I’ve been feeling exceptionally well lately. In fact, I’ve had more energy and felt better than I have for many years. It’s been really exciting, and I want to share some of the things that I have been doing that have helped me feel this way soon. But I think I got a little over confident. At the Fourth of July party I was at, I over indulged in some gluten and dairy free but sugar rich cupcakes that a dear friend had brought.
I hadn’t eaten a refined sugar dessert in a while, and it was sooo sweet and quite good. And it was fun to munch on one (and then later, another) while talking to friends. We stayed late into the night and huge bowls of popcorn with a light sugar glaze were put out. We laughed, we talked, we got caught up with family and friends…..and we munched.
When I finally went to sleep that night in the wee hours of the morning, I was quite happy and content after a wonderful day. The next day I got sick with a bad case of mastitis. I am prone to them if I am not careful. I have been able to avoid them for the most time, this baby around. One time I got a slight one, but was able to stave off anything worse. Until last week. And I got quite sick. Between all of the extra sugar and the lack of sleep, my body wasn’t able to have the proper immune response to prevent the infection. As I lay in pain and feverish on my bed, I told my husband, “Don’t EVER let me eat sugar again!”. I couldn’t remember why in the world sugar was ever even appealing to me. Of course, not much is appealing when you have a high temperature and are in pain.
But in brought something home to me. In my case, with a propensity to get mastitis if I let my immune system get run down, the consequences of eating sugar were quickly apparent. But how often is sugar a “silent killer” so to speak? We don’t always fall ill every time we put sugar in our mouth (thank goodness), but its effects on our immune system are still there regardless.
I was flipping through my copy of Nourishing Traditions today and found a few quotes from the book Sugar Blues by William Dufty.
” Refined sugar is lethal when ingested by humans because it provides only that which nutritionists describe as empty or naked calories. In addition, sugar is worse than nothing because it drains and leeches the body of precious vitamin and minerals through the demands its digestion, detoxification, and elimination make upon one’s entire system. So essential is balance to our bodies that we have many ways to provide against the sudden shock of a heavy intake of sugar. Minerals, such as sodium (from salt, potassium and magnesium (from vegetables) and calcium (from the bones) are mobilized and used in chemical transmutation; neutralizing acids are produced which attempt to return the acid-alkaline balance factor of the blood to a more normal state. Sugar taken every day produces a continuously overacid condition and more and more minerals are required from deep in the body in the attempt to rectify the imbalance. Finally, in order to protect the blood, so much calcium is taken from the bones and teeth that decay and general weakening begin.”
That would be one way of putting, “Sugar is not good for you.” Though, he wrote a whole book on the topic, so there is definitely more than one way to say it! I’ve read somewhere (maybe one of my readers can help me out here), that the effects of sugar on your immune system last for a long time, even after your blood sugar has returned to normal.
Back to my story. I am finally feeling today almost back to normal. I was most sick for two days, but it’s taken a bit to really fully recover. And I will need to be careful for the next week to continue to build up my immune system so I don’t relapse. Was it worth a cupcake or two? I think not. Especially when I have so many sweet treats I can make that don’t have such devastating effects on my week! I will certainly rethink chowing down at the next party I am attending!
How about you? Have you noticed sugar’s effect on your immune system?
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Shawn
I think you meant to say Sugar is not good for you, in the 2nd to last paragraph. I would really like to give no sugar a try, other than fruit. I try to avoid white sugar all together currently, do you find honey, etc to cause similar troubles? Avoiding sugar 100% is actually quite difficult if eating just about any packaged food at all, its in darn near everything. I have also read, I believe in a Hippocrates Health Institute book, that sugar is more addictive than cocaine.
Magda
I haven’t had any sugar in over 5 months since going on GAPS. I do occasionally have GAPS-illegal things like ketchup or ham that have sugar in them but have 0g per serving (I feel it’s okay for me). So I honestly don’t know. Right now all I use is honey and it’s plenty enough for me. I also use ripe fruit as my dessert. After GAPS I hope to use maple syrup (love the taste) and some sort of dry sweetener (maybe date or coconut sugar) to be able to bake some items again. Rapadura is a question mark at this point. Definitely no more sugar for me! Glad you’re feeling better.
