Is Sugar Sensitivity Making You Sick and Tired? Symptoms and Suggestions.
88Sugar Sensitivity
Is there anything sadder than missing out on life because you feel too sick and tired to do anything? I suppose there may be, but it's sad all the same, especially if you have memories of a different time when you were an active participant in your own life, before the fatigue set in.
Tiredness is a common symptom of several maladies and if you are experiencing problems, you really should speak to your doctor about it. If you have already been checked and no cause of your symptoms were found or treatments are not working, you may want to investigate whether or not you have a sugar sensitivity. Be aware though, that many physicians are yet to familiarize themselves with this biochemical demon.
What Sugar Sensitivity Is
Quite simply, sugar sensitivity is a biochemical addiction to sugar or carbs. When your system has a reaction to either of those elements, it triggers a vicious cycle of strong cravings and the associated carb or sugar addiction symptoms.
* The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program by Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. Ballantine Books
Symptoms of Sugar Sensitivity
If you find yourself tired all the time and have two or more of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from sugar sensitivity.
- Insatiable craving for sweets, i.e. candy, pop, sweet juices
- Insatiable craving for refined white flour foods, i.e. pasta, bread, cereal
- Depression
- Mind fog, i.e. poor memory and concentration
- Irritability, strongly reactive or lessened ability to cope with stress
- Stomach Distress, i.e. bloating, cramps, diarrhea
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Head, joint or muscle pain
- Severe PMS or peri/menopausal symptoms
Are You Sick and Tired?
Healing the Addiction Through Diet
If you are suffering from sugar sensitivity, then you may experience the beginning of relief in as little as two weeks, if you adjust your diet.
Helpful Tips to Combat Sugar Sensitivity
Avoid starting your day with fruit juice, especially apple. Drinking juice first thing in the morning is a good way to trigger fatigue and intestinal distress in someone who suffers from sugar sensitivity. Certain cells (epithelial) in the intestine are unable to digest that much sugar fructose all at once. The results from trying can include tiredness, bloating, flatulence and sugar cravings. These discomforts can last up to four hours.
Eat protein that is rich in tryptophan. Tryptophan raises your serotonin levels and slows the rate by which sugar enters your bloodstream. Reduce your eating compulsion and sugar spikes by eating 1 oz. to 4 oz. of beef, chicken, eggs, almonds, lentils or cottage cheese at every meal.
Snack on carbs between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Speaking of Tryptophan, eating carb-only snacks during the time that serotonin levels dip (2-4 p.m.) will supply more of it for your brain to convert to and raise levels of your serotonin. Try a baked potatoe, berries or popcorn. It's a good idea to have another carb snack before bed. You'll sleep better because your blood sugar levels will be stable.
Boost your endorphins. No drugs or special foods involved, just some good, natural walking, meditation, music, intimacy or any other practice that makes you feel good.
Consider taking vitamin supplements. Vitamins C and B, as well as zinc may be particularly beneficial while breaking your addiction to sugar.
Did You Know?
That 70% of women have some degree of sugar sensitivity. Which percentile are you in?
It Gets Easier
The thought of dealing with your sugar sensitivity may initially feel like too much work (because you're so tired) or perhaps it sparks a bit of panic at the thought of losing your sweets. Take heart! Go at your own pace. Try introducing protein and complex carbs into your breakfast for the first couple of weeks or even couple of months and go from there. Once you're ready, start adding them to a second meal each day. You get the idea.
You will likely experience relief from your sick and tired symptoms within two weeks or so. You'll notice that your cravings will diminish and your energy and mood will start to improve.
One of the nice things about dealing with sugar sensitivity through diet is that you can try it, even if you're not sure if a sugar addiction is what is making you feel so sick and tired all the time. It can't hurt you and you can even experiment without your doctor.
Now that I've said that, here's my disclaimer. "As always, you should check with a doctor before undertaking any new diet or exercise program".
Is Sugar Sensitivity Making You Sick and Tired?
Chocolate!
I've had a couple of people express their frustration with giving up chocolate. Apparently, some people find it more difficult to stop eating than sugar itself. If you only have a small bar or such now and again, I don't think it will hurt you (unless you're diabetic). However, if you eat too many chocolate nummies, you may want to think about reducing your consumption.
Because of the requests for tips on giving up chocolate, I've added a capsule to the right of this text, offering sugar free and diabetic chocolate and candy. With this type of product, you get the yummy flavour, without the sugar.
Enjoy!
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Thank you very much for this hub! It has really made me think. Just the thought of not eating sweet deserts (even with artificial sweeteners) to me seems impossible. I try to combine protein with whole grain carbs, which usually helps but it is hard to do all the time. There are days when I experience those symptoms, especially if I just eat a piece of fruit or have juice and don't combine it with protein.
It sounds like the program is not low-carb (which I'm totally against) and actually recommends baked potatoes. Really interesting!
