I believe that sugar and sugar forming foods may be the most addictive substances on this planet. Sugar consumption has increased even within the last 30 years by a significant amount. We are eating sugar like never before! And most of us find it hard to stop…..
The reason we like sugar is obvious. It’s sweet. And ever since we were newborn babies we have been attracted to sweets, like our mother’s milk. But in the end, not only is sugar empty calories, making us gain weight while remaining undernourished, do we really want to be controlled by anything, even something as pleasant as cakes and cookies?
I know so many people who can’t refuse sweets or who can’t go without them for any period of time. Sweets control them to a certain extent.
I have personally found dealing with my sugar cravings to mean greater freedom for myself. For example, I always knew I shouldn’t overdo sweets, but it was hard to resist it (especially since cakes and cookies seem to flaunt you at every turn). But once I went on an anti-yeast diet and dealt with some antibiotic related issues, I’ve found it so freeing as I can generally easily refuse sweets (not always, mind you, but usually).
Let me tell you, it feels good to be free!
For us personally, after an unfortunate month of antibiotics right after Elena was born. We have had to be ultra-careful with how much sweets we consume. Elena just had a recent flare up of a yeast related issues after spending just a few days eating “normal” food on a trip. I don’t think she will always be so sensitive, but meanwhile it serves her best if we don’t overdo it. Thankfully it was just a small flare up, and she was still able to have her birthday cake, but it’s time to have a little anti-yeast, sugar free challenge for ourselves and we invite you to join us!
Next Monday, I will be hosting and blogging about going sugar free for a week. I would love to have you join us! This is a great time to go sugar free, since it’s cold and flu season and sugar can also lower the immune system.
Here are the three levels you can join in on:
Beginner level: Take out all refined sugars including corn syrup and white sugar. Also remove all white flour from your diet, as it’s also very sugar forming.You will need to read labels carefully when buying prepackaged foods. Instead use natural, more unrefined sugars such as rapadura, coconut sugar, honey, stevia.
Moderate Level: Remove all natural sweeteners as well, and only use fruit to sweet foods. Consider removing other starchy foods that can also feed yeast, or make you crave sugar more.
Advanced Level: Take out all sugar forming foods, including most grains, starchy root vegetables like potatoes , and fruits. Buckwheat, Quinoa, Millet are non-starchy grains that are generally acceptable on yeast free diets. Please, beware, if you have a yeast issue, taking out the foods that feed it may make you detox and have a die-off effect (which can make you feel sick and miserable). If you have any illness or health issue, you should consult your health provider before trying a anti-yeast diet.
So what do you think? Are you up for the challenge? You don’t have to be perfect to join in with us. The first step is to reduce consumption. If you would like to join in starting next Monday, leave a comment and I’ll add you to the list!
Participants:
1: Kimi Harris-Aiming for moderate/advanced level
2: Elena Harris-Aiming for moderate/advanced level
3: Katie– Moderate Level to Advanced
4:Priscilla -Advanced
5:Anna- Beginner level
6: Nicole-Advanced level
7:Alexis-Beginner Level
8:Courtney-Beginner Level
9:Holly M-Beginner to Moderate Level
10:Tarena-Moderate to Advanced
11: Jessica-Moderate Level
12: Sharon-Beginner Level
13: Jennifer and Husband-Advanced
14: Elizabeth-Advanced
15: Diana-Advanced
