No sugar diet.

[seraph69]

I was looking into different diets to help eliminate my need for sugar. I found that people have followed the body ecology, anti candida and even Atkins diet. I often have symptoms of hypoglycemia and become very depressed at times and the condition improves if I have something to eat. I have acne and am vata type, as far as I know i don't think i have candida. I was wondering if u knew of any books in which I could get a good idea of the type of diet to follow. Thank you for everything and have a happy new year. Erin

[shelley]

The best diet is the one that works best for you!

What you're describing, however, is the sign of someone who is either Type O bloodtype or small-sized pancreas (or both), and has had years of simple sugars depleting their reserves of minerals and exhausting their pancreas. It could also be low thyroid so do check that out. Do you know how to self-test for low thyroid?

The best diet for this is not one you have to eat for the rest of your life, in fact, it wouldn't be safe to eat a high-protein diet all your life, but that's what you need now. I don't know of any book that is good for this issue in terms of what and how to eat so let me give you a few pointers:

A candida diet will work but you don't have to be as careful as candida people. For instance, you should be able to have gluten grains.

A Vata diet will help. The diet plan I posted in the Yahoo Group would help. The Type O diet will help.

Chromium deficiency and electrolyte deficiency (salt, potassium, calcium, magnesium) causes blood sugar problems. The best chromium is GTF Chromium. Solaray's Spectro multi-vit complex has it.

B vitamin deficiency makes it impossible for your body to get all the energy it can from what you eat. EmergenC or Ester C or Eff-C all have B's and electrolytes.

Your diet should have complex carbs rather than simple carbs. Whole grains are complex, refined flours and sugars are simple. Pasta can be complex or simple depending on how your body "sees" it. To be safe, only eat brown rice or quinoa cereal.

Most vegetables are complex carbs. Most fruit are simple carbs.

When a person is prone to sudden bouts of exhaustion, dehydration can be a factor. Make sure you're getting enough fluids. If your exhaustion is coupled with trembling hands, a sinking feeling, then the disturbance is to your electrical system, and flower essences are best for that. Depression indicates dehydration and deficiency in Calcium. Taking a good calcium supplement like CalMagFizz or just 500 mg of calcium a day will help.

Chicken broth would be a great way to aid digestion and energy. You really can't drink fruit juices or sodas or coffee. Herbal teas with a bit of honey are fine. Citrus fruit drinks are fine so long as they are home-made and you add a sweetener that's safe, like brown rice syrup or crystalized fructose or stevia. The last two don't affect blood sugar in a way that gives you the "sugar blues."

("Sugar Blues" is actually a book. It's a great read, but not a practical how-to book unfortunately.)

The combination of protein and healthy fats gives a wonderfully steady energy.

If your tongue is pale or inner eyelids are pale you need a diet that nourishes the blood and perhaps take Iron, folic acid and B12.

So overall, your diet should accent:

Hot, whole grain cereals like Bob's Red Mill or Lundberg
Brown California or Basmati Rice
Legumes
Kichadi
lentil salad
Soups and Salads
Pasta
My Protein Shake
Broths
Avocado
Sweet Potato
Nut & Raisins bars
Eggs
Coconut & Olive Oil & Organic Butter & Ghee
Fish & Poultry & Liver
beef ONLY IF it is slow-cooked with a bone and the gravy is preserved, like pot roast
Just about any veggies you like, but especially broccoli, asparagus, artichoke, zucchini, yellow squash, green beans, peas, bell pepper.
Best fruit are berries, pineapple, cherries, green apples, pears, apricots, raisins, dates, cranberry, citrus, honeydew, papaya, but only one serving a day.

Aim for: 30-40% complex carbs, 40% protein 20% fat.

Hope that helps!

[jlogan]

You know, what I found that really gets rid of those sugar cravings is liver flushing. Then again, I used to have systemic candida and liver flushing is a sort of "cure" for mine (cure is a bit strong of a word, though).

The Atkins diet is really hard to follow for the first 2 weeks due to the horrible withdrawal effects one is put through (Fortunately for me, I only had 1 day of those effects 'cause I was never a big sugar-eater). Sugar is a drug, plain and simple, so one can expect some sort of problems when getting off of it. I was on the Atkins diet for about a year and it is great. It is easy to follow because of Splenda and those sugar-substitutes; plus, certain companies are making some WONDERFUL sugar-free ice creams that taste much, much better then the sugar-full ice creams. Anyways, there is no such thing as one diet that works for everyone, but I truly believe that everyone can benefit from a no-sugar diet like Atkins simply because sugar is a drug and a poison.
Hope that helps!

[sunlover]

Shelley,
That sounds like the kind of diet I feel I should be doing. A natural dr I saw mentioned something about my pancreas and I've had Candida like symptoms most of my life, and have always craved refined sugars. Also have iron deficiency and maybe hypoglycemic. Most recently I've gotten parasite symptoms and so I'm going to take Colonix for 3 mos. for that. What sort of diet do you recommend for me?
Thank you
p.s. I think I'm a pitta, then vatta

[shelley]

well I'd have to know your dosha for sure and some other details to design an individual diet, but that diet is what I call the "basic diet" that anyone can build upon for further tinkering to their unique, individual needs. A Pitta person would simply accent the foods and preparation that would balance a Pitta person best.