Sugar Cleanse- Help!
hyphenatot
Posts: 6 Member
Hello!
I recently read a study about being addicted to sugar: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0000698 and I have known for weeks my sugar intake is out of control. For two months I visited a developing country where sugar was in EVERYthing- you couldn't avoid it. Now that I have returned stateside, my typically healthy diet has gone haywire. I am really struggling to quit the sugar. For example, I used to ALWAYS drink my coffee black, now I opt for sweetened almond milk.
I plan to do South Beach Phase 1 for two weeks as a sugar cleanse, but I am scared. I already am having cravings and its only 10AM! Any advice/recommendations for sugar cleansing?
PS. I am a lactose-free vegetarian: so low-carb is a challenge!
I recently read a study about being addicted to sugar: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0000698 and I have known for weeks my sugar intake is out of control. For two months I visited a developing country where sugar was in EVERYthing- you couldn't avoid it. Now that I have returned stateside, my typically healthy diet has gone haywire. I am really struggling to quit the sugar. For example, I used to ALWAYS drink my coffee black, now I opt for sweetened almond milk.
I plan to do South Beach Phase 1 for two weeks as a sugar cleanse, but I am scared. I already am having cravings and its only 10AM! Any advice/recommendations for sugar cleansing?
PS. I am a lactose-free vegetarian: so low-carb is a challenge!
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Replies
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Lolz. Sugar detox.0
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Seriously? There is no need to do any type of cleanse. Your body is efficient at cleansing itself all on its own.0
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If you want to eat less sugar just put less in your mouth. Sorted.0
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Sugar addiction isn't real, compulsive eating is.
I might make that a bumper sticker, since a new thread about this same crap comes up every day.0 -
My advice on a sugar "cleanse " is it doesn't exist.
I'm going with OP meaning sugar as in added sugar and desserts and that sort, not all sugar because you'd pretty much starve to death since there's sugar in most of the food.0 -
Granulated sugar is great in some body scrubs...
As far as a detox? Nope, doesn't exist.0 -
Rat study findings for humans when it comes to stuff like this are at best, considered preliminary.
You remember all the scare about aspartame? Yeah, rodents react differently than humans do to it, as it turns out.
So the whole idea of addiction and sugar?
Step away from that. There are more recent studies and papers stating that addiction to sugar hasn't been proven.
That's the first step in getting over it. Realize that you're the boss, not sugar.
If you don't want to eat sugar, just don't.0 -
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Addiction isn't the same a enjoying hyperpalatable foods. You body needs glucose/glycogen to function. It doesn't however need it in excessive amounts.
You don't have to "quit" sugar. Just reduce the amount you consume.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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every one likes sweet things. just don't eat it anymore or reduce the amount. i have to admit, the cravings were pretty bad at first because it was the habit of eating it daily that was the issue, not an actual addition. one that habit was broken (takes about 1 week or so), i was fine.0
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According to quite a few studies, sugar can be just as addictive as cocain as they stimulate the same area of the brain. As someone who's also suffered from sugar addiction, you just have to get it out of the house and have to say no every single time. Just constantly have the willpower to say no. Of course you need a little bit of sugar in your diet so opt for fruit instead of refined sugars.
Hope you kick your addiction, good luck!0 -
1000colours wrote: »According to quite a few studies, sugar can be just as addictive as cocain as they stimulate the same area of the brain. As someone who's also suffered from sugar addiction, you just have to get it out of the house and have to say no every single time. Just constantly have the willpower to say no. Of course you need a little bit of sugar in your diet so opt for fruit instead of refined sugars.
Hope you kick your addiction, good luck!
Can you post said studies?0 -
Addiction isn't the same a enjoying hyperpalatable foods. You body needs glucose/glycogen to function. It doesn't however need it in excessive amounts.
You don't have to "quit" sugar. Just reduce the amount you consume.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
The PT and nutritionist is correct. Sugar is in fruit - my take on it is don't eat any added sugars from processed sources - substitute fruit for anything you would crave (like candy) and that will help you get through the "DTs" of sugar cravings.
Elimination is key - eliminate processed foods and get down to the whole foods level - then build back up - only through the process of elimination will you find which foods are really causing the issue.0 -
So this.Addiction isn't the same a enjoying hyperpalatable foods. You body needs glucose/glycogen to function. It doesn't however need it in excessive amounts.
You don't have to "quit" sugar. Just reduce the amount you consume.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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For the second time today, I highly recommend the Haribo Sugarless Gummy Bear Detox/Cleanse. Affordable and delicious. And you'll never crave sweets again.0
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tedboosalis7 wrote: »Addiction isn't the same a enjoying hyperpalatable foods. You body needs glucose/glycogen to function. It doesn't however need it in excessive amounts.
You don't have to "quit" sugar. Just reduce the amount you consume.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
The PT and nutritionist is correct. Sugar is in fruit - my take on it is don't eat any added sugars from processed sources - substitute fruit for anything you would crave (like candy) and that will help you get through the "DTs" of sugar cravings.