Shawn
I think you meant to say Sugar is not good for you, in the 2nd to last paragraph.
I would really like to give no sugar a try, other than fruit. I try to avoid white sugar all together currently, do you find honey, etc to cause similar troubles? Avoiding sugar 100% is actually quite difficult if eating just about any packaged food at all, its in darn near everything. I have also read, I believe in a Hippocrates Health Institute book, that sugar is more addictive than cocaine.
Kurt
An interesting story, though I hope you don’t mind me pointing out that you wrote “That would be one way of putting, ‘Sugar is good for you.'” I think you meant to say “Sugar is not good for you.” 🙂
I haven’t completely given up sugar yet, but I’ve made a lot of progress. I rarely use any sort of sugar in cooking any more, and when I do I usually use something like rapadura or sucanat or coconut sugar (as I did this weekend when I made some sourdough muffins). I am also careful to avoid most foods with added sugar on a daily basis, though I do allow myself a small piece of dark chocolate most days; also, I let myself eat refined starches and sugary foods when I go out for a meal, which I do more than I should, but less than I used to do.
KimiHarris
Thanks Kurt and Shawn. I fixed that mistake now. LOL
reb
it’s interesting that you link sugar to mastitis as i’m also prone to clogged ducts. since i started on traditional foods, i can definitely see a difference in that not every single clogged duct leads to mastitis (as it used to), but it has happened a few times. i’m going to pay attention now and see if it’s a time when i’ve had any type of sugar as i don’t eat a whole lot of refined sugar at all any more.
Janelle
I hate to say this on a real food blog but it is worth mentioning that not everyone reacts the same to food. I have an addiction to sugar and have had a can of a soda (I try to buy the stuff with real sugar) pretty much everyday, I give it up every so often but then if I don’t have that I will have ice cream or something else. I don’t get sick very often and the only time I have ever gotten mastitis (still nursing my 2.5 yr old) is in the oversupply days when I was living on cereal and not eating anything good. I have gotten sick in the last year but it didn’t last very long and I could probably attribute it to other things besides sugar. I think stress more than anything causes illness, and for some people a large amount of the white stuff especially if its a shock to their system will send them over the edge. There are people who eat a lot of bad food and don’t get sick how does one explain this? Everyone’s circumstances are different and I think to make people feel horribly guilty for having more than a sweet a day is doing more harm than good, and personally the days when I would beat myself up over it are the days I felt the worst. Just thought I’d give a different perspective. I will say that white flour may even be worse because of all that gluten. I’d rather have a can of soda to keep myself gluten-free than never have anything sweet.
KimiHarris
Hi Janelle,
I think that you can certainly be so robust and healthy that having some sugar here or there isn’t going to bother you. I couldn’t with good conscience recommend that someone consume pop everyday, but I am certainly not trying to put a put a terrible guilt trip on people.
As far as what I think generally about high sugar content in food, it’s not that I think that a little bit of white sugar here and there is going to be that big of a deal in the big picture (especially if it’s organic as a lot of sugar is GM now ). However, pop does contain a very high amount of sweetener. You may not be catching colds or getting mastitis, but it certainly could be having other effects.
But all of us have to decide for ourselves what we allow ourselves. I feel no judgment towards those who eat differently than me. Many of my extended family eat quite different, and that’s okay!
Cory
Janelle – You’re not the only real foody out there who still indulges in some daily sugar. I used to feel guilty about it too, but then a friend of mine mentioned that using sugar to raise a crashed blood sugar level may be a valid use of the stuff. That is often how I use it – followed not too shortly by something with a little more fat and nutrition to balance out the shock to my system. But in my case, if my body is already under extreme stress from a bottoming-out blood sugar level, I think it’s better to raise that and relieve the stress than try eating “good for me” things that will just leave me feeling sick – because I lack the energy to even metabolize food at that point. (yes I know I should eat more snacks)
Personally, I think limiting sugar in the diet is a very good thing. But unlike many people who find themselves eating nourishing foods, I haven’t had to battle the infections and yeast etc. that so many here write about (thank God). If I had, I might have a different approach. Good genes? Good start in life? Young yet? Who knows. But I think it’s all a matter of knowing your own body and what you need.