I am headed off to order the book and am looking forward to reading it and hopefully trying out the program to see if it helps reduce my symptoms. Thanks for a great recommendation!
I'm going to try it! This is the first of your hubs I've read, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more. (-:
I always heard sugar was a empty calorie, but I read where the liver converts the unused portions into fat which ends up somewhere on your body?
Regards
Thanks for the reminder Shirley. We all have a different body chemistry because of our ethnically diverse backrounds. For example some people swear "Acai" juice cured their disease and are fans for life. Others say it made them ill. There's no one-size-fits-all cure for everyone, that's why diets don't work for most people. But, we in the west are sugar addicts.
I remember reading a book by the actress Gloria Swanson years ago called "Sugar Blues" in which she talked about her problem and the widespread problem of addiction to sugar.
They've come out with all kinds of substitutes, Stevia, flavored Agave, various commercial substitutes that may or may not be good for us either. I try to use honey or applesause as a substitute when making goodies sometimes.
As they say "Moderation In All Things."
Wow this is incredibly helpful. I think sugar is what drives me but it also has so many negative effects as well. Vitamins might just be what I need.
Great hub about how sugar sensitivity can be a subtle way of being emotionally out of sorts. It is definitely an under-understood phenomenon. Thanks for bringing it to light.
Sugar is bad for health. It not only leads to obesity but as well as other disease like diabetes. Keep them low and you will possess a healthy and fit body.
I'm allergic to sugar....seems it makes me break out in FAT! LOL I've heard that somewhere and thought it was cute and appropriate here. I have recently purchased a book along similiar lines that I hope to write a review for soon. Great hub, Shirley!
I love sugar, and I hate sugar....that's the way it goes, so I mainly try to avoid much of it. Yes, moderation, for sure. Thanks for good info!
Its amazing how youcome up with such articles. Up for this..
Sound advice here, it took me some time to control both my crab and sugar intake; it has become second anture to do so, partially because on occasion, rare one, I indulge a bit, with a bit of chocolate or side order of pasta, depedning upon my urge.
Well written and informative article. I knew about this to some extent but learned more from your hub. P.S. Enjoyed reading your profile - made me laugh in places.
thanx for the hub this will really help me!
Hi Shirley, this is wonderful information. Sugar sensitivity makes one sick and tired? I am thinking of a guy friend who has this symptoms...I will forward him your hub! :-) Thumbs up!
Oh by the way, I've also heard about cutting sweets for kids who are hyperactive. This helps a lot!
bookmarked! thanks for this excellent hub -- just what I needed.
I got the book today!!! (fast shipping!)
I am very excited and am off to read it!
Really? I feel I have some symptoms such
Sugar is hard on the body. I used to do quite a bit of soda and I was always tired. Since I cut out all soda and now drink water or green tea I feel much better every day.
Great hub, is there any way of being able to tell the difference between being sugar sensitive and diabetic. Of course a doctor could tell me, but was wondering if theres a way of telling yourself.
Love the tips though, i have tried the vitamins and avoiding my loved fruit juices in the morning, have also taken a liking to coffee with sugar. I have noticed a little more energy in myself.
Oh you asked if your a heavy pop drinker do you go through withdrawals,..I sure did,..bad ones too. I drink at least a 2 lt. Mt dew daily, I tried to replace some of it with water,..after awhile I came close to passing out, felt sick, so I grabbed my Mt.Dew drank some and I was fine again. had my sugar checked not long ago,..Mine is great,..Go figure,..LOL
I liked this hub. I must be a sugar addict. Around 2:00 -3:00 in the afternoon, I began craving something sweet. I also become extremely sleepy during this time. This happens again late in the evening. Does anyone else have this combined craving (sugar and sleep)?
I would say I was bothered by it except I avoid sugar most of the time. I can't stand sugar. It makes me sick to my stomach.
I hate sugar yet I love it. I know that I must be a sugar addict..I didn't know there was actually such a thing though. Whenever I eat sugar my heart races and I feel anxious and almost in a panic over nothing. My stomach automatically blows up like a balloon and I don't sleep that night. Before I knew sugar was causing my sleeplessness I thought I was a full-blown insomniac.
Thankyou for posting this. There is not a lot out there about this kind of stuff and when I tell people they think it's 'all in your head'.
Thanks for the article. Definetly something I'm going to look into. Just another reason to watch my sugar intake!
Thanks for this Hub!! Very informative and helpful. Why are the things you love the most usually so bad for you??LOL!!!
Peace n' Blessings!
K
Thank you so much! I am 13 years old, and recently been getting sick to my stomach and have been very tired. After searching online I found this, and realized that this is EXACTLY what I have!
Thank you for posting some do's and don'ts, because I haven't really had any idea what to do. Lately, I've been trying to only have a sweet/dessert once a day, and it is SUPER hard, but each day is getting easier and easier. :-)
Thanks again!
