Cutting Sugar Out of the diet...did You Try It?

My mom did it. She has arthritis in her hands and feet, and they ached her all the time. She saw something on Dr. Oz about the relationship between refined sugar and osteoarthritis, and she decided to get it out of her diet and see if it worked. She feels SO much better. She eats fruits (which is the right kind of sugar) and drinks water. She has also cut dairy and meat from her diet in order to lose weight, so she eats fruits, vegetables and whole grains. She is thinner now, feels better and has very little pain in her hands and feet.

She does not credit taking away meat and dairy for helping her arthritis, though.

When she bakes, she uses Agave. She made a GREAT squash casserole with it!

Dawn

My husband and I did a "Protein Power" diet (a few times over the years, the first time was post-pregnancy after our 2nd baby).... It isn't JUST cutting out refined sugar, but that is a big part of it. Refined sugars are in just about anything you buy from the store unless it is a fresh vegetable or a protein it seems like.
We cut out carbs--which, the ones that come from refined foods (white breads, for example) just metabolically become sugar in the body. We restricted our carbs (all carbs, not just ones from refined foods though) to 30 every day. That still allowed enough for a healthy garden salad with red bell peppers, etc, some nuts, cheese, and dressing with every dinner meal. Breakfast was some variety of eggs. Lunch was something on light bread (6 carbs per slice) like tuna or egg salad or deli meat with lettuce or peanut butter, or whatever.

Yes, it was quite challenging to give the carbs/sugars up. However, after doing it for about 3 weeks, it got easier, and if we did "slip up" and indulge in something with refined sugars (a birthday party where we had a small slice of birthday cake at the celebration) it made both of us feel just AWFUL. Not guilty-awful.... physically awful. Like stomach ache awful.

I have friends who have done the paleo-diet, and by virtue of mom cooking that way, their kids have done it basically with them (though the kids weren't restricted at all when they were eating away from home where other foods were served/available), and they told me that after doing this for a while, that they went to a potluck at church and the kids (of course) "indulged" in the breads and a couple of cookies (not JUST cookies, mind you, but breads and casseroles, etc---we all know what types of foods are typically found at a potluck-- carbohydrate Central, right?). They said that after they got home ALL the kids were complaining about how they felt. So it isn't just a "mental" thing. The younger kids (5 and 8) really wouldn't have made any connection to eating what most people consider "normal" food and feeling miserable afterwards and the change from "their" normal diet--unless someone pointed it out to them. So there's some more anecdotal evidence for you. LOL

When I was following the low-carb (and adequate protein) plan, I really did feel like I had more energy all the time, too. It was just too difficult for me in the long run. I spent way too much of my life hyper-focused on what I could eat or not eat and how much, etc. (You don't STAY limiting to 30 carbs, after you get to where you want to be, you increase the carbs to around 60 grams/day and that is enough to make me start craving them all again and it is easier to just avoid them altogether than try to have a full carb sandwich, then no potato at dinner, etc).
Now I generally do the Alternate Day Diet, where I don't not eat ANYTHING. I eat whatever I want, in whatever quantity. But only every other day. The in-between days I restrict my calories--which by virtue of the number I limit to automatically means no sugar. So when I get my "free" day (every other day) I really don't feel good if I load up on sugars and junk--so I tend to eat a lot more healthy on those days as well.
And this plan sometimes is difficult the first few days as well--- but staying adequately hydrated goes a LONG WAY...

We recently cut out sugar, caffeine, processed foods, butter, salt, grains and certain seasonings. This is a bit more extreme but we did it to kind of reset our system. I'm not sure that I feel a ton better yet but my labs are much better and I know that I'm getting healthier on the inside. Both my husband and I have lost about 20 pounds each in 4 weeks. A bit extreme too. The first week we lost about 12 pounds and every week thereafter has only been a couple pounds a week. We also started drinking power water to help clean our liver. It' pure lemon and water. 4 oz 6 times a day. If any of you want more information, feel free to let me know. :) Good luck.

N.

Unless you have a diagnosis of yeast overgrowth (candidiasis) or diabetes, I just don't see that it would be nutritionally wise to eliminate sugar entirely (especially for children). Sugar is being demonized the same way fat was demonized back in the 1980's when everything was "low fat". Now everything is "low carb" or sweetened with artificial sugar like Splenda or "all natural" stevia, both of which have questionable safety. Moderation and self-control are the key. Anytime our diets are out of balance, our health will suffer.
Personally, I have suffered from yeast overgrowth in my intestines for the past few months after taking steroids and antibiotics last Spring. So, I have eliminated refined sugars almost completely for the last 8 weeks, added some foods that have antifungal properties, and I have lost 10 lbs and feel amazingly energetic and all my symptoms have resolved. I had a problem and diet and some supplements helped remedy it. However, if you choose to embark on such a nutritional journey of eliminating sugar, please seek professional advice beforehand. Just as being "gluten-free" is not healthy for all people (gluten free products tend to have higher sugar content), "no sugar" isn't the holy grail for health and weight loss either. Nurse Midwife Mom of 3

I have started baking with Splenda but I don't have time to bake very much.