Joelle
Hi! I had something very similar happen to me, but it didn’t wait until the next day. I was so excited someone else had made something I could eat, that I kind just ignored the sugar part, and within minutes I could feel my usual effects, and within an hour I became cold and kinda shaky, by the time I got home within 3 hours, I felt like I had the flu. I took my little remedies and really hot shower and went to bed with extra warmth. Within 2 more hours, my fever broke, and by morning I was a new girl.
From what I understand, your body does not become addicted to cocaine – you do not have physical withdrawl symptoms, but rather it’s a mental thing – you like the “jonesing” part of it.
Dani
I went for several months last fall and winter with no concentrated sugars (even dried fruits) because I was trying to combat yeast infections. I was able to gradually add in more naturally sweetened things in moderation. It was the first winter of my adult life that I did not require rounds of antibiotics from every cold turning into a sinus infection. In fact, the only cold I had was really wimpy. I also have had only one migraine in the past year, which is some sort of record for me, and had no serious arthritis flares during the time my diet was so restrictive. I’m finding that now I can indulge moderately on occasion without serious problems, but then I start to crave sugar again.
Kristina
I usually very good with controlling sugar intake and starches, but this busy week with 4th of July and a bday party and a festival was full of breads and sugar. Yech. I feel physically not great, I feel emotional and a lil’ depressed for no good reason. No more! I need to get rebalanced too.
Kristina
I’m usually very good with controlling sugar intake and starches, but this busy week with 4th of July and a bday party and a festival was full of breads and sugar. Yech. I feel physically not great, I feel emotional and a lil’ depressed for no good reason. No more! I need to get rebalanced too.
Jennifer
I have my own story from about a month ago. I have long known that sugar and I don’t get along, and had kept it at a minimum. 4 months ago, I did a full elimination diet which completely detoxed my system. About a month ago, I started having dark chocolate (85%) again and started feeling the subtle highs and lows that had been absent for so long. But, I continued on, convincing myself I was healed from this and was just tired from lack of sleep. Then, I had some “good sugar” in the form of coconut crystals in one of Elena’s pantry protein bar recipies and that’s when all hell broke loose. I simply could not get enough of it. I seriously felt crazy to have more of it and finished the whole pan in two days. I felt completely out of control, something that was so distinct as I had not experienced that for at least 4 months. I literally felt insane and when the “crash” came it got even worse. I was so angry because my computer wasn’t downloading fast enough and the next thing I knew, I was throwing it on the floor and slamming doors. I actually thought to myself in the middle of it, that this must be what alchololic rage refers to…I had no control whatsover. I was scared for myself. Now I have a broken computer and a heavy realization that the GAPS diet is in my very near future. Apparently I have some further healing to do. 🙁
To the person that says it affects people differently and that she doesn’t notice effects or side issues: I will say that while not everyone has the extremes like some of us do, I am willing to bet it is having some detrimental effect on you. I never had any clue whatsover that sugar had an effect on my body until I started minimizing it doing the south beach diet years ago. If you’re having a daily dose, especially in highly refined form, you’re just keeping the high going. You can’t completely tell what it does to you until it’s out of your system for a least a month or two. And, it’s likely that when you give it up, you will get sick as a dog as this usually stimulates a healing crisis. Happens all the time. “My family always used to make fun of me….look how healthy you eat and now you’re sick! I’m certainly not going to eat healthy!” Can’t win at all, but in the long run, it’s for the best. Sugar has no benefits to us at all!
Rebekah
Yep, I just feel gross when I have a lot of sugar! Tired, weight in my stomach, “down” emotionally (as Kristina mentioned). I like dessert, and I do eat it, but not as much as I used to by a long shot– just enough to satisfy my desire for something sweet. Usually once a week. And when I do, I limit it to what I know I can handle, and try to avoid the especially harmful refined sweeteners.
