Sugar

is using canderel really bad?

I used to eat like 2 bars of chocolate a day. Now I eat maybe a square of 85% chocolate twice a week or something. It took a lot of time to get there but I did it eventually! I started by cutting down for a long time. 1 bar a day instead of two, for a few months. Then one mini bar every day. Then something every other day. Then just a few times a week.... But all of this spread out over the course of several months.

At the moment I just don't keep it in the house. I generally don't buy it, but anyway it's just easier for me if it's out of reach.

One of the "eureka" moments for me was when I started using MyFitnessPal. I had previously had a nutritionist so all my meals every day were planned out for me, and after I finished that meal plan I started just typing in my own stuff just to see how I was getting on without the nutritionist. It was Christmas, and I had 3 miniature heroes. I will never forget the feeling of shock as I saw just how much of a dent they made into my calories and sugar for the whole day, it was kind of offputting...

I still like chocolate and enjoy it, and actually probably would eat a huge dairy milk by myself if it was put in front of me but I just don't enjoy it quite the same as I did before, so I find it very easy to eat in moderation now. It's just pure crap, but it's tasty and a square of dark chocolate hits the spot for me a few days a week. I think deep breaths or taking a walk aren't very helpful, just maybe try and cut back and don't make it "forbidden" or it will just seem even more enticing. I allow myself to eat it and that's what makes it easier for me, I often then don't end up eating it because it's not banned!

Like other posters I have come up with lower-sugar alternatives liek fruit, cacao, chocolate flavour protein, protein bars etc. Try using MyFitnessPal for a while maybe and when you see the figures in front of you it might help you curb your habit! It is just a habit and it's hard to break but don't be so hard on yourself either or you'll just be spinning your wheels.

Bredabe wrote: »

My diet is fine even with my many allergies, its been tweaked within an inch of its life. I dont like biscuits/cakes, I dont eat dessert unless im eating out or its a bank holiday.

It is a weight loss/control thing. Or a general health thing?
Slightl different approach needed for each.

zweton wrote: »

is using canderel really bad?

No. It's fine, and extremely well researched. Most negative reports are from highly questionable sites.

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

If you get to a point where your consumption of Canderel is the most questionable of all the things you eat and drink, you're probably going to be fine.

^This 100%

AllForIt wrote: »

Realize it is not the taste your addicted too but it's the fact that sugar is addictive and I would classify sugar as highly addictive.

How is it not the taste?
That's precisely what people crave. If you ingest without tasting it, I highly doubt you'll get nearly the same cravings or relief from cravings.

Sugar is not highly addictive. Not even close.
It's enjoyable to eat, and people find they get "addicted" to the taste. But they use the term informally. Like being addicted to reality TV.
The idea that it's an actual addiction is not backed up by science.

Mellor wrote: »

Sugar is not highly addictive. Not even close.
It's enjoyable to eat, and people find they get "addicted" to the taste. But they use the term informally. Like being addicted to reality TV.
The idea that it's an actual addiction is not backed up by science.

Sugar is addictive. You can debate the gradation but it is addictive.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/13/sugar-addiction-like-drug-abuse-study-reveals/

it compared the effects of sugar to those of cocaine and likened the symptoms of coming off it to going 'cold turkey'.

Excess sugar consumption has been proven to contribute directly to weight gain. It has also been shown to repeatedly elevate dopamine levels which control the brain's reward and pleasure centres in a way that is similar to many drugs of abuse including tobacco, cocaine and morphine.

More here Dr. Robert Lustig ...

https://authoritynutrition.com/how-sugar-makes-you-addicted/

When we eat foods that contain a lot of sugar, a massive amount of dopamine is released in an area of the brain called the Nucleus Accumbens.

When we eat these foods often and in large amounts, the dopamine receptors start to down-regulate. Now there are fewer receptors for the dopamine.

This means that the next time we eat these foods, their effect is blunted. We will need more junk food next time we eat in order to get the same level of reward.

Sugar and other junk foods, due to their powerful effect on the reward centers of the brain, function similarly to drugs of abuse like cocaine and nicotine (1).

The exact same brain centers are at play. People who have a certain predisposition to addiction become addicted to these foods and lose control over their consumption.

This is basically how sugar and other junk foods “hijack” the brain chemistry to make us crave more and eat more.

mathie wrote: »

Do you think that sugar isn't addictive?

Do you think people don't tell themselves they're addicted when they're not?

My own n=1 research is that I still struggle with this at certain times. Particularly after drinking, and if I fall into old habits of diet fizzies... Cutting out the diet coke/ coke zero really helped me. Not prepared to give up my weekly beer night, but working on strategies to avoid the crash/ increase the willpower after my pints!

