posted
One of the first things my LLMD told me at my first appointment was to eliminate sugar from my diet. Well it's a year later, and although I have cut some out, I still am like a sugar addict, honestly.
How much is the sugar hindering my recovery? And why can't I just stop eating it and move on? My son's birthday was yesterday, for example, and the cake is so awesome, if I keep it in the house I will eat some every day.
I know I have Candida, and yet I somehow lack the will power to just eliminate the sugar.
I just wondered if anyone can relate to this, and maybe if I heard how crucial it is to my recovery, maybe then I might be able to muster up some will power.
I get depressed about it, and I know it effects my mood as well as my physical health. Why isn't that enough???
Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Hi,
I understand. I was the biggest chocoholic that ever lived.
When I finally discovered that I had Lyme and knew I had to give up sugar, I just resolved to do it because getting better means more to me than eating some sugar for temporary satisfaction.
The first 2 weeks without it was the hardest, because I was still having cravings.
After that I still loved it and wished I could have it, but I wasn't craving it.
I still eat fruit without any problems.
I do not eat any form of processed sugar or sugar substitute and I think it is crucial for my recovery.
I do not eat honey or maple syrup, etc.
It definitely helps my pain/stiffness/soreness/achiness, brain fog, insomnia and itching to avoid it.
I do not keep candy or junk foods in the house.
Making it unavailable is key to success.
If I did it, you can do it.
Why don't you set a start date and we'll cheer you on, especially for the first couple weeks!
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
I understand how you feel. I was a pastry addict prior to getting sick. Every morning I'd have a bagel or some kind of pastry with my coffee.
I had to decide which was more important, being sick and in pain with lyme disease or my pastries. I chose to get well. Still working on it, not easy.
It's a tough disease to deal with and requires discipline and sacrifice.
Amanda
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14107
posted
I know exactly how you feel. i have tried numerous times to give up sugar, and even after a period of two weeks, I was still craving it like mad, so I started eating it again.
I don't have candida, but from what I hear, having that will make you crave sugar even more.
I know that there are a lot of people who poo-poo this idea, but I use sugar substitutes. I have to.
For me personally, a big part of it is psychological. I have lost my home, job, life savings, have no family to help me, no insurance at the end of this month, am filing for disability which I hear can take 2-4 years, and I am really stressed. My life is so limited because of my disabilities, and sugar is the only "sweetness", I have in my life right now.
Also, I have to say, I have not noticed a correlation between eating some sugar and my lyme getting better or worse. The best that I ever was since lyme was a period where I ate candy almost every day, and my white blood cell counts finally came up. So I don't buy into the idea that sugar is hard on your immune system.
But I know I am risking Candida, so I do try to limit it to at least every other day...
-------------------- "few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" - Mark Twain Posts: 1008 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Boy, I am in the same boat as all of you. I keep hearing I need to give up sugar and I have REALLY tired to cut back...
I try not to eat sweets but I too crave them. I probably have Candida, as I don't take a probiotic, just got one from Doctor I need to start taking.
I have cut back but not sure I can cut out completely.
I want to start eating oatmeal but racked my brain trying to figure out how I could sweeten it, as I know putting sugar, honey or syrup would be pure suicide (any suggestions)
Also, has any one tried Stevie?? I asked my Doctor about it and he said ...it's still sugar.
Good luck, Im right there with you.
God Bless,
Karen Posts: 423 | From Virginia | Registered: Nov 2009
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Stevia is NOT sugar, like agave syrup and honey are still sugar. Maybe your LLMD was misinformed. It's a sweet substance from a leaf. So it's a sugar substitute that comes from a natural form.
I honestly don't have TOO hard of a time giving up sugar. For me, it's moreso having simple carbs in the morning, like whoever said that they like a bagel in the morning.
Whole wheat bagels are nearly just as bad in terms of spiking your blood sugar as white bagels, so to me, I don't really see the difference in white vs. wheat except the added nutrients in whole wheat.
But when I get up in the morning, I just really need something with carbs. Without carbs, I get really grumpy. I've tried just having eggs, and my body just doesn't feel good without some sort of carb.
Can't figure out if I should feel guilty about that or not.
