Help me break my sugar addiction.

[blessedmama59]

I hope this is the right place for this. I am addicted to sugar. That is the only thing bad about my diet, otherwise I eat healthy and mostly organic. It's a vicious cycle though, after something savory, I want something sweet. Then once I eat one sweet thing, I want more. Some days I am satisfied with fruit or yogurt, but most it's ice cream, chocolate, baked goods, etc. I know this is the root of my depression, anxiety, and exhaustion, but I honestly don't know how to break it. I think a detox would do me a lot of good, butI don't know what type of detox or if it would be safe while bfing. Please help.

[T-man's Mama]

Yikes, I have the same issue. I look forward to hearing suggestions from any recovering sugar addicts out there!! Seriously. I've tried to give it up at times, but it seems about impossible. After a day (or less) or foregoing sweet treats, I get irritable, moody, restless, and anxious, with terrible cravings. It doesn't help that this addiction is socially acceptable, embraced and even promoted in nearly every food imaginable. Otherwise I eat fairly healthy, organic, fresh, and local. I can only imagine that this must be what it feels like for a nicotine addict quitting smoking...or maybe it is closer to alcoholism. ??

[mellowjello]

This can be caused by gut flora imbalances where "bad" species take over. When your body starts to kill them off, they cry out for more food. Then they grow again, and it is a viscious cycle. A candida diet can really help. Look at SCD or GAPS or BED (but limit fruit, honey, etc). Healing naturally by Bee is a good website for info too.

It really helps to have some probiotic food with every meal and to also take some probiotic alone. A lot of people have good success with S. Boullardi, though some are sensitive to it. Kefir, kombucha, saurkraut, yogurt all can help to curb the cravings.

If you go the diet/probiotic route, be sure to make changes slowly. Too much change at once (stopping all sweet foods cold turkey) can wreak havoc on your system.

If diet is not for you then you can also address gut flora imbalances through other healing modalities. Whatever strengthens your system is going to help.

[Ethelpea]

Both coconut oil (a few tablespoons per day) and dosing with vitamin c whenever a craving hits will help the sugar cravings.

Can't remember where I read about the vitamin c - it was either the Mood Cure or the Diet Cure. Sally Fallon talks about coconut oil to help with cravings.

[leafwood]

another option may be to try and substitute something for the sweet(s). i'm thinking an ice cold glass of water w/ a ton of lemon or iced tea (decaf) w/ mint. i recently went GF and also cut down a ton on sugar and the first day or two were the worst. i was surprised at how fast the cravings left me. to some extent i think it's sheer commitment and will-power just to get over the "hump". chewing xylotol gum may also help.

[LiLStar]

I have ridiculous sweets cravings too. I won't even tell you whats in my oven right now (unless you want me to ) because it would be very unsupportive to post in this kind of thread :X The only time my cravings lessened was when I was drinking green smoothies every morning. I really should get back on that bandwagon. I also added a big spoonful of coconut oil to the smoothies.

[wendyland]

I second healingnaturallybybee.com She has a great candida diet plan and articles. Plus a yahoo forum.

I've also battled sugar addiction. Right now, I'm doing pretty well with it, but I'm not totally sugarfree.

I do best if I slowly wean myself off. I give myself times of the day when I can't have sugar. Like, no sugar until noon. Then, only sugar from noon until 5. Then, only 2 teaspoons in an ice tea per day. Or a small piece of dark chocolate after lunch.

Going slowly makes me feel more in control. When I have quit cold turkey in the past, I'll do good for a couple days and then feel like I'll go insane if I don't have something. Then, I'll end up on a sugar binge.

I'm at the point now where I rarely have cookies or candy bars. I'll just have a little in my tea or a piece of dark chocolate. Most of the time, I don't even want the chocolate. I've had the same box in my cabinet for weeks.

It's taken me probably 2 years of giong back and forth with trying to quit to finally feeling like I'm in control. I think part of what has helped was finding marksdailyapple. I like the appeal of eating like a caveman for some reason.

[blessedmama59]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. It helps to know ppl can relate to how hard this is. I used to smoke years ago (awful, I know) and I think quitting that is almost comparable to trying to quit sugar. That's why I worry bc I know it is wreaking havoc on the balance in my body. I will def check out those diets. I have been adapting TF ways of eating into our diet. I do find that eating protein or fat can help curve the craving. I also have always found that my body craves those types of foods mostly, but it was always easier (and cheaper) to grab a sugary or carb snack rather than prepare a good fat or protein-filled snack. I just bought some coconut oil, now I'm just trying to figure out a way to incorporate it. I do really well if I keep busy or am out and about. I stay home and I LOVE to bake..and I love to eat what I bake even more lol I think it stems from boredom/loneliness too. I just need to get motivated and get past the initial withdraws and I know I will be fine.

[A&A]

Read the book Lick the Sugar Habit

[Dingletwitz]

I'm rolling with you momma. Three days sugar free now and the withdrawals are a little better. I have fought this one for years--always having the excuses, the "if I only had some self-control" talks with myself. Alas, I had to admit, really admit, there could be no place for the stuff in my life. And once I said "I can live without it for life" there was some peace for me. I read up on OA type materials, will be attending a meeting or two this week, and feeling a bit sheepish as I'm a mental health professional and well, I sounded like a heroin addict. No kidding. My hope is that the goodbye from sugar isn't quite as bad as the one will be from smoking, but this seems to be the month of quitting. Keep us posted as to how it's going. Maybe you're one of those who can have a little taste, but maybe your one of us who has a little taste and can't quite handle it from then on.
I found that even the sweeteners that are pure chemical are triggers for me. Same with honey, molasses, sugar cane itself, maple syrup. Also any kind of flour. I realized this when I craved wheat pita bread. Who craves pita, other than a total addict?
Think this: we never ever crave food that is truly good for us (unless of course we are pregnant and cribbing for minerals). Could a whole day go by with nothing but spinach on the mind and late-night sneaks to the market to get a bag and eat up two pounds of it like a machine before anyone knows? No.
We're all gonna be pretty darned healthy soon.