I did start off on the dark chocolate, and it worked. For a while. Now I'd eat a 85% stuff like it's dairy milk tbh! My approach has to be make "healthier" alternatives like wholegrain fruit loafs, and dried fruit (pitted dates, frozen, really hit the mark although again I still have to be aware of portion control) that give me a bit of sweetness. Not ideal, still sugar, but I run with it being less processed and better than a moro.

Mellor wrote: »

How is it not the taste?
That's precisely what people crave.

The OP said he had CRAVINGS for sugar. Does that not explain to you why it's not about the taste?

If you ingest without tasting it, I highly doubt you'll get nearly the same cravings or relief from cravings.

I highly doubt your right about that. Anything that is addictive does not have to be administered through the mouth via the taste buds, it could be done intravenously as in the case of hard core drugs. As an ex-smoker I still enjoy the smell of cigarettes but that sense of pleasure I get only comes about by the memory I have from the pleasure I experienced by the effect of nicotine in the brain, not the smell of smoke.

Sugar is not highly addictive. Not even close.
It's enjoyable to eat, and people find they get "addicted" to the taste. But they use the term informally. Like being addicted to reality TV.
The idea that it's an actual addiction is not backed up by science.

Sugar is highly addictive and it is the the primary cause of obesity in western culture. I don't personally need to see a scientific paper on this to prove what is completely obvious to anyone who has a basic understanding of the composition of food that causes people in our society eat and drink more than they should. I would wonder if anyone would really have serious physical withdraw symptoms if they stopped watching reality TV. I doubt it.

Sugar and to a lesser extent starchy carbohydrates have the same effect, that is, once you eat them, you want more, which leads to OVEREATING, the major reason ppl can't keep their calorific intake under control. Which makes a mockery of all this ridiculous calorie counting strategy imo.

Fat is not addictive. It is addictive when it is combined with starchy carbohydrates, in for example foodstuffs like pizza or burgers and that type of junk food.

In fact high fat diets do more to satisfy ppl's appetite than any other diets and prevent overeating. I stress, overeating is the major cause of obesity due to the addictive nature of sugar and starchy carbs.

So in conclusion I ask you why isn't anyone passionate about the taste of steamed broccoli with noting on it ? Do you still really think it's all about a matter of a 'taste' preference and nothing to do with the addictive consequence of eating sugar?

AllForIt wrote: »

The OP said he had CRAVINGS for sugar. Does that not explain to you why it's not about the taste?

No because he is craving the taste. I'm not sure why you thin capitalising it would change that.
Last weekend I craved a burger (and I ha one). I simply wanted to eat one. It wasn't some chemical dependency.

I highly doubt your right about that. Anything that is addictive does not have to be administered through the mouth via the taste buds, it could be done intravenously as in the case of hard core drugs.

Anything addictive sure. Nicotine, heroin, etc
But not sugar, hmm, why could that be?

As an ex-smoker I still enjoy the smell of cigarettes but that sense of pleasure I get only comes about by the memory I have from the pleasure I experienced by the effect of nicotine in the brain, not the smell of smoke.

Yes the smell of smokes, is linked in your brain to the chemical effects of nicotine.

Somebody might associated a certain aftershave with a deceased loved on and become sentimental when they smell it. It's simply mental connections, which has nothing to do with addiction.

Sugar is highly addictive and it is the the primary cause of obesity in western culture. I don't personally need to see a scientific paper on this to prove what is completely obvious to anyone who has a basic understanding of the composition of food that causes people in our society eat and drink more than they should. I would wonder if anyone would really have serious physical withdraw symptoms if they stopped watching reality TV. I doubt it.

I'm well aware of the impact sugar has on obesity. That problem isn't dependent on it being addictive. People eat more and more because they enjoy it, and they lack the control. Eating is also a very temporary satisfaction. You eat something, it's nice, you go back and eat more.

Sugar and to a lesser extent starchy carbohydrates have the same effect, that is, once you eat them, you want more, which leads to OVEREATING, the major reason ppl can't keep their calorific intake under control. Which makes a mockery of all this ridiculous calorie counting strategy imo.

Calories counting is perfectly viable. All diets need a calories deficit.
If somebody trys to achieve that deficit with sugar. The issue not with calories counting.

Fat is not addictive. It is addictive when it is combined with starchy carbohydrates, in for example foodstuffs like pizza or burgers and that type of junk food.

But a bowl of satly peanuts on a bar. They don't last long, keep topping them up and people will keep eating them. High fat, High salt, low sugar.