Sometimes I eat candy or sweet things on occasion, but I try to limit it. Right now I'm at the point where I could more easily cut out sweets than a nice sandwich with bread, or a bagel in the AM.
But along the lines of what Amanda said, I don't feel any worse when I eat sugar, so it's hard to be motivated to not eat it.
I might have candida, but I don't have any proof that it's responsible for my symptoms...so it's hard for me to cut back.
I don't even get when people say, "do you have candida?" because one of my relatives who is in med school said to me one day, "you realize that everyone has candida in some quantity in their body, right?" So in other words, you just don't want too much. I guess we all have some? I dunno, just rambling.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
quote:Originally posted by Karen Mc: Boy, I am in the same boat as all of you. I keep hearing I need to give up sugar and I have REALLY tired to cut back...
I try not to eat sweets but I too crave them. I probably have Candida, as I don't take a probiotic, just got one from Doctor I need to start taking.
I have cut back but not sure I can cut out completely.
I want to start eating oatmeal but racked my brain trying to figure out how I could sweeten it, as I know putting sugar, honey or syrup would be pure suicide (any suggestions)
Also, has any one tried Stevie?? I asked my Doctor about it and he said ...it's still sugar.
Good luck, Im right there with you.
God Bless,
Karen
Stevia is not sugar. Your doctor is mistaken. Many people here use it and like it. I don't care for it personally, but it's a good option if you want to avoid sugar.
posted
I do use stevia, but cannot totally give up sugar. I do have candida too. I have cut back, but just have to have it sometimes.
I really commend those of you who stay totally away from sugar. Although I do believe some ppl crave sugar more than others. My husband would rather have chips.
Posts: 847 | From upstateNY | Registered: Dec 2007
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Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
Some people tolerate stevia well.
I tried it and my GI tract could not handle it.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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massman
Unregistered
posted
Oatmeal - add bananas if you can (they are sweet), peanut or other types of nut butters and cinnamon.
I don't have candida, but from what I hear, having that will make you crave sugar even more.
VERY true.. and that is the main problem. The more you crave, the more you eat.
You have to break the cycle. If you can maintain a sugar-free existence for at least 3 wks, your sugar cravings will go way down.
Do your best to follow this 5-step Candida Elimination plan. If you don't do all 5 at the same time, you will fail.
I still struggle with yeast and have done a lot to combat it. I've been abx free for 5 yrs, minus the times I've had to take them for other infections. (such as my current sinus infection)
So I'm back to following the plan as closely as I can.
If you're still on abx, you must take something to prevent yeast... either natural as listed in the link below...or script as in Nystatin.
Sugar substitutes and sugar-free candies and cookies will only stimulate your desire for more sugar.
quote:Originally posted by massman: [QB] Oatmeal - add bananas if you can (they are sweet), peanut or other types of nut butters and cinnamon.
I can't eat any of those while in the throes of yeast!!!! (except maybe "other types of nut butters")
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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sutherngrl
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Member # 16270
posted
My hubby eats ice cream every single day, one of my favorite sweets. Hard to deal with watching him eat it. So I usually cheat and have ice cream once a week, sometimes 2x. Other than that, I don't sit around eating sugar every day.
Unless you are struggling with yeast issues, I don't see why having a little sugar is that big of a deal. There are worst things than sugar, like alcohol, or fast foods that are full of preservatives, etc.
I do eat things that are very good for me, like juicing several times a week. I figure that makes up for the ice cream.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
I gave up sugar two years ago and don't miss it. I do eat honey and maple syrup. I have honey in my daily cup of tea in the morning. Sometimes I make something like a carrot bread using honey. For Christmas I made a fruit and nut cake with honey, whole wheat flour and dried fruit like dried apricots and blueberries which are full of vitamins and antioxidants. You just have to rethink how you will treat yourself. I also eat a container of Activia everyday and I know it has some sugar in it but I can trust myself to only eat that and not jump into candy or worse. When I am really feeling I need a special something I get candy with artificial sweetner. Although it is still very unhealthy I eat so rarely it is ok in my mind. And I never have the craving for more and more that sugar gives me.
