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Anyone else doing a sugar free diet?
Replies
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@147Daneen Good luck on your journey. I plan to follow your blog. I'm very interested in how you are doing with this. I'd love to be able to do it myself!
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I don't see what going "Sugar free" would get me.
And I love ice cream.6 -
RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »I don't see what going "Sugar free" would get me.
And I love ice cream.
One needs a real reason I found to do so. Avoiding a nursing home as long as possible and kids see me dying prematurely enabled me to get off most all Carbs back in 2014. Health recovery is still progressing. Now I wish I had given up sugar at age 23 instead of 63.10 -
While several prior are correct (sugar is not toxic, and the body cannot be "detoxed" outside of it's own existing functions), I am 21 days into a Whole30 right now, which obviously means no added sugars. Only what's existing in whole foods, which is plenty. I'm using it as a personal challenge more than anything else. It's nice to flex the self-control muscle now and again just to shake things up.5
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You can certainly cut out processed foods and eat whatever you want, but (1) almost everything is "processed" to some degree and (2) some form of sugar is in all vegetables and fruit, plus dairy. You would have very little left to eat.
I limit sugar in my diet because I have a medical problem -- and a control problem. It's easier for me to not eat sweets like donuts and candy than try to moderate them (more power to the people who have achieved moderation). If I want something sweet I will eat an apple or some strawberries -- the bulk in the fruit is good for me. However, I am still eating sugar.
This seems like a sensible approach.2 -
Sugar is absolutely toxic.30
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Just like alcohol, coke, etc. Just a question of quantity and frequency. Just look at the number of diabetics and the pounds of sugar consumed.19
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No, it isn't.JimmyfromNYC wrote: »Sugar is absolutely toxic.
Sugar doesn't cause diabetes, either.JimmyfromNYC wrote: »Just like alcohol, coke, etc. Just a question of quantity and frequency. Just look at the number of diabetics and the pounds of sugar consumed.15 -
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Try the Low Carber Daily MFP group for more people who have eliminated most, or all, dietary sugars. They are a great bunch.
I have been largely sugar free for a couple of years. I follow a very low carb diet so I restrict all carbs, which just turn into sugar upon digestion anyways. My daily sugar intake is almost always under 10 g, and often under 5g. I feel better eating this way. My overall health improved a lot. Like Gale, I did not switch until my health was declining, because I had no obvious health issue to treat, but I wish that I had gone low carb decades ago.
I have read that the development of T2D is linked to a higher carb, low fat diet of processed carbs. Spiking blood glucose and insulin is a possible cause of insulin resistance.
Someone earlier mentioned glucose is needed by the brain. It is, but the body can make that glucose. There is no need to ingest it. Plus after one eats low carb for a while, the brain's glucose needs will often be reduced by over half.
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JimmyfromNYC wrote: »Sugar is absolutely toxic.
Then why aren't we all dead???11 -
JimmyfromNYC wrote: »Just like alcohol, coke, etc. Just a question of quantity and frequency. Just look at the number of diabetics and the pounds of sugar consumed.
Wrong again5 -
Then why aren't we all dead???
Most toxins are dose dependent.
Varies between people too.3 -
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Most toxins are dose dependent.
Ok , doesn't make it toxic1 -
Ok , doesn't make it toxic
It varies between people, but glucose toxicity can happen over time.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2738809/1 -
JimmyfromNYC wrote: »Sugar is absolutely toxic.
That would be fatal then, since your body processes ALL carbs to sugar.
Even worse: If you derive your body of sugar (and/or other carbs) your body will start producing sugar itself by decomposing protein.10 -
Detritus_1965 wrote: »
That would be fatal then, since your body processes ALL carbs to sugar.
Even worse: If you derive your body of sugar (and/or other carbs) your body will start producing sugar itself by decomposing protein.
As long as you eat adequate dietary protein, creating a 100g of glucose from proteins and fat is not a bad thing.
Toxic substances are only fatal when a certain level is reached over time. Even water is fatal if you have too much.3 -
JimmyfromNYC wrote: »Sugar is absolutely toxic.
What? How? Post one piece of evidence that sugar is a toxin. Not from a blog or click-bait site, either. Scientifically reputable.
Do you even know the definition of "toxic". Hint: sugar is not it.3 -
It varies between people, but glucose toxicity can happen over time.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2738809/
You can die from water poisoning too; doesn't make water toxic7 -
You can die from water poisoning too; doesn't make water toxic
I think we differ on our understanding of the word toxic:
Definition of toxic
1: containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxic
As long as you eat adequate dietary protein, creating a 100g of glucose from proteins and fat is not a bad thing.