People might comment "these nuts are addictive, nyom nyom nyom". But they are taking about the taste, not an actual chemical dependency.

In fact high fat diets do more to satisfy ppl's appetite than any other diets and prevent overeating. I stress, overeating is the major cause of obesity due to the addictive nature of sugar and starchy carbs.

No. Overeating is a major cause of obesity due to the fact that overeating results in excess energy intake. It's very easy to overeat on a low sugar diet if you eat the wrong foods.

So in conclusion I ask you why isn't anyone passionate about the taste of steamed broccoli with noting on it ? Do you still really think it's all about a matter of a 'taste' preference and nothing to do with the addictive consequence of eating sugar?

Your conclusion is extremely weak. Nothing you've said backs up the stance you are taking. If anything it backs my point up. People aren't passionate about broccoli due to the taste. It's that simple.
People aren't passionate about raw potato, but crisps and chips are a different story. Why? because it's the taste that matters, not the chemical make up.

Mellor wrote: »

No because he is craving the taste. I'm not sure why you thin capitalising it would change that.
Last weekend I craved a burger (and I ha one). I simply wanted to eat one. It wasn't some chemical dependency.

There is a difference between desiring a taste and craving a taste. Cravings to me means one feels compelled to consume whatever and can't stop oneself despite one's rational efforts not to do so in the interest of their own health. The op is in this predicament because he want's to stop but can't figure out how.

I'll quote the OP

Trying to cut down on my sugar, but the cravings and not knowing what to do with my hands is killing me.

Why do you think the OP doesn't know what to do with his hands just because he can't experience a taste. That sounds like classic withdrawal symptoms to me.

Yes the smell of smokes, is linked in your brain to the chemical effects of nicotine.

Somebody might associated a certain aftershave with a deceased loved on and become sentimental when they smell it. It's simply mental connections, which has nothing to do with addiction.

Mental connections have everything in the world to do with addiction. You are making my point in that the mental connection to taste is directly linked to the substance addiction.

I'm well aware of the impact sugar has on obesity. That problem isn't dependent on it being addictive. People eat more and more because they enjoy it, and they lack the control. Eating is also a very temporary satisfaction. You eat something, it's nice, you go back and eat more.

So the reason ppl are obese is simply because 'they like the taste'. Why do you think ppl don't have control ? I put it to you the reason they don't have control is because they are physically addicted to sugar and they can't control it for that reason.

But a bowl of satly peanuts on a bar. They don't last long, keep topping them up and people will keep eating them. High fat, High salt, low sugar.

People might comment "these nuts are addictive, nyom nyom nyom". But they are taking about the taste, not an actual chemical dependency.

I doubt that anyone in a bar who ate a whole ramekin of peanuts would really continue the whole night eating another one and another one and another one. Rather they would be satisfied with one bowl and move one. You get the point don't you?

AllForIt wrote: »

Fat is not addictive. It is addictive when it is combined with starchy carbohydrates, in for example foodstuffs like pizza or burgers and that type of junk food.

In fact high fat diets do more to satisfy ppl's appetite than any other diets and prevent overeating. I stress, overeating is the major cause of obesity due to the addictive nature of sugar and starchy carbs.

No. Overeating is a major cause of obesity due to the fact that overeating results in excess energy intake. It's very easy to overeat on a low sugar diet if you eat the wrong foods.

One of the major causes of obesity is the popularity of high sugar content drinks. Need I say more.

Your conclusion is extremely weak. Nothing you've said backs up the stance you are taking. If anything it backs my point up. People aren't passionate about broccoli due to the taste. It's that simple.
People aren't passionate about raw potato, but crisps and chips are a different story. Why? because it's the taste that matters, not the chemical make up.

I'm passionate about broccoli and vegetables in general. All I have to do is put full fat butter or olive oil on it and when I feel full that's it. No going back for more and more and more, thoroughly love the taste, and don't crave the taste when I'm not hungry !

AllForIt wrote: »

Your case sounds to me like a psychological issue rather than a simple addiction problem, which is what we are talking about here.

I don't think that the vast majority of ppl who are obese have psychological issues, rather they are addicted to sugar. Sugars that are hidden even in savory foods. Like pouring ketchup on burgers and chips. The sugar content in ketchup is huge. How many ppl know that.

Addiction is a psychological issue. That's why cold turkey/rehab which only treats the addiction doesn't work, and why people need professional help for recovery, you have to treat the person as a whole.

