Topic: Have tips for addicition to sugar or high fructose corn syrup?
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I really need to get this under control.
I was pregnant recently and miscarried. During that time, I began craving candy like Twizzlers and Starburst. It wasn't really the "fruity" component I was craving. I think I was literally craving the high fructose corn syrup.
I have never had anything like that in my life. I don't think it was really a "sugar" craving, because things like ice cream that were sweet but contained natural cane sugar, were not really appealing.
It was just the gross kinds of prepackaged candy, stuff I don't typically like.
I am still craving that stuff even though the miscarriage has been over for about a month. My massage therapist said she thinks the corn syrup is increasing my dopamine, and so my body is trying to make itself feel better on a neurochemical level.
I do feel depressed when I don't eat it. Especially at night, I just HAVE to have Twizzlers, kind of like I would imagine a cigarette craving. I think about them if I don't have them, and I want to go out and buy them. (no laughing!)
I just don't know how to get over that kind of craving. I really feel like I can't stop eating this stuff, even though I'm not eating insane amounts.
I know it is too much for a Lymie who needs to cut the sugars.
Does anyone know how you get rid of those types of cravings that come from the brain? Is there anything I can replace the candy with that is more Lyme friendly?
If I didn't have Lyme, I would probably just eat the Twizzlers and burn off the calories exercising, but I just know how bad these sugars are for us.
I am going to start reducing yeast with supps/prescriptions anyways because I am having GI issues, but like I said, I don't think this craving is yeast.
So what should I do? Ideas? I need to start somewhere! Thanks!
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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posted
One possibility is to switch to a atkins/paleo diet. You will feel tired for the first couple of weeks, but that will go away, as your body adapts to a fat-based diet.
That will also definitely help with the yeast problem. No carbs = no GI yeast.
Infact, I've stopped taking my nystatin because I feel I don't really need it anymore.
Posts: 330 | From Colorado, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
When I found out that almonds were good to supplement magnesium, I bought some and snacked on them constantly.
A month or two later, I noticed that I didn't crave chocolate anymore.
The candy may be providing something you need.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Hey Hoos - not sure if this is what you are looking for, but I got an audio book from the library a few years back by this author Geneen Roth who does really great work re: emotional eating, food addiction etc Anyway, here is a link to her site, maybe something you see will resonate with you
Hope you are able to get back on the road to healthy eating
-------------------- "We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us" - e.m. forster Posts: 921 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2004
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Thanks! Tonight seemed to be a little better....I think venting my frustrations with it helped.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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pamoisondelune
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11846
posted
Switch gradually to less harmful substitutes.
Switch first to raisins and dried apricots, dried pineapple, dried papaya.
You can make frozen chocolate milk or frozen pudding sweetened with stevia.
Fruit juices are sweet. Stwewed prunes with other fruits are sweet.
Try some fasting. After a fast, fill up on protein and vegetables, which you will really crave, and then STOP eating, NO DESSERT.
----Polly Polygonum
Posts: 1226 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Sorry Hoosiers but I too WANT MY SUGAR. The dried
fruit is a good idea. They also make yogurt covered
nuts and I popped a can of almonds last nite.
Honey a good alternative?
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
I might have one tip for you -- agave nectar.
You can buy it at a health food store. It is low on the glycemic index. Someone told me a tablespoon a day can be a good substitute for a sugar craving.
I sure can relate to your Twizzler addiction. I bought a bag the other night and couldn't stop eating them.
I have been feeling the sugar addiction over the past few weeks as well. It is really weird. I slipped on the no sugar diet and can't seem to get back on the wagon.
I have read on this site before, that we crave sugar b/c the lyme feeds off of it and gets its energy from it. So if you are killing something, its survival means, kicks in and creates cravings within us to keep the bacteria alive.
Maybe it is your body being tricked into thinking it wants sugar and it is really the lyme over-riding your system into really thinking it wants sugar?
So what helped me kick sugar before was thinking that I was starving this disease of its energy.
Monday, I swear I will be back on the anti-sugar diet!! but in the meantime....ummmm Twizzlers!!!
Posts: 379 | From Sydney, Australia | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
You notice where one poster mentioned almonds stopping her craving for chocolate.
One of the best tips I got from Sugar busters is to eat some peanut butter when craving sweets as it stabilizes your blood sugar.
It's worked for me as I don't keep sweets around anymore. I just put peanut butter on a healthy cracker like triscuit. I presume almonds do the same thing.
Posts: 805 | From Utopia | Registered: Feb 2006
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i have some agave nectar i got in mexico but i've been afraid to try it.
is it considered a honey? cause on the yeast diet we're not allowed any of that stuff.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
I use xylitol. It is a natural sugar alcohol, has bacteriostatic properties,does not cause the runs like some of them, safe for diabetics. Tastes good too. Find it at the supermarket with sugar subs. Brand name "Ideal".
-------------------- Sick since at least age 6, now 67. Decades of misdiagnosis. Numerous arthritic, neuro, psych, vision, cardiac symptoms. Been treating for 7 years, incl 8 mos on IV. Bart was missed so now treating that. Posts: 765 | From nw ct | Registered: Sep 2008
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
No Randi, it's low glycemic but honey is high glycemic.
Hoos, do you think it's caused by low blood sugar? Are you eating enough? Maybe it's a sugar craving because you need more calories?
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
Great ideas....I am another baddie in this dept.
In fact for two straight days all I have eaten is pudding and ice cream.
I do eat sugar free pudding with sugar free Cool Whip and sugar free ice cream when I can; but right now the stuff I have is not sugar free.
It's not even the sugar, I can't stand the thought of any cooked food and I have eaten all the fruit and veggies we bought when I had to go out to the bank last week.
I guess I really do crave something sweet though too, but the fruit takes care of that if I have some in the house.
I have hypoglycemia too, so one bite leads to another....the only thing that stops it in its tracks is generally peanut butter.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
The almonds provide magnesium. Chocolate provides magnesium too, but not as much.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
If you are really craving something like Twizzlers or Starburst you could try chewing some sugar free strawberry bubble gum. Then you could have some fun blowing bubbles too!
Or you could try eating a strong flavored peppermint. It might make help reduce your cravings.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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No grains, no starchy vegetables, no sweets, no junk of any sort.
After about a week all cravings will stop for most people. Hunger will generally come under control. For very difficult cases, it may be necessary to stop or cut back on the fruits for a time.
Posts: 845 | From Eastern USA | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
Some of the supplements I take are supposed to help with sugar cravings: L-Glutamine and Magnesium.
I think they may help -- I used to have big sugar cravings, but not so much anymore -- now it is stuff like pickles and chips.. also not great for you, but at least I am not binging on sugar -- cookies, candy and cake like I used to.
-------------------- Judy G. Posts: 122 | From Minnesota | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
Interesting about the magnesium and chocolate cravings....since I've started mag I'm not craving choc either!!!!
-------------------- "His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 136 Posts: 189 | From MN | Registered: Dec 2007
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runner21
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1974
posted
whole raw foods, increase greens , might be hard at first. go after fungus with herbs, etc. Juice, celery, romaine lettuce, zucchiini, cucumber, snack on cucumber...eat leafty greens, salads with protien, etc.. good luck
Posts: 1118 | From jacksonville,fl usa/santa rosa ca | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Stevia helps me. I like it in organic herbal teas etc.Lots of great idea's here. I know what you mean about venting helping.Better out than in. I went though a period of craving popcorn. Couldn't get enough. Then craving fruit,which I don't do well with if I eat to much. Take good care Joyce
Posts: 905 | From Santa Cruz,Calif | Registered: Aug 2005
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