[Livebythesea]

Sorry I posted this topic also in DF, but has anyone tried to eliminate sugar from their diet to try to get rid of depression. I'm suffering with major depression, totally isolated, lost my job and AD's are not working. Thank you

i havon't myself.

to tell you the truth, i could not live without sugar.. it's something i really enjoy.

does this work?

or is it just a question... what i mean is, is their scientific proof that sugar eliminates depression?

[BNLsMOM]

The way sugar works is that is raises the glucose level in the brain. It is brain food and we can't function without it. The trouble is with refined, white sugar that is added to many of the foods we eat. It messes with the brain's glucose level. After an initial rise and energy boost, the level drops sharply and so can energy, which can affect mood. Talking to a nutritionist is a good idea if you want to make a lasting lifestyle change like giving up sugar. I actually started eating raw vegan foods not too long ago, and I think I am still in the detox, sugar addiction stage because every now and then I have to have something sweet in a conventional sort of way. The idea is that I am trying so that I can be healthier. I will be calling a nutritionist when my new health insurance kicks in.

[polar_bear1]

I have not eliminated sugar from my diet but cut it down to almost nothing. I get my sugars mostly from fruits and I feel a lot better. I have had joint pain on and off and after induldging on sugars (i.e.saturdays) I get so much worse, also mood wise- get depressed and more anxiety... I call it sugar-hangover! Very tired, hungover...

It works for me- I feel the diference on my mood... I also quit drinking Coke Zero which has worked well for me...
But eliminating sugars from my diet?? Not ready for that, love to bake cakes and cookies with my 6yr old but then I use unrefined sugars or honey...

You should try it out for a period of time, maybe one week with NO sugars, and I´ll bet you will find some diference on your mood.

Try it out and let us know how it goes... it can´t do you any harm anyway!!
Take care.

[hamster-bamster]

I get sugar from fruits and some chocolate. I do not eat refined sugars - I mean, I very, very rarely eat them in very small quantities.

But what made a difference in my mood is Prozac. Prozac really works for me. I was depressed while eating little to no refined sugar. I was depressed until started on Prozac.

Eliminating all sugar including fruits is a very bad idea - we need fruits. My endocrinologist advises to eat fruit together with some protein or some fat - not by itself. Doing so prevents a rise in blood sugar level.

Hi, Live by the sea.

Sugar which you use in coffee, tea, etc. is refined and as such as no minerals to support its digestion well. In addition, it's addictive just as grains and caffeine are.

You are much smarter to use fresh fruit and green vegetables for a slower supply
of sugar which contain trace minerals.

Sugar produces highs and lows, somewhat reminiscent of the highs and lows of hypomania. Wheat will do the same thing if you are sensitive to grains.

You can do your own research on this and learn a lot about how to maintain the stability of your brain chemistry with the help of psychotropic medications.

It will get to be a habit after a while and you will no longer miss the sugar.

I read just the other day that Western countries have such poor diet controls (in some cases) that the body never really learns what a "normal" condition is for the body to feel. We can change that by altering our diets.

So the answer to your question is yes, sugar is not good for you and you should avoid it, along with caffeine if you are sensitive to it, because both are addictive and both have long-term effects if indulged in for years. For the caffeine problem for some, please see http://Doctoryourself.com and go down the left-hand column until you see the article "caffeine allergy". It will amaze you, if you read it carefully.

Take care of yourself.

Genetic

[Livebythesea]

Thank you for your responses. I am going to try to limit my amount of added sugar in my diet and will report back if there's any benefit. Thank you

[hamster-bamster]

Rather than focus on eliminating sugar, try focusing on eating a protein-rich diet. Doing so will even out your blood sugar level, and, as a collateral benefit, you will find yourself eating less sugar.

Just be careful if you decide to use sugar substitutes - they come with their own problems. Even Stevia, a natural herb, is problematic because it contains 3 g of carbohydrates per serving. So if you can drink tea and coffee or whatever you drink without any sweetener, that would be the best.

I did not have any trouble stopping using sugar, which suggests that it is not addictive. Nor do I have any cravings. I have long-playing desserts left over from having guests over weeks and weeks ago - they are always available to me yet I do not touch them. No will power at play - I just do not want them. They look good (I like to see anything that is coated with powdered sugar!) but I am satisfied simply looking at them, not consuming them.

I do not get addicted to substances in general, so my datapoint might be an outlier.

[faerie_moon_x]

The thing you have to remember about sugar (and fat) is that we are all addicted to it by nature and science. Our ancestors relied on the carbohydrates for energy and fuel and the fats to keep them alive. The real problem with many processed foods today isn't that they contain sugar (table sugar). It's that they are scietifically set up to be addicting.

Another thing to remember. Your body doesn't know the difference between carbohydrates except fiber. So if you eat a candy bar that's sugar. If you eat an apple, that's sugar. If you eat a potato, that's sugar. A piece of bread is also sugar. Once it hits your blood it's all the same glucose. So, just eliminating table sugar or corn syrup isn't necessarily the way. But, to learning to make better overall carbohydrate choices may help you. Whole grain bread instead of white, etc. Add veggies and fruit.

My personal opinion is that it is better to make it yourself. For example, if you want to cut back on calories in soda, then instead of switching to diet which has chemicals, make iced tea (herbal if you avoid caffiene,) then measure out your own sugar. You can reach a similar level of sweet taste with fewer teaspoons of sugar than are in a whole can of soda.

[hamster-bamster]

I do not get carbohydrate cravings either. It is not difficult for me to restrict carbs. If carbs are addictive, why is it so easy to be without them? Caffeine, too - I have to remind myself to have coffee, I never crave it. But I know that without it, I would get a caffeine-withdrawal migraine attack, so I am being very disciplined about consuming the same amount of caffeine every day, including on weekends.

[thickntired]

Originally Posted by Livebythesea

Sorry I posted this topic also in DF, but has anyone tried to eliminate sugar from their diet to try to get rid of depression. I'm suffering with major depression, totally isolated, lost my job and AD's are not working. Thank you

I would like to eliminate sugar from my diet. When I eat too much of it I get so sleepy and foggy. But prozac/Abilify and exercise really helped my depression. I also make myself get out of bed in the morning and try to have a schedule.

Peace & Hugs,

TnT