my numbers.

    Keep in mind exercise is really important for insulin resistance. I am very active and do strength training as well.
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
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    Congrats on finding what really works for you. I *personally* find that the more sugar I have, the more I crave. It's crazy.
  • kyta32
    kyta32 Posts: 670 Member
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    Acg67 wrote: »
    kyta32 wrote: »
    Serah87 wrote: »
    sugar is a dead end anyway, my cardiologist told me to cut off most sugar as it even damages arteries and now they think it plays a role in heart disease. It ages the skin makes us look older. There is no benefit in refined sugars other than it tastes good., and feeds our emotional needs. Sugar has no nutritional value at all. No vitamins, no minerals nothing.

    False!!!

    I had heart disease and now reverse it eating sugary things!! Explain that!!!!

    If your Dr. is recommending that you eat sugar to reverse heart disease, I would suggest you get another Dr.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862465/
    "Recently, in the Nurses Health Study, a positive association between SSB (sugar sweetened beverages) intake and risk of CHD (nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD) was observed even after accounting for other unhealthy factors53. In over 88,000 women followed for 24 years, those who consumed ≥ 2 SSB per day had a 35% greater risk of developing CHD compared to those who consumed <1 SSB per month"

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/94/2/479.short
    "The present data show potentially harmful effects of low to moderate consumption of SSBs on markers of cardiovascular risk such as LDL particles, fasting glucose, and hs-CRP within just 3 wk in healthy young men"

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10946914?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000,f1000m,isrctn
    Glucose increasing oxidative load.

    The American Heart association states you should get no more than 100 calories for added sugars a day for a woman, and 150 added sugars a day for a man.

    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyEating/Added-Sugars-Add-to-Your-Risk-of-Dying-from-Heart-Disease_UCM_460319_Article.jsp

    LOL, good thing none of the studies you've posted rely on super accurate food recall data, oh wait

    20130124-114258.jpg?w=645

    Post-Hoc.jpg

    6352537484_892f791f9e_z-636x310.jpg

    The test of glucose on oxidative load was done under laboratory conditions. Sugar absolutely does challenge the body in unhealthy ways. Recompers and those who are very active do need more carbs than others, and being active itself protects against many of the impacts of higher sugar consumption, but sugar is not a treatment for heart disease.

    If you wish to ignore the recommendations of health authorities that is your priviledge. I'm just saying, when it comes to sugar and health, when there's that much smoke, there's gotta be a fire somewhere.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
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    kyta32 wrote: »
    Acg67 wrote: »
    kyta32 wrote: »
    Serah87 wrote: »
    sugar is a dead end anyway, my cardiologist told me to cut off most sugar as it even damages arteries and now they think it plays a role in heart disease. It ages the skin makes us look older. There is no benefit in refined sugars other than it tastes good., and feeds our emotional needs. Sugar has no nutritional value at all. No vitamins, no minerals nothing.

    False!!!

    I had heart disease and now reverse it eating sugary things!! Explain that!!!!

    If your Dr. is recommending that you eat sugar to reverse heart disease, I would suggest you get another Dr.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862465/
    "Recently, in the Nurses Health Study, a positive association between SSB (sugar sweetened beverages) intake and risk of CHD (nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD) was observed even after accounting for other unhealthy factors53. In over 88,000 women followed for 24 years, those who consumed ≥ 2 SSB per day had a 35% greater risk of developing CHD compared to those who consumed <1 SSB per month"

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/94/2/479.short
    "The present data show potentially harmful effects of low to moderate consumption of SSBs on markers of cardiovascular risk such as LDL particles, fasting glucose, and hs-CRP within just 3 wk in healthy young men"

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10946914?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000,f1000m,isrctn
    Glucose increasing oxidative load.

    The American Heart association states you should get no more than 100 calories for added sugars a day for a woman, and 150 added sugars a day for a man.

    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyEating/Added-Sugars-Add-to-Your-Risk-of-Dying-from-Heart-Disease_UCM_460319_Article.jsp

    LOL, good thing none of the studies you've posted rely on super accurate food recall data, oh wait

    20130124-114258.jpg?w=645

    Post-Hoc.jpg

    6352537484_892f791f9e_z-636x310.jpg

    The test of glucose on oxidative load was done under laboratory conditions. Sugar absolutely does challenge the body in unhealthy ways. Recompers and those who are very active do need more carbs than others, and being active itself protects against many of the impacts of higher sugar consumption, but sugar is not a treatment for heart disease.

    If you wish to ignore the recommendations of health authorities that is your priviledge. I'm just saying, when it comes to sugar and health, when there's that much smoke, there's gotta be a fire somewhere.

    Correlation =/= causation. The smoke in all of the things you posted wasn't from fire.

  • girlviernes
    girlviernes Posts: 2,402 Member
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    kyta32 wrote: »
    The test of glucose on oxidative load was done under laboratory conditions. Sugar absolutely does challenge the body in unhealthy ways. Recompers and those who are very active do need more carbs than others, and being active itself protects against many of the impacts of higher sugar consumption, but sugar is not a treatment for heart disease.

    If you wish to ignore the recommendations of health authorities that is your priviledge. I'm just saying, when it comes to sugar and health, when there's that much smoke, there's gotta be a fire somewhere.

    Well the thing is that most people on here who are losing weight but not overly concerned with added sugar are actually not having that much of it (since they are restricting calories) and are exercising on a regular basis.