Nikki
I’ve been having little white bumps pop up on either side of my tongue after cane sugar these days…. Coconut sugar seems to be doing a bit better… what are you using as sweetener right now?
Amy
Regarding sugar’s effect on the immune system, I have read in numerous places that it weakens your immune system for anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. I’m pretty sure that one of those places was on Dr. Mercola’s website, and I’m also pretty sure I have read that in a Weston Price related post. I’m sorry I can’t nail it down better than that, but I do know it to be true. We do not eat much refined sugar, but I can always tell when we do because the kids tend to get stuffy noses and if it’s winter they will get a big cold.
Sugar also feeds cancer cells, so that is something else to keep in mind when considering one’s sugar intake.
For those who have some type of refined sugar every day without any ill effects at present, just a reminder that long term use is where most people will start to experience issues. The young and generally healthy people tend to think, “Not me, I’m ok” but as they hit their late 30’s and move into their 40’s things start to show up. The effects of long term refined sugar consumption will show up, it is just a matter of when.
Jean
*sigh* Thanks for the reminder about what a nutrient-sucker sugar is.
I’m pregnant with my 2nd and feel depleted and taxed. I felt so much better the last pregnancy, even though I was fighting yeast and not eating ANY SUGAR at all. This time around I have no yeast and that’s tempted me to put whatever is convenient into my mouth, just to get by and stop the nausea or keep me from losing too much energy. But now I notice I’ve got restless legs, lots of fatigue, and plenty of nausea lasting well into the 2nd trimester. I suspect I am completing depleting my mineral/vitamin stores and not putting back into myself what the baby is taking also.
tsk tsk tsk! And to think, I am planning on nursing for a year or two once the baby comes…that takes a lot from the body, too! (I don’t even want to think about mastitis and plugged ducts, as I’m prone to them, too…but I know I must think about it NOW if I am to prevent them in the future)
Anyway, thanks, Kimi, for sharing your struggles and encouraging us to think about the kinds of consequences our food choices will have! I am going to get more serious about nourishing foods starting today. 🙂
Lucy
Thanks for those timely words. They are confirming what I had suspected about my own sugar response (even traditional sweeteners), but that I hadn’t really wanted to accept as reality! Time to “man-up” and act on what I know to be right. Thanks again for the encouraging words! Time is too precious to be laid up sick of our own doing!
Anne Marie
Kimi, I so understand about the sugar issue. Every holiday my family takes a “dump” as I call it. We have symptoms (depending on the person) from migraines, allergy problems, hyperactivity/behavioral problems, sinusitis, ear infections, bronchitis, asthma, acne and bowel issues for 2-3 weeks. I myself have learned to simply said, “no thanks”. The hard thing for me is teaching the young ones that processed foods and refined sugar (even though it tastes so good) is not good for them. When we’re out, I try to set the example and help the kids make wise choices (explaining what is in foods–which may or may not be the same as I make at home) and reminding them of the feelings they feel when they eat it. Is refined sugar worth it? Not for us. Even natural sugars (like honey, maple syrup, agave and rapadura) we watch the intact. If I do, we all stay healthy.
Kimi, thanks for the encouragement. It’s reassuring to know that we aren’t the only ones out there. May you remember your lesson and find the strength to say “no thanks” in the future.
Stephanie
Love this post. Such a good reminder in a world of extremes. Good to stay away from toxic sugar and find balance and healing in other areas of life. I do love a treat though, I have lately been enjoying stevia more and more. Thanks for the post.
Ricki
I’d say I’m a living example of how sugar can mess with one’s body–I’ve been refined-sugar free for over 12 years, but really had to kick into high gear a couple of years ago when I began an anti-candida diet after I “fell off the wagon.” When I was in nutrition school, we learned that the immune-suppressing effects of sugar can last up to 6 hours. Scary stuff!
Lori @ Laurel of Leaves
I’ve definitely said those words before–“I’m never eating sugar again!”