Sugar feeds bacteria. When they give cancer patients CT scans they give them radioactive glucose, sugar syrup, and then when they do the scan wherever the glucose is concentrated is where the cancer is. Cancer thrives on sugar and so do the bacteria, so when you eat sugar you are feeding your enemy. You have to stay away from white flour as well and other food high on the glycemic index which converts quickly to glucose. If you like bananas it is best to eat them when they are a little green. Grains should be whole grain, nothing processed ever. The best thing is those horrible vegetables nobody likes to think about making but actually taste pretty good when you eat them.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
You can do a stepdown diet - instead of sugar, eat sweet fruits. Then when over the hump, eliminate the sweet fruits.
We're like alcoholics who can't have a drink. If we have sugar, we'll want it. So the key is to be ready with nonsugary foods at all times. There are whole lists of noncandida-feeding foods and recipes - best to know about them and have them ready before you start kicking sugar.
Some people also do some antifungal drugs. Be careful tho, 'cause we can have a herx. Do any of that slowly.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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massman
Unregistered
posted
Why oh why does everybody try to handle yeast the exact same way ?
I guess if enough people say the same thing then that thing is true, right ? So like if 7,000 people said your skin is green then your skin IS green, right ?
Search www.amazon.com for "Conquer Candida and Restore Your Immune System" by Jack Tips. Have your library find it for you. Review it. Try it (oh so radical)
Often seems here that most members try to + do find the toughest way to deal with a problem then complain about it.
Umpteenth post on this exact subject. Give yourself permission to get off the merryground.
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Massman,
What kind of steps does that book advocate?
I read the description and it said it's not about the candida, it's about your immune system. But I'm not seeing a table of contents or anything online.
Unfortunately I can't afford to buy the book. Not exaggerating either.
Could you go into a little more detail?
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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massman
Unregistered
posted
lymetoo - why no cinnamon ?
Hoosiers - don't currently have a copy readily available. But much less diet changes than most recommend.
And....goodness, I am entering dangerous territory here...NO DRUGS !
Nystatin pushers may freak about that.
Seriously ask your library to ask other libraries they work with to see if they can get a copy.
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posted
i totally broke the no sugar diet this weekend--- and im not going to beat myself up over it--the disease is hard enough.. will get back on the wagon tomorrow Posts: 245 | From East Brunswick, NJ | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
Thanks for all the input. I'd never heard of nut butter but I googled it and will give it a try a long with the other stuff.
I must say peppermint ice cream is my all time favorite and you only get it this time of year so I might treat myself to 1 container and start my no sugar in Jan ????
I know I know.... Im doing myself harm but like you said it's like an alcoholic I know I shouldn't but....
I did get some gluten free cereal and mac and cheese at the grocery yesterday. And I bought bananas (which I usually don't for the cereal) that I will try on the oatmeal.
Was gonna try stevia but because of cost I decided to wait.. but I will give it a try.
Thanks a million
Karen (:
Posts: 423 | From Virginia | Registered: Nov 2009
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julielynne4
Unregistered
posted
Wow everyone, thanks a lot for all your input. I am somewhat more encouraged now, and I am hoping I can make some changes.
My sugar cravings are out of control, and they have been for years. I have had yeast issues as long as I can remember.
I am sure that you're right about the candida makeing the cravings worse.
I am curious as to why Diflucan or Nystatin would be bad - massman, can you sum that up for me? If you don't mind...I was on Diflucan for about a month and man, the herx was harsh.
Thanks again everyone, I really like the idea of choosing a start date! Julie
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posted
Yeah, Karen, this month is dangerous for all the holiday treats, so starting in January sounds like a better plan!
You could use this time to study what to do.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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Amanda
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14107
posted
Some ice cream comes with artifical sweeteners (BUT there is still some sugar, but much better than regular ice cream).
ITs kind of a trial and error thing, you gotta find what works for you. And sometimes, I find I need to adopt a new stratigem!
I add stevia and milk to tea in the winter, that helps. And I have some sugar substitute candies, that I don't keep in the house, but that if things get bad, I at least can run to store and have a plan.
Funny, I took diflucan, then nystatin for over three months and never had any kind of herx from it.
