sugar in fresh fruit

RhiannonW

Cathlete
For those of you who have de-sugarized your eating, how does fresh fruit come in to play? Doesn't the sugar contained in the fruit trigger sugar cravings?

And does the use of artificial sweeteners trigger sweet cravings?

Thanks everyone.
 
Wow I'm glad you posted this. It is similar to a question I asked on the other sugar thread. Please sugar free people - give some advice.

I will answer MHO on the artificial sweetener thing. (this is based on my personal experience when I was essentially sugar free for 2 years) I believe that the flavor - taste - sensation of the artificial sweeteners keeps your MIND in the mode of wanting sugar. There may be a physical thing too, and this may be something like salt - a tolerance thing. If you cut back on the salt, you will notice that 'normal' things taste too salty i.e. canned green beans (yuck) or restaurant (fast) food. But it you are used to a lot of salt then pretty soon you are salting already salty stuff. Its like your taste buds build up a tolerance and you need more of it to taste it. I think this is true for sugar/artificial sweeteners.

As far as the fruit, when I was sugar free I ate fruit. Probably 2 or 3 servings a day but I DID NOT drink fruit juices. I DID NOT eat fruit alone. I would have 1/2 a banana on my oatmeal and am apple or pear or some grapes at the end of my lunch. This did not send me in to a sugar spiral. Is this psychological or physical or both - I don't know. I think eating the fruit with something else was part of it. Also eating the fruit rather than drinking juice gives you fiber with the intake too. And it takes ALOT of fruit to make a glass of juice so you are really getting a sugar WALLOP.

RhiannonW I remember when I was sugar free, I didn't think about it. I didn't read about desserts and I actively kept my mind away from the habit of dessert. I am really interested in regaining my previous good habits. I would certainly appreciate any tips you can give me about dealing with sugar. I believe you wrote previously that you were sugar free for a while and then fell off the wagon, and that is why I ask for tips.

tia
-joy
 
Artificial sweeteners act just about the same as sugar for me. I can tolerate the liquid version of Splenda (which isn't readily available in this country in its pure form, but can be found in products like Davinci Sugar Free Syrups, Diet Rite Cola, etc)--but I try to keep that to a minimum too, it doesn't cause cravings, I'd just rather keep things a bit more "healthy". Sugar alcohols and nutrasweet especially cause all kinds of problems for me--cravings included--so I eat very little of the products that contain them.

The sugar in fruit doesn't seem to trigger cravings as such, but it will cause other problems for me if I eat too much (candida issues).
 
Donna, thanks,
Whoa, candida issues...that is what I was trying to think of with Wayne (icklemoley sp?) I guess that is off this topic though, but I was wondering if his health issues were a male version of that (I'm really pretty ignorant here) Guess I better formulate a question and ask it somewhere else...
-joy
 
Joy, according to what I've read about Candida, men can get it as well...it doesn't only affect the female stuff (trying not to get too graphic here, LOL). In fact my problem is a systemic problem, not with the female stuff.
 
I don't think sugar causes the same sugar cravings since the spike in blood sugar is not as great when you eat fruit due to the fiber content. Of course all fruits are different, but I would not worry about cravings...that is just me.....


Janice
 
Fructose found in the natural environment (i.e., fruits) is not the same as fructose that has been taken out of its source, such as in table sugar, which is a combination of glucose and fructose, or in high-fructose corn syrup, which is in a lot of processed foods.

I've always reached for fruit when I want something sweet, and so far it has never made me hunt urgently for sweeter fare.

I use artificial sweeteners only in my coffee. It hasn't triggered more sugar cravings for me either. I know I should avoid these as well, but I can't take my coffee black.:)

Pinky
 
Hi joy,

What helped me last year:
1) I read The Yeast Syndrome
2) Stopped eating any sugar after 6pm including yogurt, fresh fruit.
3) Threw out and stopped buying sugar and white flour so I couldn't bake
4) Started drinking 120 oz water per day
5) Replaced all snacks with fresh vegetables

I was at my goal and began searching for a maintenance plan. I'm still desperately searching.

What helped you go, and stay, sugar free for 2 years?
 
>Well, that's kind of what I was wondering about. Thanks.
>May I pass you're name on to Wayne?
>-j

Absolutely! :)
 
Hi,
I think the biggest thing that helped me stay sugar free was momentum.
I started with a modest goal of giving up desserts only for 6 weeks. I defined dessert as pastries (including cookies,) candy and ice cream.
When the 6 weeks was over I had lost weight and girth (and fat) and I was Afraid to eat a dessert - afraid of being fat again- not from one dessert but from the lack of control. So I went another span of time- another couple of months.

I thought about it less and less and I was able to put it out of my mind. I had developed some good habits.
I didn't eat after the dinner meal
I didn't munch on pre-packaged snacks - like chips, fritos, etc

In short, it was almost like a switch had been flipped in my brain.
I'm searching for that switch to flip it back on again.
-joy
 
Another question.
Donna you mentioned cutting out caffiene. I'm curious how caffeine affects your cravings. I don't drink a lot of coffee but I really really enjoy what I drink.
-joy
 
I also do not have a problem with fruit. I also put dried fruit and frozen fruit in cereals and yogurt. No problem. Again, I think this could be problematic for some people, but I do ok with it.
 
joy ? RE: sugar in fresh fruit

I completely understand about the switch. You described it to a 'T'.
That's exactly what I experienced last year. I too am waiting for the switch to turn on again!
What triggered my latest attempt was I felt my pants getting tighter and kept telling myself 'fat takes more room than muscle'. Also, the fat on top of muscle just jiggled and disgusted me. I had to do something. I also keep telling myself that it'll only take a few days to see some small results. So, beginning Wed night after dinner I began my latest attempt. I'm almost 2 days now. The momentum of last year isn't with me, but I'm excited I've made it longer than any other time since last year. Weekend coming up will be hard. My dauhgter's 5th birthday parties.

Another thing I stopped doing(or at least try) is eating the kid's leftovers.
 
I don't think it was me...but I actually don't drink/eat caffeine, but that's mostly because I can't sleep as it is and any caffeine whatsoever (even as early as 6:00 in the morning) causes me to lay awake for hours. I never noticed it to especially cause cravings...but I like my coffee sweet, so it's more what I put in it that's like to cause problems. :) :)
 

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top