Sugar detox question - how to wean?

[Sasharna]

I need to get off sugar but when I go cold turkey my symptoms are pretty tough. Breastfeeding makes it harder, too. I get the shakes, nausea, excessive sweating, cloudy thinking, extreme irritability, etc.

So... what's a good way to wean myself off of sugar and minimize the withdrawal symptoms? Would it work to just eat a spoonful of honey whenever I start to feel ill? Any success stories?

I'm already eating grains infrequently, so it's no trouble to cut those out completely again.

[cristeen]

How much sugar are you currently eating that you're having such severe withdrawal symptoms? And how long does it take for them to start manifesting? How often are you eating when you try this (usually during detox I can't go more than 2-3 hours without food)?

Usually for sugar detox, the recommendation is to increase protein and fat intake to fuel your body during the detox - giving it more sugar is only going to draw it out. But without knowing the specifics of how and why you're reacting so strongly, I'd suspect you have something else going on... have you consulted with a doctor about this reaction?

[lil_earthmomma]

While I haven't ever had to detox off of sugar, I have cut most refined sugar out of my diet. When I get the shakes from having low blood sugar, protein/fruit combo works fastest and best for me. Peanut butter banana or apple, berry smoothie, yogurt parfait... etc.

[Sasharna]

I don't think it's that I've got a very large amount of sugar in my diet currently, but I have a type of dysautonomia and I think that may be why my body overreacts to what I put in it (or when I make changes from the usual). A single cup of coffee can send me off with jitters, racing thoughts, and palpitations, for example... as if I'd had a whole pot or two. Lots of foods have equally dramatic effects with me and it gets worse the older I get.

I talked briefly with my doctor about it and he didn't seem concerned but didn't have an explanation either. I'm not diabetic or prediabetic.

Maybe I should just time it so that I'm starting out on the days when DP works from home, so he can help with the kids when I start to feel icky.

[Sasharna]

Just figured I'd update, since the view count on this thread seems to indicate some interest. I've been using this advice for hypoglycemia for the past few days. So far, so good! I am feeling much better and eating well, outside of the sugar consumed to get myself back afloat. I will update again later on to let you know if I'm successful in eliminating these episodes once I'm eating completely paleo.

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by Sasharna

Just figured I'd update, since the view count on this thread seems to indicate some interest. I've been using this advice for hypoglycemia for the past few days. So far, so good! I am feeling much better and eating well, outside of the sugar consumed to get myself back afloat. I will update again later on to let you know if I'm successful in eliminating these episodes once I'm eating completely paleo.