Certain abx promote yeast overgrowth more than others. biaxin and especially flagyl are famous for yeast. And , of course IVs.
-------------------- "few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" - Mark Twain Posts: 1008 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I have the same problem. Really don't want to give up sugar entirely. I don't eat it alot but don't want to give it up either. None of my LLMD's have ever told me to by the way.
-------------------- My lyme disease blog: http://lymetimes3.blogspot.com/ One BIG Lyme family! I tested CDC + 10/08 My mom Igenex + 11/08 & My brother Igenex + 4/09, My 2 boys some + & IND bands, clinical diagnosis 3/09 (youngest has Aspergers too) Posts: 470 | From Painesville, Ohio | Registered: Mar 2009
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
How bad are your symptoms after eating sugar?
Mine are better than they once were, but are bad enough to keep from eating it daily.
I think I am still recovering form Thanksgiving.
In my opinion it is easier to give it up if it causes you to feel deathly ill.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Its pretty hard to avoid sugar. Not because I crave it (not at all) but because its practically everywhere
Most "healthy diets" I read look insane - I would be malnourished anorexic on them in no time
Posts: 856 | From MA | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
I just changed my diet about a week ago. No sugar for me and I don't crave it but I really want it especially some of my homemade banana pudding. :0)
I'm trying to do the candida diet but finding it hard to stick to. It's just hard to find stuff to eat especially when you are sick.
Not eating bread is the hardest because that means no sandwiches which are easy to fix.
I've lost 4 pounds already and really don't want to lose more. Not sure how to keep from it.
I'm really going to give this a shot though. I'm to the point that I've got to get better or just quit trying. I'm so sick of being sick so I'm really going to stick with it.
It's definitely not easy by any means.
Sapphire
Posts: 495 | From KY USA | Registered: Dec 2004
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massman
Unregistered
posted
Do antibiotics make lyme eventually stronger ? Dont the tough ones hide and then when they reproduce they are then tougher ?
Why wouldn't the same happen with yeast ? I feel that is what happens when Nystatin etc. is used. I have been taught that by natural health pros.
Why would anyone want to encourage a stronger, tougher strain to evolve ?
Part of my frustration is that most medical pros recommend only strong drugs. Since we are all different chemically and energetically perhaps taking that into account might be more helpful.
And because a drug worked well for you does that always mean that is best ? Some things may work better but they may not have been tried yet.
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What about the book The Yeast Connection by Crook? How does that one compare to the book you mentioned above? I have Crooks book and it is old but seems to cover the basics. Just wondering if there is more in Jack Tips book?
Posts: 476 | From Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2007
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massman
Unregistered
posted
Stacy - I do not have a copy now, believe I lent it out and it did not make its way back.
There is a difference between the two as Jacks' is a lot about restoring and balancing the immune system so yeast will not proliferate. So restore + balance means the immune system acts appropriately when needed.
Does NOT overreact or underreact.
Isn't Crooks about starving yeast + killing it ? I recall having + reading Crooks' book about 2 centuries ago. Seems that long anyway.
So I guess the difference is kill yeast + avoid sugar versus restore + rebalance immune system so it acts appropriately.
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posted
Massman.. nothing wrong with cinnamon.. I just forgot to delete it when quoting you.
Karen... cereal and mac and cheese?? uh oh
massman... I'll have to look back through Jack's book. I've done most things in the book with no result in my favor. I may not have done those things for a long enough time.. I don't know.. read it about 2 yrs ago or whenever it was that you were here last.
So I'm back to doing what "works" for me... eliminating sugar.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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nefferdun
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20157
posted
If you crave ice cream, you can buy a cheap ice cream maker that does not require ice, and make it with yogurt. Put all the peppermint in you want. I existed on frozen raspberry yogurt last summer. You can also make smoothies in your blender using frozen banannas (for the sweetness) chopped into slices so it is not to hard to blend. . . and other frozen fruit like blueberries or strawberries - cover with milk, yogurt or juice and blend. You will love it. Slice the banannas and spread on a cookie sheet, then freeze. You can then put them into baggies for storage. You can also add supplements like vitamin C etc.
