It seems there are two camps when it comes to cutting sugar entirely out of your diet: those who think it’s prudent to satisfy sweet cravings with sugar-free options (such as stevia or xylitol) and those who think you should cut out sweeteners entirely, since they may end up increasing your sugar cravings even more. “To learn to live without sugar,” the argument goes, “you need to train yourself to enjoy foods that aren’t sweet, so you lose those cravings.”
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know well that I am an admitted sugar addict who clearly did not cut sweets out entirely from my diet. But was that a mistake?
In today’s video, I talk about whether or not it’s a good idea for you to avoid all sweet things on a sugar-free diet (or anti-candida diet), and why.
Question: If you eat sugar-free, do you avoid sweet foods such as desserts or sweetened drinks? What’s your rationale for doing so? Please share in the comments!
Highlights:
- What’s behind the advice to cut out all sweeteners from your diet
- How do artificial sweeteners affect our cravings?
- How do artificial sweeteners affect gut bacteria?
- How does stevia affect insulin levels?
- How does stevia affect blood sugar levels?
- What I did that allowed me to overcome sweet cravings entirely
Resources:
- The Sweet Life Club (ongoing support for sugar-free, gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free living)
- Living Candida-Free (Book)
- Living Candida Free (free Facebook group)
- Anti-Candida Digital Cookbooks
- Candida Diet Individual Coaching
- RECIPE: Carob-Coconut Sweeties
- ARTICLE: How Artificial Sweeteners Affect Blood Sugar & Insulin
- ARTICLE: Stevia May Affect Gut Bacteria
- ARTICLE: Does Stevia Affect Blood Sugar?
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel
- Video: Should You Avoid Sweets on a Sugar-Free Diet?
Disclosure: Links in this post may be affiliate links. If you choose to purchase using those links, at no cost to you, I will receive a small percentage of the sale.
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Hi Ricki,
I love your recipes and all the research you share! For those of us who can not watch your videos, is there a way to get a printed version of your posts?
Thank you.
Thank you so much, June! I really appreciate it. I know lots of people like to see a written transcript, but they may not realize that means hiring someone to actually go through the video and transcribe it. Unfortunately, right now, I’m unable to do that. I do hope that by next year I’ll be able to hire someone. When that happens, I’ll ask them to go through all the existing videos to create transcripts. 🙂
Cutting back on sugar is on my list for the new year—thanks for all of your advice!
Glad it’s helpful, Sarah! 🙂
Hi Ricki
I just listened to a podcast that you were on that talked about Candida. I have had lyme disease for 2 years and on antibiotics for 15 months. Just recently I developed a rash on my torso and after listening to you I realized it is related to high amounts of yeast in my system from all the antibiotics. Thanks for the insight! I am no longer on antibiotics and have completely overhauled my diet with no sugar, gluten, dairy, grains, starches. I do put in a little pineapple or apple in my smoothie but am concerned it is feeding the yeast. What are your thoughts on fruit? Thanks Dave
Glad to hear the podcast was helpful, Dave! Whether or not you eat fruit would depend on whose anti-candida diet you follow; some allow apples and berries right from the start. Most don’t allow pineapple except later on. I think the best gauge is whether or not you react to it, since everyone is different. If you’re interested in learning about the diet that I followed (and still do), you can find out more here. Good luck with it! 🙂