I am diabetic and not eating surgar is hard but its possible but how do I stay away from chocolate and cokes its pretty hard. I don ok so far, but its hard. Thanks for the tips I hope to stay away from sugar as much as possible.
I'm pretty sure that it was an overload on sweets. But that has been the only time, so that's good. :-) Lately I've been doing pretty good with the sugar addiction, and have been saving my sweets for dessert at night, where I only have a little bit of ice-cream.
I think I might be getting over it though, as I'm taking it day by day and doing it better. Thanks again! :-)
great informative hub. I am also sensitive to sugar and have been using xylitol or stevia, which I find is a good replacement for me. I also suffer from candida and it can be very hard to stay off the sugar.
Good job.
Can you please tell me if it is common to feel very tired the first two weeks that you eliminate sugar? I realize that the sugar itself can make a person feel fatigue, but I've been watching my sugar intake for just about two weeks and don't seem to feel any relief from tiredness yet.
Hi Shirley-
Thanks so much for the article link about detox side effects - totally made sense to me. While reading the article I noticed a link that read "Sugar Detox Symptoms" so I clicked on it and there was a video clip of Charlotte Skiles, a nutrition consultant, and she described my symptoms exactly! So I'm going to stick it out and hope to feel better soon! Thanks again!
Excellent article Shirley.I would just like to add that candida/yeast intolerance (thrush) share the same symptoms of a sugar sensitive person.I will be giving some advive and suggestions in the New Year as most people enjoy alcoholic consumption over the festive period and therefore find it difficult to address what they need to give up in order to improve their well-being!
Looking forward to reading more hubs as I have recently joined.
Thank you
One of the best benefits of HubPages comes through sharing good info and giving good reminders. Thanks!
I can totally relate to the comment about the sugar and sleepy cycle. I have been struggling with being very very sleepy when I eat sweets and yet I crave them horribly. I know I HAVE to change my diet but I admit it is daunting, it feels impossible. I would like to ge the book and try it out, I am definitely very tired of being sick and tired. Thanks soo much for this hub =)
Wow. Didn't realize there was an actual sensitivity to sugar, but I've known for years that when I finally break down and buy the candy bar at 2p, I'm going to fight sleep 30 min later while at work. It never fails and it's been this way forever. But I still buy the candy bar, or muffin, or OJ :( Is this book on Kindle by any chance?
I have known for a long time I've had a love/hate relationship with sugar but it wasnt until I gave up all sweet things for 3 weeks last year that all of my symptoms (that have been getting worse for 10 years) are linked to it. Unfortunately I am addicted to chocolate & even though I know it will make me bad I still have to overeat on it. I have managed to cut out all other sugary things but cant seem to do the same with chocolate!!! Any hints on how to give the chocolate up would be grately appreciated!!!
Our new generation is moving towards a new kind of addiction, i.e. sugar addiction. This is an addiction of brain in which a person can’t avoid sweets. Sugar act as a gate drug for other kind of drugs and thus leads possibilities of various health related problems. Animal psychopathology, ketamine, counseling, and attention deficit hyperactivity are some of the suggested Sugar addiction treatments.
I'm worried about the sugar addiction here in the US. I know myself i have a bit of a problem with sugar sensitivity. Have my whole life. I need to read articles like this to remind myself of the dangers of it. thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I think I was a huge issue for me. I used to have 3 sugars in my tea but no real other sugar. The bursts were not good.
I know I have sensitivity to sugar; after eating any type of sweets I feel extremely tired. I hate the sleepy and sluggish feeling I get after consuming sweets. I have gotten to a point that I try to avoid desserts period, but guess what I had a small slice of apple pie with my lunch and now I feel like someone drugged me with sleeping pills. I am trying my best to stay awake here at work. I am a runner and I should know better but low and behold I ate the pie and I am having the horrible sugar crash now! I love sweets but I rather have my energy and health than the temporary indulgence. I will make desserts a once and a while thing, nothing daily - especially at work.
Thank you for this. My son is sugar sensitive, and it took a lot of painful years to realize. Now, he's golden, healthy and happy. Yay!
My son's personality changed when we stopped eating sugar. It really is an addictive poison. I'm so glad we found out. We eat maple syrup on our pancakes and have a scoop of ice cream about twice a month - that's it. Even that I wish we didn't do. Thanks for a great hub - I think sugar addiction is a huge problem that many people aren't aware of.








































Shirley Anderson Hub Author 2 years ago
Haha, I will never deny you your coffee, MM. Morning coffee is sacred ambrosia!
I guess an addiction is an addiction, regardless of what it's based on. Interesting about alcohol, I hadn't even considered that.
Thanks so much for the kind words and thumbs up!!