16:Jami-Advanced
17:Melinda-Advanced
18: Margaret L-Moderate-Advanced
19:Shannon-Advanced
20: Ellie-Advanced
21:Sarah G-Advanced
22:Kristy C-Moderate
23:Cornelia-Moderate
24:Leah-Beginner
24:Heather– Beginner
25: Janice-Moderate
26:Kelly-Beginner
27:Marlise and Peter-Advanced level
28: Jessica T-Beginner
29:Angela-Moderate
30:Pampered Mom and Husband-Moderate
31:Karen Beginner/Moderate
32:Virginia-Beginner
33:Laura Green-Advanced
34:Heidi Graves-Beginner
35:Afton:Beginner-Moderate
36:Kelly the Kitchen Kop-Advanced
37: Jeanmarie-Advanced
38: SCB: Beginner
39: Susan-Moderate
40:Kate-Moderate-Advanced
41: Kylie Thomas -Moderate-Advanced
42: Karen B-Advanced
43: My Boy’s Teacher-Beginner
44: Lauren-Beginner-Moderate
45: Peggy-Moderate-Advanced
46: 3hens2Boys1Dog-Moderate
47:Michelle-Beginner
48: Robin-Beginner for Family, Moderate for self
49: Bex-Beginner
50: Jessica-Beginner
51: Tacia-Beginner to moderate
52:Sharon Moliken-Advanced
53:Henriette-Moderate-Advanced
54:Slawebb-Beginner
55:Becky@ Boys Rule My Life -Beginner Level
56:Amber-Moderate-Advanced
57:Kathy Shaner-Moderate
58:Lisa@ What Feeds My Soul Moderate-Advanced
59:Anna-Moderate
60:Lisa-Moderate
61:Kara-Beginner
62:Michelle @ What Does the Body good-Moderate
63:Jessie Beginner/Moderate
64:Motherhen68-Advanced
65:Katy-Beginner
66: Elena R-Advanced
67:Melle-Moderate /Advanced
68:Jen-Beginner
69: Teresa-Beginner
70:Christina-Advanced
71:Michele-Moderate
72:Christina-Moderate
73:Beck-Beginner
74:Cameron-Advanced
75:Deborah-Beginner
76:Leila-Moderate
77:Anali-Advanced
78:Loree and Tahli (2 1/2yrs) Galpin/Schoenfeld-Moderate
79:Pauline-Beginner
80: Deborah-Beginner
81:Elisa-Beginner
82:Michele and Two kids-Moderate
83:Nancy Stall- Advanced
84:Ashley-Moderate/Advanced
85:Cindi-Advanced, Rest of the Family Moderate
86:Diane Meyer-Advanced
87: Linda-Beginner
88:Angie-Beginner
89:Kelly-Moderate
90:Caroline-Beginner-Moderate
91:Cameron-Advanced
92:Jami R-Beginner-moderate
93:Natalie- Beginner-moderate
94:Megan-Moderate
95:Ali-Advanced
96:Karen Olayo- Advanced.
97: Jennifer Sikora-Beginner
98:Christy and Family-Beginner
99:Rachel-Moderate to Advanced
100:Atlanta-Moderate
101:Melodie-Beginner Level
102:Tamara-Beginner Level
103:Ashley-Advanced
104:Elizabeth G-Moderate-Advanced
105:Kim-Advanced
106:Vermont Mommy-Moderate
107: Stephanie and Family- Seven-beginner-moderate 1-moderate-advanced
108:Marie R.-Moderate-Advanced
109:Jan-Beginner
110:Tara-Advanced
111:Cook 4 Seasons-Moderate/advanced
112:Rosy-Beginner
113:Michelle Y and Kids – Moderate
114:Symphony-Beginner
115:Jennybear
116:Rayelle-Beginner
117:Megan-Moderate
118:Micki-Moderate
119:Grandma Len plus husband and mother
120:Tammie Thomas-Beginner Moderate
121: Lisa z-Beginner-moderate
122:Megan-beginner
123:Sarah Nissen and Son-moderate
124:Angela and house-beginner
125: Shelly-Moderate to Advanced
126:Trina-Advanced
127: Moderate
128: Jana -Moderate
129: Brook and Three Family Members-Moderate-Advanced
130: Evie and Michael-Beginner
131:Allisha
132:Linda-Moderate
133:Jodi-Moderate
134:June-Beginner-Moderate
135:Alisa-Frugal Foodie-Moderate
136:Dawn, Small Footprint-Advanced
137:Anna-Moderate/advanced
138:Teena-Beginner
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SCB
Hi Kimi – can you elaborate more on the “die off” effect? I tried a candida cleanse recently and experienced terrible stomach cramps and my temperature shot up to 102 – no other symptoms (not the flu). The next day I was ok, but stopped the cleanse as I was pretty shaken up by the experience although I’d like to give it another shot pretty soon. Sign me up for beginner please! 🙂
My Boys Teacher
I’m all in! Sign me up for beginner…I’m still learning to USE natural sweeteners. If it goes well after a couple of weeks, maybe I’ll upgrade.