About 3 years ago my husband and I radically changed our diet, eliminating heaps of sugar and processed food. Almost magically, all those aches and pains in my body (that 4 different doctors & specialists couldn’t fix) just disappeared! But they do creep back in if I have too many sugary ‘vacation meals.’
We are currently traveling in New Zealand staying with host families. One of our first hosts did eat lots of veggies and healthy food, but they kept offering us home baked cookies and ice creams from the store. Since we were sort of on vacation and didn’t want to offend our host, we continued to accept them and eat them (even when we didn’t consider some of it ‘worth’ it. Fake food doesn’t even taste good to us anymore!)
At any rate, I woke up one morning horribly sick! It had been years since I was that laid up. I laid on their couch and wailed about how I was never going to eat all that sugar again!
Rachel Behr
Refined sugar definitely has a negative effect on my system. I have had PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) since I was in high school. I didn’t find out until I was in my mid-twenties that because of PCOS I was more prone to becoming diabetic at an early age. It was then that I began to change my diet. It has been a gradual process that has been ongoing for about 10 years. At one point because of a pinched nerve and other problems that I’ve not completely figured out yet, I was only able to eat fruits, vegetables, and buckwheat pancakes (strange, I know). It was difficult, but I now actually see it as a blessing because that time in our lives was the tool that God used to help to break my body of the addiction to sugar so as to help prevent me from becoming diabetic. So now when I eat refined sugar and even ‘raw’ sugar and even many times liquid forms of sweetener like agave, maple syrup, and even honey, along with white potatoes, I can immediately feel the effects of it on my system. It feels as though the blood in my veins has turned into thick molasses and I become extremely tired (and sometimes even a bit loopy) for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then for the next couple of days, my system is definitely depressed which can exemplify itself with tiredness, irritability, and many times constipation. The only sweetener that I’ve been able to use to prevent this (and I only use this in small amounts) is sucanat. As someone pointed out earlier, not everyone reacts badly to refined sugar (at least not in visible ways), but I think that most of us here in the US have lived much of our lives addicted to sugar and refined flours and processed foods and we are now starting to see the dangerous consequences of this way of life. Thanks, Kimi, for sharing your struggle so that those of us who also struggle can know that we don’t struggle alone! I think that has been one of the most difficult things about changing our diet. Thinking we are alone and having others look at us and wonder what is wrong with us and even think that we are food snobs. I’m not a food snob, but my body is very sensitive to many foods and I’ve grown tired of eating foods in the presence of others so that feelings are not hurt and then suffering for it for days if not weeks afterwards.
Nichole
I don’t even know how to begin doing this… yikes.. 🙁
Magda
Here is something that might help:
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/2011/01/slay-the-sugar-monster-in-four-doable-steps/
Anjanette
I also recommend the book “Get the Sugar Out” by Anne Louise Gittleman. Easy to get through and not intimidating. 🙂
Anjanette
I have chronically plugged ducts. A few years ago my OB ordered an ultrasound to make sure I didn’t have tumors! No one could tell me why I got them (they didn’t often get infected – or at least didn’t cause fevers). I finally connected the dots this year when I stopped eating sugar. They went away almost instantly! I now think that it was related to yeast that whole time! I also dropped 15 lbs within a month of cutting sugar out! I thought I was at an “ok” weight before – feel and look much better now though!
Sharon
Wow! Thanks to everyone for the discussion on sugar! It’s a great reminder for all of us.
Two months ago I crashed from a perfect storm that included ice-cream 3 to 4 nights a week with healthy forms of chocolate and that combined with burning the candle at both ends (not getting enough sleep) and the wrong prescription for a rash brought on severe rashes covering my body. (Candida Yeast overgrowth)
I was in such good health that I thought I could just do about anything and guess I re-learned a lesson that we need to be providing good food choices on a constant basis to stay healthy.