We are also eating more honey. I tried local honey to get rid of my allergies (jury is still out on that one) and it seems to be helping my joint pain a lot!

Yes and I am still trying! I purchased the Belly Fat cure book which has a lot a great recipes for those who would like to cut sugar out of your diet and it also states that Dark chocolate is the best desert to have....

I also greatly reduced it. I found that the more I ate the more I wanted. I do feel better and my goal was to be healthier.

Morning
We don't eat a lot of sugar either but nonetheless, I am trying to cut it from our diets completely.. this includes' Gluten.. it's HARD!!!!!!!!:) hhahaha but we are managing.. It's only been almost a week, less Halloween whereby I had one piece of candy.. But overall, we are doing a great job. Does it make a difference? yes, so far, for me it does.. example.. usually right before the monthly... I CRAVE sugar and carbs.. but this time, the cravings, if any, were less severe and I managed to do really well and not indulge. additionally, I don't feel as anxious and get that foggy headed thinking as much (you know, how you can get mush brain right before your period) anyway.... as for weight, it's only been almost a week but I have dropped a couple of pounds. those , however, I consider "sugar" water loss. IF they stay gone for another week, then I know it's real fat.. Lastly, I have more energy... Which has meant, in a week's time, I have done, one spin class, three zumba's and two aerobics.... usually, I walk a lot.. but now, I incorporate more... which of course is why the addl weight loss, although I do believe it's because I am not on Gluten and sugar that I have more energy and feel so much better..

someone on this site.. recommended wellmama.com << GREAT site for recipes and why not to eat grains/processed sugar... (thanks to whomever recommended it) and gotta tell you.. it's a very inspiring blog... check it out

good luck!

I went sugar-free for a couple of weeks. It was great because after a while you start to really appreciate the natural sugars of fruit so much more. :-) I think it's great for people who are "addicted to sugar"...because it takes time for the body to adjust. After I adjusted, I was absolutely fine having sugar here and there.
However, it doesn't sound like you guys are sugar addicts. :) Maybe your husband would be satisfied with a glass of orange juice or a nice sweet pear? (what does he normally eat--donuts or cookies?)
Good job for going trans-fat free. We do that too. Isn't it great!? :-)
We also buy unsweetened cereals (my husband adds sugar but the kids and I don't), and we make smoothies with plain yogurt and unsweetened frozen fruit.) If you're used to sweetened yogurt, it's kind of "blah" at first...but once you get used to it, it's delicious! :-)
I've heard many people say that once they went sugar free, their skin cleared up. Or their anxiety went away. For me, I get less headaches.
Sugar causes inflammation. I'm not sure to what degree, but yes, it is obviously good to avoid it if possible. Good luck! Sorry, I just re-read my answer and I think I sound like a scatter brain, but I'm too tired to re-write. I'm pregnant, so I'll blame it on that. Pregnancy brain. :)

Dark chocolate, in moderation, is good for your heart :)

We cut some white sugar out; we buy wheat bread instead of white, get whole grain or wheat pasta's instead of the regular kind, stuff like that... I feel better about doing it, but I'm not sure it's made so much of a difference.

We don't drink soda's and rarely drink juices... we hardly ever eat candy or sweets... I think if you try to completely cut out sugar you're going to cave in and binge, and that's worse for you than indulging in a little every day!

I don't put sugar in my coffee, only creamer, and sweeten things with either honey or vanilla extract instead of white sugar... it's a lifestyle change, not just a dietary change. Can't hurt to try it!! Good luck :)

Sometimes people feel better when they cut out sugar because they had a candida overgrowth. Candida feeds on sugar, so cutting sugar means the extra candida died off and they feel better!

What you need to avoid is High Fructose Corn Syrup (Corn Sugar). also fake sugars like Splenda. Eating some white sugar isn't going to hurt you, but honey and molasses are also good sweeteners.

Try Xylitol or Stevia as a natural replacement. They are good for you!

I greatly reduced the amt of refined sugar in my home as well as sodium and bad fats. Yes, we are doing well over all and it was chosen for a few reasons 1. I am obese 2. it runs in my family 3. my son has ADHD Did I cut it out all together? No but it has been greatly reduced. In my baking I have found that Splenda works very well on everything BUT cookies. I also have found other ingredients that work well and try to use sucunat (sp) sugar in the raw when I can too. It can be found in an organic form and is supposed to be better for your over all. So, I have made and am continuing to make adjustments to the family diet.