Comments on: Curing the Sugar Addiction

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:06:37 +0000

I know that this is a late addition to the post, but Jon Gabriel would argue that sugar cravings of this kind are due to unhealthy gut bacteria which prompt you to eat the sugar for their own ends. He recommends using Xylitol as a sweetener. It’s a naturally occurring sweet substance with a GI of 7 – our own bodies make it, it occurs in berries and vegetables as well as in grasses, Finnish birch wood (it originated in Finland) and corn husks, I believe. Now, I bought some, used it and felt a bit odd, so then I researched it, and it’s possible to get quite a reaction when you first use it as it takes time for the body to acclimatise. Its chemical structure is so similar to sugar that it has the effect of attracting bacteria such as Candida Albicans – which normally feed on sugar – but then instead of nourishing them, it kills them off. Reactions such as bloating and light-headedness can occur as the bacteria die off because they release toxins as they expire. Some people get worse reactions than this and swear off the Xylitol – I have just decided to use a little in my morning coffee and see how I go, having found that 6 teaspoons on the first day was decidedly uncomfortable. Xylitol is extolled by the dental profession for actually helping protect teeth from decay due to the same anti-bacterial action it seems to display in the stomach. It seems to be pretty readily available but I did read somewhere it doesn’t yet have GRAS status (Generally Recognised As Safe) in the USA. Then again, HFCS is GRAS and we all know that’s about as good as poison. So I think it’s a matter for the individual – but the theory is it may help destroy the bacteria that cause sugar cravings.

By: kmarcum

kmarcum — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:33:45 +0000

I’ve found the best luck with Seth Robert’s Shangri-La diet–basically, taking 1-2 T of oil on an empty stomach. (I use coconut oil and plug my nose–a big part of the “diet” is that you’re not supposed to taste the oil dose.) Doing this reliably kills my appetite and sugar cravings–I eat small, modest, healthy meals.

Some people use the Shangi-La diet on an ongoing basis. I don’t–I find it helps as a lever to get me back on track when my eating drifts. You can learn more at sethroberts.net….and they have a very active forum with some very nice people, so you can pick up all kinds of tips.

By: Joan

Joan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:56:50 +0000

There’s a book on this exact thing. It’s called “The Diet Cure” by Julia Ross. The author argues that all unhealthy cravings, including the craving for starvation-released endorphins that is at the root of anorexia nervosa, derive from nutrient deficiency. She has a program of low-carb eating, vitamin and mineral supplements, and amino acids. There’s a chart in the book that can tell you which amino acids you need by what you crave, and it includes not only sugar and fats but also controlled substances. It was recommended to me by a woman who has worked for 20 years as a psychologist in an addiction treatment program and has seen this procedure work many times on very destructive addictions.

By: wsb

wsb — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:23:58 +0000

The serotonin supplement is a good idea but it is also a bandaid.

Consider testing for gluten intolerance first. It can cause serotonin disruptions. It does not have to present with gastro symptoms. I

f you are gluten intolerant, you may be able to tolerate certain carbs and even control your sugar intake if the rest of your diet and any supplements, stays gluten-free.

By: Charles

Charles — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:39:17 +0000

As one can tell from these posts, there are sugar cravings, and there is sugar addiction. I would agree that for those that sugar is strongly addictive, it’s probably a hormonal issue, and just stopping it for a while or substituting something else is not going to work.

For those folks in that unfortunate position, I would definitely try tryptophan (not 5-HHTP, real l-tryptophan). Take 5oo mg. an hour or so before bedtime for a few nights, and see if that makes a difference. I’m certain that for some, it will.

By: Alcinda Moore

Alcinda Moore — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:52:27 +0000

@Andy…..next time you want ice cream, try this instead: http://www.examiner.com/x-15820-Raleigh-Low-Carb-Examiner~y2009m8d20-Low-carb-strawberry-ice-cream

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:38:17 +0000

For me, staving off ice cream has been the hardest thing over the past year of eating mostly Primal/Paleo. At this point (down 40 pounds), if the craving comes up, I just go ahead and eat the ice cream … it’s like once a month if I’m in a stricter mode, once a week if I’m being looser. I find that the sugar load doesn’t mess with me nearly as much as any grain-based slipups (instant stuffy nose, bad digestion, etc.).

On a related note, I had one of the liquid fat bombs for lunch today. I have one thing to say: FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC. There’s even a mild accompanying buzz! (I’m using it as a kickoff to a quite strict 2-week period after about 7 days of falling completely off-plan.) Long live the fat bomb!

By: Matt R.

Matt R. — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:49:39 +0000

It’s been a bad week for me…but today is a new day and I’m not going to beat myself up over it.

The toughest challenge for me is dealing with the workplace. Temptations are all around me, and if it’s been a long day and I haven’t brought in my own food, everything goes awry after 3 p.m. when the vending machines beckon me over.

The solution: I bring in my own snacks and refuse cake when it’s brought in to celebrate someone’s birthday or whatever else.

By: Keith Thomas

Keith Thomas — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:53:43 +0000

Patrick is right: “cold turkey”. And read the above posts to see what “cold turkey” really means. George’s quotation from Art De Vany is also apposite. I would not recommend any “pill”. Many reasons incl pills are not palaeo. Can you book yourself into a reliable health farm for a week, possibly with a like-minded friend? Is there health farm that does an informed palaeo service?

By: Richard Nikoley

Richard Nikoley — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:38:26 +0000

Haven’t seen anything on this, though I do sometimes put a tsp or two of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water or sparkling water. I really like it.