Fortunately, a friend helped me out with some awesome nutritional products and I was also able to get a great source for 9.5 pH balanced water that is ionized and restructured. Everyone, including my doctors and myself, have been amazed at the fast recovery of my skin with the regimen that we put together. I’m going to write it all down for my doctor and hope that he will glean some tips that could help other patients. In the meantime, I’m feeling SO MUCH BETTER!
I think of sugar with a picture of a scull and cross bones now. It’s poison to my body and so I’m making wise substitutions.
By the way, I love Sweet Leaf Liquid Stevia as a sweetener. I like to add 10 drops to 8 ounces of water with some fresh squeezed lemon juice. I even use this in my sauted veggies and it’s awesome!
Blessed to have my health returning quickly!
Abby
You mentioned Sugar Blues by William Dufty. Do you know of any other good books about sugar? OR do you have any other nutrition book recommendations?
Lee
It is helpful to understand that sugar cravings are often a sign of inadequate nourishing fat intake. Our bodies will convert sugar into saturated fat if we are not eating enough saturated fat to begin with. Preganancy and nursing definitely use up a lot of the body’s stores and eating enough fat to keep up with the energy demands of growing and sustaining new life is important! I love the great information in the DVD from Nourshing Our Children. You can watch a lot of it online for free at the facebook page for Nourishing Our Children. https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1582908967451
It is a great place to start when you just don’t know what to eat!
Kendra
I just have one question. I’m currently researching rapadura and sucanat and really don’t know much about them yet. I have been buying only raw sugar for a while now and only use it in baking occasionally. Whenever I can, I often substitute honey. My question for you is whether or not you use any of these things for yourself. I believe I’ve seen some of these ingredients in your recipes, but maybe I’m remembering wrong. When you say you aren’t eating sugar at all, are you meaning refined, white sugar or are you eliminating all sweeteners? I’m curious because I’m trying to decide what the best route would be for my family right now as well.
GiGi
Nope, because I haven’t eaten sugar in 10 years! 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/laleapfrogging
Nicole
Having suffered from it a few times myself, I can say NOTHING is worth getting mastitis for, except continuing to nurse your baby (glare to the ER doc who told me that I wouldn’t get it again if I just stopped nursing- grrr…). Glad you figured out the solution and are feeling better.
Ruthie
Cane sugar zaps me of energy it’s like someone pulls my power plug out. I can get away with the occasional bit of agave syrup or coconut palm sugar however honey & maple syrup are a bit too high gi and zap me of energy too. I’m thankful for the online community providing me with recipes for my gluten free, dairy free & sugar free diet.
Vikki Kay
@ Abby, another interesting book about sugar is Sweet Poison by David Gillespie.
The biggest thing I notice on a sugar-free diet is not being completely exhausted at the end of the day. Instead I always feel alert and ready to go in the morning. My first pregnancy was a complete misery because I wasn’t strict with my diet. I put on heaps of weight and was put on blood pressure tablets. Mastitis problems throughout the first year of breast-feeding, post-natal depression… My second pregnancy was a much better experience with no sugar/yeast; no blood pressure problems, and only 10lbs put on. Only one episode of mastitis with 2nd child, and no post-natal depression.
All 3 of my sisters had also struggled with migraines and depression pre and post babies, and I am slowly trying to help them realise that the sugar is a huge part of their problems. One sister has made the change (the doctor had diagnosed her with fibromyalgia with no hope of a treatment; but all her joint pain, depression and weariness disappeared when the sugar and grains were removed), the other 2 will take a bit longer. It is sad to see them continue to suffer because of sugar.
My boys are sugar-free. We have a stevia bush growing in the garden, and they often nibble the leaves, but I find them much too sweet to eat straight. Fruit and dates are our main sweetners.
Amanda
I’ve found I have reactions to sugar that “put me down” for about 30 minutes to the point I can barely function. It only happens with refined sugar and I find that honey and sucanat are okay. I have so many people reprimand me for my accusations that sugar is bad for you, but if they would feel the way I feel when it’s ingested, they’d believe it too, even without oodles of research to prove it.
Jennifer Brade
instead of table sugar i use dextrose and/or stevia. it is less sweet but gives my body the energy it needs. my family is fructose intolerant and we have to avoid all sources of fructose (including fruit) and sucrose (table sugar). it can be done, homemade all the way.
