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The Beginning of My Sugar-Free Life

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Is it possible to stop eating sugar and to live a sugar-free lifestyle? You say you're addicted and you just can't stop eating sugar. Is there any hope?

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I'm here to tell you that there is. Here's my story about how I got off of sugar. I hope it helps you to see that there is hope. If I can do it, you for sure can too.

Why I Changed to a Sugar Free Lifestyle. I was a sugaraholic, but candida was ruining my health. Here's how I knew I needed to change.Pin

If you've been around my blog for a while, you've noticed something.

  • I typically don't post recipes that include dried fruits.
  • I mostly use alternative sweeteners (like stevia and even–gasp–xylitol and erythritol.)
  • My recipes are almost 100% gluten-free and are moving more and more grain-free

Why is that?

Well, I used to be a real sugaraholic and that led to some pretty bad health effects.

My SAD (Standard American Diet) Childhood

I grew up in a family eating the Standard American Diet (SAD).  A typical daily menu would look like:

  • White bread toast with margarine and cinnamon sugar on it (and it for sure wasn't my Keto Cinnamon Sugar.
  • School lunch was maybe pizza, milk, and dessert.  When I got into high school, it was likely a sandwich. I actually don't recall what I ate then.
  • Dinner was often pasta or eating out at a fast food restaurant.
  • After school snacks were dry cereal, ice cream (and it wasn't this dairy-free sugar-free mint chocolate chip ice cream recipe).

What a mess.

As I grew older, my “health consciousness” grew, and I started eating more and more vegetables and fruits, and even whole grains, but I still was a real sugar addict.

I even worked at an ice cream parlor for years, which was a completely no good very bad idea.

All employees would snack on the ice cream and candy bar toppings (when we had time), and there were numerous days when I came home not wanting dinner at all.

The Beginning of Health Problems

Years went by.  I ended up with health issues that no one could connect the dots with.

  • itching in my ears, which the doctor said was likely just dry ears “It's a vicious cycle. Just stop scratching them. It'll go away.” But it didn't.
  • vaginal itching (diagnosed as vaginitis)
  • tinea versicolor (a fungus that discolors the back and abdomen with white, itchy spots. Typically it shows up in summer months.

And as more years went by, more conditions showed up:

  • bloating
  • on and off fatigue
  • mood fluctuations including anxiety
  • insomnia

I clearly remember the day (about 3 years ago) when I was standing after church, talking with two friends of mine. They were talking about candida and sugar and changing their diets.

I was listening, but basically might as well have had my fingers in my ears, because I didn't want to hear what they were saying.

They were talking about:

  • bloating
  • severe mood fluctuations
  • rashes
  • vaginal “issues”

(Hmmm…sounds familiar, eh?)

And they mentioned candida.

I'd heard about candida, but no doctor had said that I had it.

Hmmmm…

One of those women mentioned said she had had manic-depressive episodes and thought she'd have to give up homeschooling, but going sugar-free had helped her greatly.

I. didn't. want. to. hear. that.

Me?  Give up sugar.

No way.

Why I HAD to start a Sugar-free Lifestyle

Well, fast forward six months or a year.

My symptoms progressed to the point that I had:

– severe fatigue
– mood swings and depression (it's pretty easy to be depressed when you are severely fatigued.)
– itching scalp (sometimes this got really really bad.)
– insomnia (I had always had a hard time sleeping, but it was getting worse.)

I felt like I'd hit rock bottom.

I didn't know what to do, but a friend who participates in our family's whole foods co-op shared her struggles with sugar and candida with me.

She pointed me to a site called Whole Approach (a site that sadly is no longer around).  I took their Candida Symptom Assessment Questionnaire and my score was super high.

My allopathic background (I had been pre-med in college) led me to be suspicious of any “self-diagnosing questionnaire”, but I needed help.

I pored over their site, and ordered their cleansing and candida-killing supplements, and started the candida diet.

Well, there is a lot more to tell.

I had horrible candida die-off symptoms the first two weeks or so of the diet. And I do mean HORRIBLE.

My diet had changed and now I was basically living a sugar-free lifestyle including:

  • no sweeteners that feed candida (sugar, evaporated cane juice, sucanat, agave, maple syrup, honey, etc.)
  • no fruit
  • no dried fruit
  • limited starches

Later, after following their protocol pretty carefully, I found myself in a pit of bad health again.

Let's just suffice it to say that I now think there is much more to know about how to get rid of candida than just cutting back on sugars and starches.

But I think you'll be intrigued to hear more about candida and its ties to other health issues in the future.

We've had a lot of health struggles in our family.  It can be hard to deal with them all, but I do hope that what I share can bring help and healing to others. We have had a lot of miracles happened, which you can read some about here.

For more of the story, read:

Candida, My Childhood, and 5 Causes of Gut Imbalance and
Busting a Popular Gut Health Myth.