Personally, I don't really have any issues with food, not more than the next person.I'm just saying I used to love chocolate, or as I put it at the time "a sweet tooth". It was just a bad habit of eating loads of rubbish even though I knew it was rubbish, I didn't know any other way. Now I do, so I eat better because I learned about nutrition and changed some habits, not because I overcame some psychological barrier. I was never obese, I was overweight and am a healthy weight now and still enjoy chocolate occaisonally like a normal person, just not 2 bars a day.

People also put mayonnaise all over their fries, there's no sugar in mayonnaise. People also overeat fries, and there's no sugar in fries. Actually the fat found in fried foods is arguably more damaging to our health than sugar but that's off topic. People overeat anything tasty. Cheese has no sugar, that's easy to overeat. Nuts were already used as an example. A burger has no sugar (even just without the bun it has no carbs). So actually a meal of a cheeseburger, fries, even with a huge serving of ketchup and mayonnaise is not high in sugar. It's high in calories which leads to weight gain (and eventually obesity) if the person consistently eats above their Total Daily Energy Expenditure.

I haven't read a whole lot about obesity so I don't feel entitled to get into a discussion on it, but if you're saying that the majority of obese people have no psychological issue with food, I think you might join me in reading up a bit more on the subject, that is an absurd claim in my opinion.

AllForIt wrote: »

There is a difference between desiring a taste and craving a taste.

There isn't. Craving by definition means a strong desiring for something.
There isn't even an absolute scale between them. A strong desire could be greater in magnitude than a mild craving. They are essentially synonymous.
Example: Hot sunny day, out in a beer garden, I'm usually a beer drinker, but out of the blue I have a craving cider. Pretty standard situation.

That does not mean the weather turned me into an alcoholic with a cider addiction. (nor to a sugar content for that matter).

Cravings to me means one feels compelled to consume whatever and can't stop oneself despite one's rational efforts not to do so in the interest of their own health. The op is in this predicament because he want's to stop but can't figure out how.

I'm not denying that the cravings or desires can be so string that they are essentially uncontrollable at that given moment. But that doesn't not make it an addiction.
That's my point. The idea of sugar as an addiction presented in articles, online, and also as you present it is not based on the actual definitions of a physical addiction.
I funny understand the OP predicament. I'm not disregarding how difficult it its. An uncontrollable craving/desire is extremely hard to deal with, but that doesn't make it addiction.
Redefining cravings ad addiction to suit an agenda does not help these people. It hinders them in my opinion.

Why do you think the OP doesn't know what to do with his hands just because he can't experience a taste. That sounds like classic withdrawal symptoms to me.

Actual addiction withdrawl is significantly more intense that not knowing what to do with your hands.

Mental connections have everything in the world to do with addiction. You are making my point in that the mental connection to taste is directly linked to the substance addiction.

It your case its link to a former addiction. But the coincidence is coincidental there.
See my example above. A particular aftershave reminds me on my grandfather when ever I smell it. I like the smell for that reason. There is no addiction involved in that example.
It's respondent conditioning, aka Pavlovian conditioning. It's based on neural stimulus.

So the reason ppl are obese is simply because 'they like the taste'. Why do you think ppl don't have control ? I put it to you the reason they don't have control is because they are physically addicted to sugar and they can't control it for that reason.

Please don't twist my words to trivialise obesity.
There a whole host of reasons why obesity is an issue. Mostly involving diet. Sugar is a factor, as are fast foods, high calorie foods, highly palatable junk foods etc.
Sugar doesn't need to be an addiction to contribute to obesity.

I doubt that anyone in a bar who ate a whole ramekin of peanuts would really continue the whole night eating another one and another one and another one. Rather they would be satisfied with one bowl and move one. You get the point don't you?

Well, you are completely wrong there.
Salty nuts/snacks in a bar are like crack, there's a reason they give them out for free in many bars (inc my local).
Crisps, popcorn, pretzels, people pick and pick and pick. No sugar involved.

One of the major causes of obesity is the popularity of high sugar content drinks. Need I say more.

Well yes you probably should say more. As that sentence has nothing to do with addiction.
Highly processed, high calorie, fast food is also a major cause. Addiction? No. Just very palatable, high calorie, low satiety food.

I'm passionate about broccoli and vegetables in general. All I have to do is put full fat butter or olive oil on it and when I feel full that's it. No going back for more and more and more, thoroughly love the taste, and don't crave the taste when I'm not hungry !

And there's another reason why it's not addiction. Broccoli makes you feel full. It's high satiety per unit energy. You physically can't eat large quantities, even if you wanted to. Try to eat 1000cals of broccolli, I doubt you will. (It's 3kg btw).
But the same energy worth of sugar is a much smaller qualtity. It's physically easier to eat - even if the person never eats sugar (so the "addicted to sugar" explanation doesn't work).