Lauren
Beginner/Moderate
Peggy
Count me in for moderate to advanced level! I’m trying to do this anyway, so it will be great to have the support 😉 This is SO needed in our culture; I wish everyone would do it, so we wouldn’t be so tempted everywhere!
3hens2boys1dog
moderate
Michelle
I’m in! But I will have to be a beginner for sure 😉 Great idea Kimi!
Robin
I’m in. I plan to do beginner for my family and attempt moderate myself. Thank you for hosting this and the encouragement to give it a go.
Bex
let’s do it – sign me up as a beginner!
Jessica
Sign me up for beginner.
I can’t buy anything but honey where I live – so if anyone has any advice about replacing sugars with honey in recipes I would love to hear it.
Jessica S.
KimiHarris
Jessica,
A lot of the recipes on this site use honey as the only or main sweetener. 🙂 Generally, honey is sweeter than white sugar so use less.
Tacia
What timing for this challenge. I have been dealing with severe eczema and have been trying to cut down on sweets– though agave nectar finds its way into my oatmeal. The extra encouragement will help. Will the recipes featured on the site focus on alternatives for the duration of the challenge? I’m reading many responses about being yeast-free and related issues. Does anyone know if eczema could be a related symptom? Any suggestions?
I’ll accept the beginning to moderate challenge. Please elaborate on what those other “starchy foods” would include.
KimiHarris
Look for a post on Friday talking a little more about the challenge. 🙂
Sharon Moliken
I’m in! Great timing as I’ve just eliminated all sugars a couple of days ago and plan to continue for a while. It will be fantastic to get the support. I’ll go for advanced level please 🙂
Henriette
I am in ! moderate/advanced – not sure what I can handle
after 2-3 months with healthy food – but with grains and some sugar
– I just have so many bad sideeffcts from it 🙁
so I have cut down on grains again and plans to be sugar and grainfree from monday
slawebb
I just ate a bag of gummy bears the other day…in one sitting. Do you think I have a problem?? My husband does. And I’m a nursing mother. And I just had major surgery to have my gallbladder out.
So yeah, I’m in at the beginning level. I really do want to be free of this addiction, for myself and my kids. I can do this!
Becky@BoysRuleMyLife
I have been slowly eliminating refined sugars and white flour from our diets. This sounds like a good opportunity to take the plunge and finish off the beginner level. Thanks for the challenge!
Also, I have a question… if you don’t mind. 🙂 We have a child that is anaphylactic to dairy, so we don’t “do” cow milk. What do you know about the shelf-stable milk substitutes? I’ve been really leery of them, thinking they must ultra-pasteurize it or something to make it have such a long shelf life while sealed. Yesterday, I had someone tell me that it is actually just vacuumed sealed and is better for you. I’m really confused and I really didn’t know who else to ask. Thanks for your time in reading my question and thanks SO MUCH for you blog. I really enjoy it!
KimiHarris
I make my own nut milks. They are super easy to make. Will post recipe soon. 🙂 It’s more frugal too! I also use coconut milk tonic (look at the recipe index).
Ricki
I’ve been on the anti-candida diet since last March (began at “Advanced” and am now more “moderate,” though still without most fruits). I could not agree more that sugar is the most addictive substance I’ve ever encountered. This is a great idea–looking forward to seeing how the group does with this challenge. 🙂
Amber
I’m in for a moderate to advanced try!
Kathy Shaner
Well, I avoided even reading this post at first, because I didn’t want to face the issue of too much sugar…
But. Here I am. I was encouraged, actually, to find that we’re already more or less at the beginner level. We use hardly any white sugar, and there hasn’t been corn syrup in the house in ages (thankfully!) So I’m going to try for the moderate level. It’s not going to be easy, because my husband likes his sweets. But he has been very open to my efforts to make healthy changes to our diet, so for a week he’ll probably be willing.
