Question on Sugars... Help Please

PhoenyxRising

So after my last visit with the doctor, she recommended that I limit my sugar intake as well as watch my cholesterol. With the changes in my diet, the cholesterol part has been super easy, however, I am having trouble with the sugars. MFP says I should limit my sugar to under 31g per day. I know there are differences between natural and refined sugar, so how much attention do I pay to this number. For example, today, I am only halfway through the day, but I am already over by 1g on my sugar. The food items that made up my total are 1 banana and some boiled carrot/cabbage. It doesn't seem to me like those are food I need to avoid, but just putting a few of them in a day seems to keep putting me over on my sugar. Any advice would be great. (Also- FYI- I don't drink soda, not even diet, I avoid sweets, and I don't eat white bread. My drinks consist of water, Crystal Light iced tea, and one cup of coffee a day with Pure Via as sweetener.) Thanks!

yarwell

Presumably the doctor said this for a reason ? You should ask for clarification really, all things that end in -ose are sugars and "refined" sugar becomes fructose and glucose on digestion which is the same as HFCS and indeed the same as "natural" fructose from fruits or glucose from whatever ( ! )

So if you're supposed to be reducing all sugars then the banana isn't a great idea, 14g of sugar and 6g of starch. Not good for a diabetic for instance.

theartichoke

Did she recommend that because you told her you wanted to lose weight or because you had a blood test come back that showed specific trouble?

healthyfoxx

As other people said, you should ask your doctor, not us. Fruit isn't unhealthy, but the sugar in it is still sugar.

PhoenyxRising

She didn't clarify, but I did mention to her about wanting to lose weight. She also did blood work. I believe a CBC and Vitamin D test. So I will talk to her when I see her in two weeks. Thank you all for clarifying. That stinks that I have to limit my fruit intake. I always found them as a low-calorie option to end those "sweet tooth" cravings without turning to cake or cookies. Guess I will try and figure out something else in the meantime.

theartichoke

I'm pre-diabetic and not on insulin. You don't have to limit fruits much, focus on carb totals instead. Usually when Dr.s say limit sugar they mean white sugar. MFP tracks all sugars, not just added. Coke has added sugars, a banana doesn't. If it's grown with it, it's not added. Limit the added sugars and you'll be good. Since I have no idea what's actually going on with your body here is a healthy rule to follow until you can get more specifics *IF you think insulin resistance may be a reason she wants you to watch sugars*. Keep your Net carbs per meal (snacks are necessary if you do this) in the range of 20 to 30 grams per meal. Net carbs are carbs minus fiber. If cereal has 35 grams of carbs and 7 grams of fiber your total carbs are 28. Fruit will fit wonderfully into this. Try to fit a protein in with each meal/snack. Veggies, fruit and whole grains are the perfect source for your carbs. If you're limiting sweets like cake and your sugars are above what MFP has set, ignore it. I have to count every carb I eat to stay off insulin and I'm over every day.