Elimination is key - eliminate processed foods and get down to the whole foods level - then build back up - only through the process of elimination will you find which foods are really causing the issue.
What's the difference between the sugar in fruit and the sugar in processed foods? What if the fruit is canned? That makes it processed, right?
Also, for many people, substituting a craving with something not even remotely similar doesn't actually soothe that craving. Why not just eat smaller portions?0 -
snickerscharlie wrote: »For the second time today, I highly recommend the Haribo Sugarless Gummy Bear Detox/Cleanse. Affordable and delicious. And you'll never crave sweets again.
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snickerscharlie wrote: »For the second time today, I highly recommend the Haribo Sugarless Gummy Bear Detox/Cleanse. Affordable and delicious. And you'll never crave sweets again.
Lmao, they're super good for 'cleansing' your body of dangerous toxins!!!0 -
I believe sugar addiction is real -- at least it is for ME. The withdrawal from it is real -- for ME. And sounds like it is the same for you. However, I do agree that you do not need any sort of "cleanse." Nor would I advocate South Beach or trying to eliminate ALL sugar from your diet. Cannot be done in a healthy way, because, as others have pointed out, natural sugars occur everywhere. Instead, focus on eliminating ADDED sugars as much as possible. Read labels and choose foods with the fewest sugar grams (usually indicates added sugars). Eat fruit (not too much! 1-3 pieces a day) to help satisfy your sugar cravings. Also, what sometimes helps is a small handful of almonds, but only once a day as they are high calorie. Don't know why they reduce sugar cravings but they usually work for me. Also, try allowing yourself 1oz of plain dark chocolate (65% cacao or more) once a day. Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and it may help you "wean" yourself off added sugars while giving your body a bit to help with the cravings and withdrawals. Has worked for me. Good luck!0
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1000colours wrote: »According to quite a few studies, sugar can be just as addictive as cocain as they stimulate the same area of the brain. As someone who's also suffered from sugar addiction, you just have to get it out of the house and have to say no every single time. Just constantly have the willpower to say no. Of course you need a little bit of sugar in your diet so opt for fruit instead of refined sugars.
Hope you kick your addiction, good luck!
And eating chocolate stimulates the same area of the brain as sex, but I can assure you they have quite different drives to them.
Just because two things light up the same areas of the brain DOSENT mean that they are reacting the same, it just means they are reacting *in the same place*.
Furthermore, sugar is actually pretty neccessiary to the body. We run primarily off of glucose, though we don't always need as much as we take in
Even so, if a law passed tomorrow outlawing all added sugar, I'm pretty sure withdrawal symptoms would not be those of a cocaine addict leaving the stuff.
As for the OP, if you feel addicted to sugar, you are probably really "addicted0 -
I believe sugar addiction is real -- at least it is for ME. The withdrawal from it is real -- for ME. And sounds like it is the same for you. However, I do agree that you do not need any sort of "cleanse." Nor would I advocate South Beach or trying to eliminate ALL sugar from your diet. Cannot be done in a healthy way, because, as others have pointed out, natural sugars occur everywhere. Instead, focus on eliminating ADDED sugars as much as possible. Read labels and choose foods with the fewest sugar grams (usually indicates added sugars). Eat fruit (not too much! 1-3 pieces a day) to help satisfy your sugar cravings. Also, what sometimes helps is a small handful of almonds, but only once a day as they are high calorie. Don't know why they reduce sugar cravings but they usually work for me. Also, try allowing yourself 1oz of plain dark chocolate (65% cacao or more) once a day. Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and it may help you "wean" yourself off added sugars while giving your body a bit to help with the cravings and withdrawals. Has worked for me. Good luck!
If you are seriously experiencing detox and whatnot from sugar, I would suggest you seek out medical attention to deal with the addiction, and perhaps rehab would be a proper course.0 -
IsaackGMOON wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »For the second time today, I highly recommend the Haribo Sugarless Gummy Bear Detox/Cleanse. Affordable and delicious. And you'll never crave sweets again.
Lmao, they're super good for 'cleansing' your body of dangerous toxins!!!
Some participants claim to have lost up to a lb an hour on this cleanse. Bonus!0 -
Medical rehab for sugar? Hahahahahaha. Does not exist.0
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Sugar is obtained naturally through carbohydrates. Our cells convert the sugar glucose into energy. Not protein, not fat.. Sugar into energy. Artificial and processed sugars should be restricted in a diet, but please don't imply that you wont eat foods like fruit anymore because of their sugar content!
Of course if youre diabetic, sugar intake should be under supervision, but if not our bodies are efficient at regulating any excess.0 -
People with so-called "sugar addiction" really ought to spend some time on a detox unit. For drug and alcohol addicts.0
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Seems as if there might be...
http://www.rehabs.com/addicted-to-sugar-theres-a-rehab-for-that/
Malibu Vista...a rehab for women and addictions...covers sugar addiction.
Idk...
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This discussion has been closed.
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