-------------------- old joke: idiopathic means the patient is pathological and the the doctor is an idiot Posts: 4676 | From western Montana | Registered: Apr 2009
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massman
Unregistered
posted
Lymetoo - ever seen Jack or heard him speak ?
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posted
Lymetoo, Yeah I found glutein free cereal and mach an chesse--I did check and it didnt say sugar in the organically grown mac and cheese although there is probably some in the dairy part of it..
as for the gulten free cereal it does include syrup and honey but it is ...gluten free, low fat and low sodium...so hey 3 out of 4 aint bad---lol....no wondered it didn't taste so bad I had expectd it to taste like paper.
Oh well.....
Take care all,
karen (:
Posts: 423 | From Virginia | Registered: Nov 2009
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posted
Thank you Massman. Our daughter has just thrown out the Diflucan and is taking an alternative route to cope with the yeast. Glad to know we're not nuts.
Posts: 228 | From Mass. | Registered: Feb 2009
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Amanda
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14107
posted
you know, there are several kinds of probiotics that help digest the yeast.
The product I am familiar with is called, Threelac (I think).
Also, there is a "good" yeast that helps to crowd out the "bad"yeast in your gut, the product is called florastor
But that only addresses yeast in your gut.
-------------------- "few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" - Mark Twain Posts: 1008 | From US | Registered: Dec 2007
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You are right Crooks book is about starving and killing yeast. His book is about that old too (LOL). The dietary restrictions are very severe in the initial stages. Anyone interested in weight loss will surely loose some on this phase. I lost 27 lbs in 2 months with his diet tips. But again it is very restrictive.
I will have to check out Jack's book.
Posts: 476 | From Columbus, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2007
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
One thing here that can help with cravings is Vitamin C.
You can get pure Vitamin C powder. Just taking a little bit can turn cravings off.
If you take too much, you can get runny butt, so taking a little at a time--whenever a craving for some food comes over you--can work well.
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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julielynne4
Unregistered
posted
Cass - I had no idea about Vitamin C helping with cravings. Thanks for that tip. I do have vitamin C but not pure vitamin C powder. Does that make a difference? JL
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cantgiveupyet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8165
posted
massman- what do you recommend to fight the yeast while being on abx? Do you think Olive leaf is more affective then Difflucan as a preventative measure.
nystatin, nor probiotics work for me while on abx to defend against yeast.
When I get yeast mine is always resistant to Difflucan has been since day one of getting this illness. So it is the hard core Nazarol(spelling) for me.
I dont crave sugar or carbs, but both tend to make me sick after I eat them.
-------------------- "Say it straight simple and with a smile."
"Thus the task is, not so much to see what no one has seen yet, But to think what nobody has thought yet, About what everybody sees."
-Schopenhauer
pos babs, bart, igenex WB igm/igg Posts: 3156 | From Lyme limbo | Registered: Oct 2005
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It wasn't because of the cravings though which is what usually gets me. Basically, it was out of necessity.
I had a stroke like episode Monday and ended up in the ER. Details are in another post. So when you can barely walk you eat whatever is easiest.
I'm like some of you, I don't notice any difference in sx when I do eat sugar. I just don't want to feed those little buggers.
I thought I had yeast so that was motivating me alot, too. I don't have it, it was the stevia causing my problems.
Amanda, I've been using Threelac (not Theralac) and it is good stuff. I haven't had a yeast prob. since using it and I've been using it for a few years.
Still kicking myself for falling off the wagon. I will get back on once again.
Sapphire
Posts: 495 | From KY USA | Registered: Dec 2004
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massman
Unregistered
posted
cantgiveupyet - it is my understanding that abx kill the good bacteria in the gut + THEN with a "clear field" the yeast takes over + grows quickly.
So the competition between yeast + good bacteria is what is going on.
Perhaps taking probiotics (good bacteria) on an ongoing basis is wise (even though it may be expensive). It seems some brands work better than others for each individuals.
Have you ever heard of prebiotics ? I do not know much about them but perhaps some others do and / or explore the net about them. Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooogledotcommie
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glm1111
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Member # 16556
posted
I think dark chocolate is antifungal and also an antioxidant. It has to be 70% or better. I usually eat the 85%. It help curve the craving for sweets,
Gael
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