Amy
Hi Kimi, boy did this story ring true with myself. I had my third daughter a year ago and have had almost 10 bouts of clogged ducts or mastitis in that time. I was so frustrated since I’ve been doing traditional foods for almost 5 years. I did a ton of research and through my own trial and error this is what I’ve found on the subject.
First, I kept reading how soy lechithan had helped a lot of people. I didn’t want the soy, but I found they make sunflower lechithan so I took that and never had a problem as long as I took it, but I didn’t want to feel like I had to take that the whole time I nursed. I read somewhere that clogged ducts can happen because you are not digesting proteins and fats properly. I also remembered that egg yolks have lots of lechithan so I’ve started eating at least 2 raw egg yolks a day, and encouraging better digestion of fats and proteins overall.
For the last 3 months I have not had a problem, even when my milk gets really full. I can’t remember now, but I recently read an article on a traditional foods blog that talked about needing what’s in egg yolks for the proper assilmilation of fats or protein? I can’t remember for sure, but it has been interesting trying to troubleshoot this problem.
Anyway, I hope this helps you in some way. And here’s to no more mastitis!
Amy
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama
I have gone sugar-free many times. Even now if I eat too much I just don’t feel right. Honey and maple syrup do not seem to have the same effects, I would guess because they also have nutritional value to them. It is bad enough that if I eat too much while I am pregnant I will faint — it has happened twice. I usually bake at home with honey or maple syrup or, rarely, sucanat. That is delicious sometimes. I enjoy “sweet” but only lightly so. I can FEEL my blood sugar spike if I eat too much sugar and I don’t like that.
Katrina
Great article and amazing how quickly the body responds to let you know that it didn’t like what you were doing. I’ve just restarted no sugar after being diagnosed as ‘damp’ by my chinese herbalist!! Can you please share what else has made the difference to your great energy levels, mine are in need of work!!
Archer
I totally agree! Love your post and also your humility. Sugar is totally the silent killer. I think my biggest weakness with sugar is in social gatherings too. Its hard! There is something to be said about enjoying food with good friends, but that balance is tricky. I’ve often regretted eating sugar in this same say…after the fact.
Kirstie
I’m prone to blocked ducts/mastitis too (am tandem feeding at present). I certainly am not trying to undermine the effects of sugar on your health, but I can’t help thinking that the very late night also contributed to the getting mastitis (change of routine and tiredness are very common factors in getting blocked ducts/mastitis).
Natural ‘remedies’ I find useful for blocked ducts:
Keep the breast drained. After feeding off it, massage and express any remaining milk out, then apply a potato poultice (grated raw potato on a clean cloth/breastpad); wash off before the next feed. {Potato helps draw out the blockage}.
Take raw garlic to fight any infection; also can take echinacea extract.
Oh, and keep off the sugar 🙂
Susa
Great subject!
I have problems with sugar, too. Sugar gives me bumps in my mouth, allergies and sometimes even red bumps on my skin. Two years ago I developed an auto-immune disorder called Myasthenia Gravis (extreme weakness is the main symptom). My doctor tells me that I will have to always take medicine or my symptoms will get worse leading eventually to death…but, I have found that eliminating most sugar from my diet makes the symptoms go away better than the medication. I have recently stopped taking medicine and am following a sugar free diet with wonderful results.
I also have an addiction to sugar. I find that I occasionally give in and eat sweet treats. I try to choose things that bother me the least, things such as dark chocolate or Agave Nectar or Honey. Every time I eat sugar (or anything sweet, some fruits, too) it triggers craving for more sugar and oddly, breads and cereals. Eating wheat products also triggers sugar cravings so I try to avoid anything make with wheat.
Oddly, my doctor thinks I am crazy and tells me sugar has nothing to do with me feeling better. From his point of view, I seem to be on my way to a rare remission. From my point of view, I know that sugar will bring back the dreaded weakness and I’m fine if he wants to call it remission. Why don’t doctors know about this? Every doctor I’ve mentioned it to will only admit that a healthy diet is preferred but they say there is no reason to avoid sugar.