Thanks for prompting me to do this!
Lisa@WhatFeedsMySoul
Yes! Been thinking it was time for me to do something like this! I will join in at the moderate level and may move up to the advanced level if I think I can take it.. LOTS of detoxing needing to happen! 🙂 Thanks for the opportunity to do this with a little support, I think it will help alot.
anna
I’m in! Can I have a moderate spot please?
Lisa
I’m in for Beginner/Moderate. Thanks!
Kara
I need to do this on the beginner level. A couple months ago I could have gone moderate or advanced, but I find myself craving sugary things more since my pregnancy. This will be a good reminder to fill up on protein and watch out for those mini blood sugar crashes.
Chiot's Run
I have found that the less sweet stuff you eat the less you crave it. I used to eat a lot of sweets, but now they don’t really appeal to me. When I want something sweet I want something that really really bitter, like 80% dark chocolate, not something super sweet. We try to limit the sugar in our diets and use honey more than any other kind of sweetener.
That being said we really can cut back even more. Mr Chiots is addicted though, probably because of a lifetime of being fed mainly sweets by his mom. He has a really hard time giving up sugar.
This is very interesting, I’ll have to think about what level I’d like to be in.
Michelle @ Find Your Balance
Moderate!
Jessie
I’ll be beginner/moderate. Except for my husband’s birthday which falls that week. (I’m making him a blueberry pie – which will have white flour – but even Sally Fallon says it’s OK sometimes. Fortunately I found a good source for lard from heritage beed pigs which are raised on pasture.)
Motherhen68
Ok, so I want to play too! I’m already grain/sugar free, but I do have my moments of Diet Cokes and ice cream @ Jason’s Deli (at least it’s HFCS free). Count me in-Advanced.
Katy
This is such a great idea! Please sighn me up for the beginner level!
Elena R.
Hi,
I’ve been procrastinating doing this since summer is such a good time for fruit! And there is nothing more that I like than fruit, I wasn’t ready for such a torture. I stopped eating fruit a couple of days ago and still need to cut out potatoes. Those are the only Yeast feeding foods in my diet, so hopefully I will be ready to do it right by Mon. I want to do a Yeast diet and the allergy diet at the same time. It’s not going to be fun, but I figured I might as well get it over all at once! Thanks for this post. It’s the last kick I needed!
Elena R.
Advanced
Melle
I’m in too. Did this with great success for most of the summer (until going on vacation!) & been trying to get back to it. I’ll be doing MODERATE to ADVANCED, with the exceptions of blueberries & stevia, which help me through the most severe cravings.
If anyone has supplements that they think help with cravings, I would love to hear about them. I’ve heard CoEnzyme Q10, but taking it hasn’t seemed to help me at all. Time seems to be the only thing (i.e. waiting it out).
Also, a recommendation for those with chocolate longings. Diamond brand Unsweetened Chocolate Almond milk! The first cup will seem strange as it’s chocolate, but not sweet. Second cup, it tastes like you dream chocolate milk should. Then if you try the sweetened, it tastes way too sweet!
Buon appetito fellow sugar-habit-kickers!!
Jen
I will join you at the beginning level!
Teresa
I am in at the beginner level.
Christina
I have a baby that has been battling a yeast infection for two months, so I am going to go on the advanced level since I am breast feeding her.
Michele
Sign me up for the moderate level
Thanks
christina
I’ll go for the moderate level. I’d like to hear more about the anti-yeast diet. Is there a way to cut back slowly so you don’t have the severe side effects? I think my girls (and I) need to do this, but I’m hesitant to put a 4 year old and a 10 year old through the process. We already don’t eat white sugar or white flour. But my 10 year old would eat fruit all day if I let her.
