No Sugar

[cheesedip1]

I am considerng cutting sugar out of my diet. Also cutting out as much flour as possible would help. (The white refined kind, not the natural sugar from fruit etc. )

Some people say you can get healthier sugar at health food stores. I agree, but it's still probably bad for you, the only difference is, it's a little better for you, and I'm not even sure if THAT'S true or not.

I am considering shifting to a 100 percent raw food diet but for now, I have to take baby steps. I'm just not ready. If I try to change too much too fast, it will probably fail. Lately, I've been eating more raw fruits and some vegetables. I might still have some tofu, but not a whole lot of grains. Apples taste really good if you need water, btw

[GregD]

don't do anything drastic like going from one type of diet to a totally different one (without sugar) from one day to another because this is very difficult for the body to handle.

the body is very good at adjusting over time, so if you want to get healthier just slowly introduce healthier foods that you do like and phase out the junk.

if you do it slow your body will not start a revolution against you. the body's tools are increase in cravings, apetite, stomach ache, etc. you WILL loose the battle if you fight against it

[cheesedip1]

Indeed.

[SireneB]

Have to say, I've tried the "no sugar" thing and not been able to do it for longer than a week. But then, I work in an office where folks bring all kinds of treats in and some folks know I can be bribed with chocolate, sigh ...

[Lisa McGregor]

Xylitol is a good substitute for sugar in tea and coffee. Don't know how good it is for large quantities. It's a sugar alchohol and metabolises differently to sugar.

Xylitol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Very good idea dropping sugar and white flour from your diet. It's been very beneficial for me.

L

[Clint Cora]

It's possible to shift your own tastebuds over time. I don't use any table sugar of any kind. I've gotten use to very little sweet tasting food and now whenever I'm out and eat the odd food which is sweet, it really hits me. The food probably tastes too sweet for me when most people will find that it's just average sweet.

[missbhaven]

Just remember that sugar is also highly addictive. Treat your elimination of it like you would a rehab session.
You can experience mood swings and other detoxification properties (I had the worst pimples, rashes and even bad breath. I wanted mints soo bad.).
The advice to slowly decrease your amounts overtime is the best advice.

I had to give up over 90% of carbohydrate sources for health reasons. After much frustrations of gradual reductions (being a pastry chef, my work environment didn't help), I adopted a all of nothing attitude and went cold turkey. I can honestly say I have the most love and respect for my boyfriend because he dealt with me when I was possibly the worst person I have ever been (and hope to be) in my life.
My mom's co-worker gave it up for lent and she ended up going to the doctor because of the changes in her body and moods.

It would also be a good idea to establish a good support group to help you through the time.

[cheesedip1]

Yeah. I think the key thing is, is to avoid the thing you are trying to avoid at all costs. When I was in my dorm, the only thing i had in my fridge was fruit and vegetables, so I had no choice but to eat them.

When I got home however....well....there's more temptation there because of my family and sweets etc, blah blah blah.

[IvyW]

raw food is the way to go! good luck.

[missbhaven]

Also, I just wanted to point out, most raw chefs online I've read are not 100%
It often is due to social obligations and moods, but for newcomers it also includes time constraints and convenience.

Many of the raw food items you may have to make yourself. Since dehydration can take many hours and nuts often have to be soaked overnight, planning is essential. I highly recommend planning your meals bi-monthly or weekly and having 2 big blocks of time a week dedicated to just prep work. That way you can get meals made in 30 min or less.

Also, come winter sometimes you just want a nice hot soup.

This cookbook may help you
All the books on this site are on my wishlist. When I did my 30 day raw food challenge, I found her free online recipes were simply the best (this is also out of the 20+ books obtained from the library). It also helped that I ate with my eyes first, I don't get as motivated to try a recipe in a recipe book without individual pics.

[Razia]

You are on right track of avoiding sugar but don't totally avoid it even body needs some os sugar to maintain energy level.

[Marger]

The body does not need any refined sugar. The body (especially the brain) needs glucose, which the body can acquire from complex, unrefined carbohydrates.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Clint Cora

It's possible to shift your own tastebuds over time. I don't use any table sugar of any kind. I've gotten use to very little sweet tasting food and now whenever I'm out and eat the odd food which is sweet, it really hits me. The food probably tastes too sweet for me when most people will find that it's just average sweet.

Absolutely. I haven't sweetened my tea in 10 years. I recently started drinking my coffee black instead of sweetened. It took a few weeks to get used to, but now it's perfectly fine.

I do bake sweets, cakes and cookies, but with very reduced sugar content (as much as I can without screwing up the texture or rising/baking process, really). I find conventional baked good sickening, now. Give me a tart fruit pie over icing any day.

[Criseyde]

I've been cutting my sugar intake down for the last two years. I'm now at or very close to no sugar (except in fruit, but a lot of fruits taste REALLY sweet to me now!). Yes, it has taken this long. Cold turkey didn't work for me.

I suggest not using a replacement sweetener because "sweet" is an addictive taste. Other sweeteners always made me crave sugar.

[coffegirl]

I think it is a good idea to avoid sugar,because it is quite addictive and it causes episodes of binge eating.
You can get glucose from wholemeal products and fruits.
Cutting sugar out of your diet would make a good 30-day trial,wouldn´t it?
I encourage you to write a food journal,so you can check what you eat.
But be prepared for sugar cravings.Stand firm or choose an apple instead.

[firenexx]

Fruit tastes a lot better when you don't eat sugar and salt all the time.

[waterfast]

Originally Posted by GregD

don't do anything drastic like going from one type of diet to a totally different one (without sugar) from one day to another because this is very difficult for the body to handle.

the body is very good at adjusting over time, so if you want to get healthier just slowly introduce healthier foods that you do like and phase out the junk.

if you do it slow your body will not start a revolution against you. the body's tools are increase in cravings, apetite, stomach ache, etc. you WILL loose the battle if you fight against it

I say you Quit Cold Turkey, on eating anymore Turkey.

As well as everything else that is not of a pure Vegan Lifestyle.

[waterfast]

The healthiest sugar is Fruit Sugar.

For example, pomegranates have been discovered to be good for diabetics, because their fructose molecules are attached to anti-oxidant/plant hormones that function as insulin..!

This allows the anti-oxidant/plaint hormone to function as a sugar delivery mechanism directly into the body cells and give your pancreas a rest.

This is naturally ideal for diabetics with low insulin levels as it will allow them to cure their diabetes over time.

[waterfast]

Originally Posted by karisnasing

How many grams of sugar should you consume per day?

I have a theory that it depends on the quality of the sugar.

Since Raw fruit sugar is more readily absorbed and burned by the body, it is less likely to get converted into body fat..

Where as sugar spikes caused by refined white sugar, are more likely to get converted into fat.

In this way, even if you consumed the same amount of Grams worth as you did from Fruit, it would be worse from Refined Sugar.


For example, sugar in pomegranates is attached to anti-oxidant/plant hormone molecules that mimic insulin, which would allow the pomegranate's fruit sugar to freely circulate in the blood until it could be burned as a carbohydrate.

This could not be the case with White Refined Sugar, since it is isolated, would cause a sugar spike and the excess sugar would immediately begin the process of conversion into body fat.