Some of Our Favorite Sugar free Lifestyle Treats

In case you're ready to try to get off sugar, here are some sugar-free treats that can help you out while still satisfying your sweet tooth.

Have you thought about going off of sugar?

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159 Comments

  1. This could not have come at a better time for me. I have been dealing with candida the past few months. My scalp has been itching like crazy! I had the orrible realization that I passed it on to my son. It was confirmed by a natropath the other day. I’m trying to do gaps but the no sugar part, its hard for me because I live with my in laws and the don’t understand any of it. So right now I’m just cooking meals for my family. Hopefully we can kick candidas butt!

    Reply

    1. Hi there. I’m not sure if it’s behind can be kicked but the diet will help. Are you off sugar now? The first diet I went on said 3 servings of grain / starchy veggie per day. That really helped.

      Reply

    1. Hi Laurie! Well, that’s why. Dates are super high in glycemic index and are a big problem for those who suffer w/ sugar metabolism issue. Wish it weren’t true.

      Reply

  4. Well,as you know I am VERY interested in this topic! I’m looking forward to hearing more of your story. I totally believe that there is no “one-diet-fits-all” approach and that we must each find what works best for us. I was able to have minimal grains and bring some fruits back. I think the greatest problem with the diet (as it is for so many “diets”) is maintaining the changes onward. It really has to become a lifestyle that you just commit to thereafter.

    Reply

    1. I think it is so complex. I too, don’t think you can really go back to where you were, which is a shame in one way–but in another, it makes us realize how frail we are and also forces us to eat healthier. Actually, most folks really need to change how they eat as they get older anyway, right? Or at least, they should:).

      Reply

    1. Are you recommending this for candida? And can you explain why no tomatoes and no avocados? I know avocado has tons of copper….thanks!

      Reply

    1. Hey Lauren. Oh my – so late responding to this. Were you hoping to share concerns about sugar alcohols? Sorry. Just going back thru old comments and missed this one! Hope you are well.

      Reply

    1. Hi again- I’m confused about this comment ??? I just emailed Amazon about the problem w/ their ingredient info. Here’s hoping they change it :).

      Reply

  8. I clicked on the link that you provided ‘mum of 3’ above, and it took me to the extract that you use. If you go to the left and roll over the images, you’ll see the ‘other ingredients’ list under the supplement facts box, and it says ‘natural flavors’. I’m pretty sure all of their products contain it. You have to wonder why their stevia tastes so much better?… I put a great deal of stock in the MSG and NF link simply because of how I feel when I consume anything from products with NF to protein powders. I think my glutamate receptors are pretty ‘full’, and when I consume an abundance of it, I feel the effects within a short time frame. The stevia I tolerate best is this one: https://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Stevia-Extract-Multi-Pack/dp/B002LIGPR6/ref=sr_1_6?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1361508920&sr=1-6&keywords=now+stevia+extract. NO added anything! It’s great to hear others thoughts on this though, and I look forward to your next post about your journey! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Well, that info is just wrong that Amazon has up there. I have my bottle of NuNaturals stevia extract right in front of me and there is no flavoring in it at all. I know the ingredients on Amazon were suspect but now we all have proof. Now–what to do about it is the question? I have never liked NOW stevia, but the last time I tried it was a long time ago.

      Reply

  9. Hi Adrienne, thanks for sharing your story about this. I’m wondering about the sweeteners you use. Do you feel better using them as opposed to more ‘natural’ ones? I’ve used xylitol, but I’m careful to buy the kind from birch trees. I’ve never tried erythritol because I’m a bit hesitant about how processed it is. Also, on the stevia you use, I notice that it has ‘natural flavors’ in the ingredients, which I’ve read can be code for MSG. I’m SUPER sensitive to MSG and actually get a headache when I use NuNaturals products. Have you found you have any reactions to it?

    Reply

    1. Hi Lauren. I am sooo much better. I can’t handle the “natural sweeteners” anymore. Can you direct me to where the stevia says Natural Flavors b/c I for sure buy only pure extract powder. Often that NF and MSG stuff isn’t true but that’s another post. :). I only buy birch xylitol and I don’t use erythritol much really. I haven’t studied it much – do you have a link about the processing? Have you used NN’s pure extract? Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

      Reply

  10. Hi this came at the correct time I am trying to do the anti candida diet It seems so hard. The fruit and sugar are not that hard but no grains no dairy no nuts no beets, sweet potatoes no acorn squash or other squash no onions Well I am lost so I can’t wait to here what you have to say
    I have tried gaps with clients of mine and it helps out but it usually addresses autism and as pagers neurological problems that are different but may be in congruent with candida

    Reply

    1. Hi Anne. Who told you no nuts? The plan on Whole Approach was to eat 3 servings of starch per day so you can still eat it. Just in limited amounts. Have you found that GAPS completely heals the gut as the earlier commenter said? If it were for sure that easy would it cure all who have candida? I think autistic folks almost always have leaky gut but it is a complex issue.

      Reply