I thought I was alone in suffering from eating sugar. I will read those books you mentioned.
Thanks for writing this entry. 🙂
Annette
Sugar is not good for me or my son. For some reason it makes my skin itch and it makes my son go on an emotional roller coaster. We do use coconut sugar, honey or agave on occasion.
France
I wrote a post about is sugar toxic and I have seen some great u tube videos and articles talking about it. Funny, up until only a year ago or so i hadn’t heard much about it at all. Is that because more information is out there and people are becoming more aware, or is it because I wasn’t paying attention?
Primal Toad
Timely eMail! I just wrote a post about sugar and wheat. I asked my readers to discuss their sugar addiction and sure enough the response was amazing! People have really opened up about it.
Sugar is a silent killer. I said its slowly kill us. We may not realize it. Eliminating all sugar is the first step to awesome health!
Jenny
How much potassium do you get a day? The RDA is now 4700 mg. I, too, used to have sugar issues, but getting enough potassium changed that.
Jenny
How much potassium do you get a day? The RDA is now 4700 mg….which is probably still too low for some people. I, too, used to have sugar issues, but getting enough potassium changed that.
“Potassium is important in controlling the activity of your heart, muscles, nervous system, & just about every living cell in your body. Potassium activates enzymes for the use of amino acids, is involved in bone calcification, the conversion of blood sugar into the stored glycogen for energy reserves, muscle contraction & coordination. It plays a role in maintaining the water balance & integrity of your cells. It is important to nerve transmission. It is involved in the transport of choline for acetylcholine synthesis in your brain. Protein & carbohydrate metabolism, glucose breakdown, & glycogen (stored glucose) are all potassium dependent. ”
http://barttersite.org/potassium-dosing/
Bizzy
Thanks for posting this and keep feeling better. I learned a lot from your post and from the comments. I appreciate that you get intelligent reactions to your writing and now I must think about how much sugar is in my diet. You certainly helped me reconsider what I am eating.
Kurt
Primal Toad–I suspect that you’re just more attuned to the discussion now. That is certainly the case with me. I’d seen and heard stuff about sugar and white flour being bad for years and years, but I tuned most of it out and figured it didn’t really apply to me because I don’t have a weight problem or any underlying health concerns. Although I had first heard about the book Nourishing Traditions (NT) a few years ago, I never got around to looking at it until October of last year, and since then I’ve made a lot of significant dietary changes. Since then, I’ve been more aware of the discussions of these issues. As a result, I’ve also learned about the work of science writer Gary Taubes, whose books overlap with a lot of the things that NT teaches.
Meagan
I avoid everything sugar and everything that converts to sugar like the PLAGUE. I feel great 🙂
Lisa
A remedy to prevent clogged ducts and mastitis, I highly recommend a Lecithin supplement. The powder version is great in smoothies, with or without sugar. Thankfully the clogged ducts have subsided for me but maintaining a regular routine of Lecithin has helped. For a good source, check out: http://www.purelifenutrition.com/Lecithin-Powder-Premier-Research-Labs-12-oz_p_153.html
Stacey
I never thought I had a problem with how sugar effected me either, I had a diet high in sugar and loved it. However last month I was diagnosed (at 35) with invasive ductal carcinoma, I am compelled to comment because I can’t ignore the links between sugar and cancer that keep cropping up, and now hearing a lot a women talk about sugar and mastitis I find it really interesting. I have breastfed for the past 4 years and tandem fed at one point so I should be at a lower risk for cancer, but I had a grade 3 tumor which was fairly aggressive and fast growing, I can’t help but wonder if the sugar I was eating was feeding it and making it grow, it grew 3mm in 3 weeks. Thankfully I am body aware and picked it up when it was still small.
So no more sugar of any kind for me, I look at it like it is a poison and it will kill me, I am also off all foods that act like sugar in my body but hope to reintroduce sourdough bread made from sprouted grains.