KimiHarris
Yes, You could certainly cut back step by step so as to not have too bad of a die off effect. 🙂 Start at the beginner level for a week or two, work yourself up to moderate, and then if you really want to get serious, pick an anti-yeast diet to go on. More on that to come.
beck
Beginner, please 🙂
Caroline
I’m going to try for somewhere between beginner and medium. I have done a beginner type no sugar for a long time before and felt great (but still eating some white flour), but I fell off it and its hard to get back on. I’ll be going for no white flour (after this bagel lol), no refined sugars, and reduced natural sweetner consumption. Or maybe none except fruit…. not sure).
Kelly
I’m in! I’ll be going for moderate (or maybe beginner/moderate). I’m already doing the beginner diet.
Angie
Beginner here!
Linda
Sign me up as a beginner. Looking forward to your posts on this topic!
Tiffany
I have been sugar and white flour free for over 6 years, and YES it is freeing. I used to have Crohn’s disease and changed my diet, so I no longer have it. Getting off white flour and sugar was part of that change. The hardest part is the beginning. I think you should go off for at least 2 weeks, to really get a handle on it.
Another thing I found out for myself is, that in the beginning it was MUCH easier not to eat ANY sugar rather than try to eat a “little.”
Keep that in mind if you are having an especially hard time.
Good luck everyone!!
Tiffany
I forgot to add, that I now use raw honey as my sweetener. You would be surprised at the things you can make with raw honey.
YUMMMMM!
If you want some free recipes go to http://www.tiffanystable.wordpress.com
Diane Meyer
I’ll try advanced. I need to ‘re-break’ some bad habits
Cindi
I was so excited to see this post! I have been on an anti-candida diet for four months now at the advanced level. It really is possible to do this even if you are a sugar addict! I want to thank you Kimi for all your wonderful recipes and the encouragement you give in all your articles. Thanks to you, I have trained my teenage daughters to be at the beginner level for the last 3 months. They resisted at first (it is sooo hard with sweets being offered to them outside the home all the time), but because of your wonderful recipes, they are now accepting this lifestyle change. I read Nourshing Traditions over a year ago and felt a little overwhelmed, but you have made it all seem so much easier- Thank you!! I will continue on the advanced level, and will encourage my three daughters and husband to take the next step to the moderate.
KimiHarris
Thanks for the testimonial! That’s great. I love to hear success stories and am glad that my recipes have helped you out. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Ashley
I am in!! Put me at moderate/advance
Nancy Stall
I have been sugar free for one month-well all except stevia. I am on the “Perfect Whole Food Diet” which eliminates all sugar and refinded carbohydrates. I am doing this to hopefully heal my digestive tract of gastritis and esophagitis. My plans are to be on it for a year and then to liberalize it with honey and agave nectar as my sweeteners. It is hard but I love making my own breads and experimenting with new recipes. So, yes, I have joined your challenge!
Michele
Put me and my two kids down for moderate!
Elisa
I’m up for the challenge- I’ll try the beginner’s level.
Deborah
moderate to advanced. I’ve been working on this for quite a while on and off. Recently I found out that my glucose level is a little high (pre-diabetes) so I really need to do the advanced level. We’ve been stocking up on lots of veggies and lean proteins and I’ve started sprouting Best of all my family (husband & son) have agreed to not having cookies, etc in the house And because we’re cutting down on fat, salt, additives, and sugar and because of our budget we’ve cut way down on carry-out and going out to restaurants
Thanks for doing this
Pauline
Hi I would also like to join in as a beginner. I have some serious issues with sugar issues… if was an illegal drug I would be in rehab or prison. Thanks for the inspiration to try and make a break and be free of it. I would love to advance to “advanced” someday… but for now I will start as a beginner. Thanks for the levels and recognising that some of us still have a long way to go but don’t even know how to make a start.
Blessings Pauline
Loree
Hi from Luxembourg – We’re going to be traveling again this week — usually this means consuming a lot of crusty white breads and croissants and coming home with a cold. But I am up for the challange and would still like to participate!!
We will aim for MODERATE: Loree and Tahli (2 1/2yrs) Galpin/Schoenfeld