Toxic substances are only fatal when a certain level is reached over time. Even water is fatal if you have too much.8 -
Juliechilli wrote: »I just started today - clean eating. No processed anything, no added sugar etc. Sure I will be miserable soon haha but it's so worth it.
So, not worth it. Being miserable is the best way to set yourself up for failure. Why be miserable? I also avoid added sugar but because it is calorie-dense and nutrient-poor so why waste precious calories on it. I'm not a zealot about it and I'm not making myself miserable.
Among the ingredients in Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire Sauce (a processed food, whatever that means) are molasses and sugar (so it has "added sugar.") Should I leave the Worcestershire out of tonight's supper when it will so clearly make the salmon cakes taste better? No!! Why be miserable?
There's a difference in scale between a 16 oz. Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino and a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce. May I drink the Starbucks while trying to lose weight? Sure, but I'd have to account for 390 calories versus the 5 calories of the Worcestershire sauce.11 -
That sounds like an absolutely dreadful existence. Why would anyone intentionally do this to themselves?
Furthermore, the info NDJ is providing you is entirely relevant. Despite some well known documentaries out there orchestrated by a bunch of colossal idiots looking to make a buck in regards to sugar, there is simply no need to eliminate it entirely. Provided you are mindful of your caloric deficit, you can enjoy a balanced diet consisting of a plentiful variety of foods and ingredients.6 -
JimmyfromNYC wrote: »Sugar is absolutely toxic.
Here, let me help you out with that. Have a read:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3357317/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4078442/1 -
I think we differ on our understanding of the word toxic:
Definition of toxic
1: containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxic
Again, none of this makes sugar toxic. No matter how much you want to believe it.3 -
Again, none of this makes sugar toxic. No matter how much you want to believe it.
If you feel toxic means it is fatal immediately upon consumption, then I suppose I would agree it is not toxic.
I feel it could have toxic results if one overeats it for many years. Cumulative damage over time based upon dosage.
Just denying something (sugar's possible toxicity for some people after years of consuming too much) does not make your denial true. I've yet to see anything written (evidence) that says excessive sugar consumption (I maintain it is dose dependent - like most toxic things) is benign for all people. If you have some evidence of that to share I will read anything you wish to share.8 -
GaleHawkins wrote: »
@147Daneen I left them cold turkey Oct 2014. The first two weeks was hellish after 40 years of abusing carbs but my health is recovering nicely. Wish I had started this WOE long ago and not waiting until I was 63 with health crashings.
It is not something all can do because carb addictions can be really hard to walk away from for many. The funny part for all of these years I did not realize I was an addict.
What is the link to your blog?
There is no such thing as carb addiction.
Or are you admitting that carbs are an essential part of a healthy diet?4 -
There is no such thing as carb addiction.
Or are you admitting that carbs are an essential part of a healthy diet?
I do wish you were not mistaken about how carbs can not be addicting. While medically speaking carbs are not essential for human health they can be good for most if no addiction is involve.8 -
If you feel toxic means it is fatal immediately upon consumption, then I suppose I would agree it is not toxic.
I feel it could have toxic results if one overeats it for many years. Cumulative damage over time based upon dosage.
Just denying something (sugar's possible toxicity for some people after years of consuming too much) does not make your denial true. I've yet to see anything written (evidence) that says excessive sugar consumption (I maintain it is dose dependent - like most toxic things) is benign for all people. If you have some evidence of that to share I will read anything you wish to share.
There is no evidence that it is toxic either.
Your feelings don't negate facts and the fact is that sugar is not toxic.5 -
As far as is possible, I'm avoiding refined sugar. I do have some fruit though and certainly have carbs, mostly rice but some bread too (which I know contains some sugar). My daily sugar intake is currently averaging about 50-60g ,on an intake of approx 2000 calories/day. This is 12-15 teaspoons of sugar a day, for someone trying to minimise it. I do avoid anything sweetened with added sugar. It may not be strictly toxic, but it is definitely not good to consume something that the liver turns immediately into fat, when you are carrying large amounts of fat around already.
If you are nice and svelte, you can consume all the sugar you like as long as you burn it off.
It is completely untrue that your body needs sugar to function, and especially refined sugar added to food. If your body doesn't have glucose available, it makes its own from fat reserves. Certainly if you have no fat reserves sugar consumption in any of its forms probably isn't a problem for you, but people in this position wouldn't be here I'd suggest.
FYI, your brain needs glucose to function (meaning sugar).13
This discussion has been closed.
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