As part of my Lyme treatment, I am currently on a sugar free (including fruit) & gluten free diet. I've had some issues with yeast in my digestive track so I've learned the hard way that my body should not have sugar at this time.
What about artificial sweeteners? Do they also feed yeast? If so, are they all created equal or are some worse than others in this regard?
Thanks - K
Posted by hopeful_K (Member # 25915) on :
And... when I said "including fruit", I meant there is also NO fruit in my diet.
Any suggestions of what I can eat when I want something sweet?
Posted by INEBG (Member # 27690) on :
I am susceptible to yeast, too. I do not eat fruit except for lemons and limes. When I'm doing well, I eat a few less-than-ripe berries.
Not sure about artificial sweeteners and yeast, but I don't use them because they are bad for me. Stevia does not contribute to yeast, and it's safe and natural. That is the sweetener I use when I have any yeast issue. If things are good, sometimes I will use an alcohol sugar which seems to be less of a problem for me than any other more conventional sweetener.
Also, because they convert to sugar, I limit whole grains severely, and I do not eat any refined grains at all.
Sweet stuff I have - lemonade sweetened with stevia. Zevia soda on occasion (sweetened with stevia and an alcohol sugar). TJ's dark chocolate sweetened with maltitol - I chop up one square and mix it with cocoa nibs (unsweetened cocoa beans) and walnut bits.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Yes they can!! Only Stevia is OK.
You can try using TINY amounts, which is what I'm doing since I'm now very sensitive to stevia! AARRGGHH!! I have to have a big glass of iced tea everyday!
Also beware of sugar alcohols.. VERY bad for feeding yeast.
Posted by apljack (Member # 14233) on :
I stopped drinking diet soda about 6 weeks ago. i think it has made a difference in how I feel and I seem to have a little more clarity. I would suggest going off of all sweeteners except the Stevia if you must have something.
Posted by hopeful_K (Member # 25915) on :
Thanks everyone. I'll give Stevia a try & keep it to a minimum.
Lymetoo - When you mention sugar alcohols do you mean alcoholic beverages or is this found in other things too?
For a girl with a sweet tooth this restricted diet has been a struggle. BUT, I would do anything to get rid of my Lyme symptoms & have my life back. I'm sure most would agree.
Thanks - K
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Sugar alcohols are things like xylitol, etc. Just go to Wikipedia for a basic definition. Sugar alcohols have to be limited - for everyone - as just a little too much and severe painful gas and loose bowels can result. In gum, for a piece or two a day, sugar alcohols can be fine and do not contribute to tooth decay (as lest xylitol and erythrotol don't).
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For artificial sweeteners, notes below are about aspartame but it also applies to all artificial sweeteners and separate searches can be done for each one of those. MSG is also discussed in Blaylock's work.
As TuTu, says STEVIA (from the plant) is okay. But not if it has additives.
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Aspartame toxicity is not so much due to the liver, exactly, as it has such immediate reaction that the liver barely has a chance to deal with it. It is very excitatory and neurotoxic - to the BRAIN. Even a trace - even in gum. Nearly instantly and then the cascade reaction goes on.
Even a trace can kill brain cells. Anxiety can reach new heights. Depression new lows. With even a trace. It should be avoided at all costs. Totally.
Same with MSG. Google for all the names that hides under as well as all the cutesy products - and even medicines - that contain aspartame.
=============
- This is just a start to the research about the neuro-toxic effects of aspartame. -------------------------
Excitotoxins - The Taste That Kills - by M.D. Russell L. Blaylock
This is the 1997 edition
No customer reviews at this link but you can look inside the book and read (59 customer reviews) at the link for the 1996 edition of that book - http://tinyurl.com/as6je7
The customer reviews, in themselves, are an education.
Relief of fibromyalgia symptoms following discontinuation of dietary excitotoxins.
Ann Pharmacother. 2001 Jun;35(6):702-6. PMID: 11408989 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
CONCLUSIONS: The elimination of MSG and other excitotoxins from the diets of patients with fibromyalgia offers a benign treatment option that has the potential for dramatic results in a subset of patients.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Aug 8; [Epub ahead of print] Links
Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain.
Humphries P, Pretorius E, Naud� H.
[1] 1Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
[2] 2Department of Anatomy, University of the Limpopo, South Africa.
The use of the artificial sweetener, aspartame, has long been contemplated and studied by various researchers, and people are concerned about its negative effects. Aspartame is composed of phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%) and methanol (10%).
Phenylalanine plays an important role in neurotransmitter regulation, whereas aspartic acid is also thought to play a role as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
Glutamate, asparagines and glutamine are formed from their precursor, aspartic acid. Methanol, which forms 10% of the broken down product, is converted in the body to formate, which can either be excreted or can give rise to formaldehyde, diketopiperazine (a carcinogen) and a number of other highly toxic derivatives.
Previously, it has been reported that consumption of aspartame could cause neurological and behavioural disturbances in sensitive individuals.
Headaches, insomnia and seizures are also some of the neurological effects that have been encountered, and these may be accredited to changes in regional brain concentrations of catecholamines, which include norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine.
The aim of this study was to discuss the direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain, and we propose that excessive aspartame ingestion might be involved in the pathogenesis of certain mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR 2000) and also in compromised learning and emotional functioning.
---- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 8 August 2007; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602866.
PMID: 17684524 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] -
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
i think i posted this in general but what about agave?
i read somewhere on the net that this is ok for candida.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
No agave if you have yeast.
As for stevia, keebler said no additives... one of the best is Sweet Leaf. NO junk added.
Hopeful.. Sugar alcohols are usually found in sugar free candies and cookies.
Alcohol is another whole issue.
Posted by nellers78 (Member # 26774) on :
Artificial sweetners are terrible for ones body anyway.
When you're on the yeast diet, in the first few months at least, you really need to be eating only meat and veggies.
It is crazy strict but it usually works.
For me, I stay away from EVERYTHING except meat and veggies and SMALL amounts of brown rice for the first few months ... not even salad dressings, because the vinegar is a no-no.
Then I'll start adding a little bit into my diet. See how I feel and go from there.
Yeast is a pain in the rump.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Stevia! Totally love it. I agree, make sure you get one with no junk added.
Also, green apples are okay. And with some almond butter, it's a nice treat.
For yeast, I've also recently added in some unsweetened Kefir (tastes a little like plain yogurt mixed with buttermilk) every day - about 3 or 4 oz. twice a day. It really seems to help. And I've been able to add in small amounts of fruit to my diet, and still doing well! This makes me sooooo happy.
Posted by hopeful_K (Member # 25915) on :
![[Frown]](frown.gif)