    I would agree that dietary content does matter for various reasons, but I think it matters LESS than finding a way of eating that is sustainable for you in the long run and allows you to maintain a healthy weight.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
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    I would agree that dietary content does matter for various reasons, but I think it matters LESS than finding a way of eating that is sustainable for you in the long run and allows you to maintain a healthy weight.

    Yes.
  • kyta32
    kyta32 Posts: 670 Member
    Options
    kyta32 wrote: »
    Acg67 wrote: »
    kyta32 wrote: »
    Serah87 wrote: »
    sugar is a dead end anyway, my cardiologist told me to cut off most sugar as it even damages arteries and now they think it plays a role in heart disease. It ages the skin makes us look older. There is no benefit in refined sugars other than it tastes good., and feeds our emotional needs. Sugar has no nutritional value at all. No vitamins, no minerals nothing.

    False!!!

    I had heart disease and now reverse it eating sugary things!! Explain that!!!!

    If your Dr. is recommending that you eat sugar to reverse heart disease, I would suggest you get another Dr.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862465/
    "Recently, in the Nurses Health Study, a positive association between SSB (sugar sweetened beverages) intake and risk of CHD (nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD) was observed even after accounting for other unhealthy factors53. In over 88,000 women followed for 24 years, those who consumed ≥ 2 SSB per day had a 35% greater risk of developing CHD compared to those who consumed <1 SSB per month"

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/94/2/479.short
    "The present data show potentially harmful effects of low to moderate consumption of SSBs on markers of cardiovascular risk such as LDL particles, fasting glucose, and hs-CRP within just 3 wk in healthy young men"

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10946914?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000,f1000m,isrctn
    Glucose increasing oxidative load.

    The American Heart association states you should get no more than 100 calories for added sugars a day for a woman, and 150 added sugars a day for a man.

    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyEating/Added-Sugars-Add-to-Your-Risk-of-Dying-from-Heart-Disease_UCM_460319_Article.jsp

    LOL, good thing none of the studies you've posted rely on super accurate food recall data, oh wait

    20130124-114258.jpg?w=645

    Post-Hoc.jpg

    6352537484_892f791f9e_z-636x310.jpg

    The test of glucose on oxidative load was done under laboratory conditions. Sugar absolutely does challenge the body in unhealthy ways. Recompers and those who are very active do need more carbs than others, and being active itself protects against many of the impacts of higher sugar consumption, but sugar is not a treatment for heart disease.

    If you wish to ignore the recommendations of health authorities that is your priviledge. I'm just saying, when it comes to sugar and health, when there's that much smoke, there's gotta be a fire somewhere.

    Correlation =/= causation. The smoke in all of the things you posted wasn't from fire.

    The test of glucose on oxidative load and the SSB on cardiovascular factors were both causative studies, not correlation
  • kittenonmars
    kittenonmars Posts: 20 Member
    edited January 2015
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    Pain triggers dopamine release too. Is pain addictive?

    Have you ever met a masochist? The answer is "yes" pain can be addictive ;)
  • dancinginrain
    dancinginrain Posts: 24 Member
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    This was really helpful and inspiring. Thank you. This is instinctively what I feel, trying to walk that middle ground, don't want to cut out all together but just trying to 'budget' and spend my cals wisely 80percent, with 20percent just for taste/what I fancy. Thank you, and good luck with maintaining your new found healthy middle ground xx
  • Charlottesometimes23
    Options
    kyta32 wrote: »
    Serah87 wrote: »
    sugar is a dead end anyway, my cardiologist told me to cut off most sugar as it even damages arteries and now they think it plays a role in heart disease. It ages the skin makes us look older. There is no benefit in refined sugars other than it tastes good., and feeds our emotional needs. Sugar has no nutritional value at all. No vitamins, no minerals nothing.

    False!!!

    I had heart disease and now reverse it eating sugary things!! Explain that!!!!

    If your Dr. is recommending that you eat sugar to reverse heart disease, I would suggest you get another Dr.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2862465/
    "Recently, in the Nurses Health Study, a positive association between SSB (sugar sweetened beverages) intake and risk of CHD (nonfatal myocardial infarction or fatal CHD) was observed even after accounting for other unhealthy factors53. In over 88,000 women followed for 24 years, those who consumed ≥ 2 SSB per day had a 35% greater risk of developing CHD compared to those who consumed <1 SSB per month"

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/94/2/479.short
    "The present data show potentially harmful effects of low to moderate consumption of SSBs on markers of cardiovascular risk such as LDL particles, fasting glucose, and hs-CRP within just 3 wk in healthy young men"

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10946914?dopt=Abstract&holding=f1000,f1000m,isrctn
    Glucose increasing oxidative load.

    Lipids and protein also increases oxidative load.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11916766

    Congrats OP. Very inspiring story!
  • owsmith
    owsmith Posts: 3 Member
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    Yes! I can totally relate to this. I have always had a "sweet tooth" and felt out of control when it came to ice cream, chocolate and other sweets. It took a diagnosis of gestational diabetes for me to start learning about my triggers and how to maintain a healthy diet. Now that my blood sugar is under better control, I don't crave sugar nearly as much. Some of it could be mental, but I really believe that my high blood sugar (then the crash that followed) had a lot to do with my "need" to binge.
    Congrats on your progress and good luck!