Sugar Lover! Which Type Are You?

How Artificial Sweeteners Ruin Your Life and Make You Fat!

SUGAR IS a villain, particularly sugar substitutes.  The medical types that study the effects of sugar and artificial sweeteners on your health clearly know how this substance can mess with you.

The popular and insightful practitioner of “functional medicine”, Dr. Mark Hyman reports in his blog post, Artificial Sweeteners Could Be Sabotaging Your Diet:

“An exciting study in the Journal of Behavioral Neuroscience has shown conclusively that using artificial sweeteners not only does not prevent weight gain, but induces a whole set of physiological and hormonal responses that actually make you gain weight.” (Read his insightful post.)

Along with Dr. Hyman, Dr. Teitelbaum has produced some really fine work in revealing the ravages of various sugars. In this post, I present what Jacob Teitelbaum, MD describes as the four types of sugar addicts, courtesy of Lynn Tryba’s summary of his book, Beat Sugar Addiction Now!.

If you feel chronically tired and need regular hits of sugar and caffeine — or get irritable if you don’t — or you know someone like this… read on, cause there’s a sugar lover lurking.  And make sure you check out the link at the bottom to learn about the best kind of sweeteners for you.

Type 1 Sugar Lover Addict — “Energy Loan Shark”

Do you often feel tired and achy?
Do you need coffee to get going in the morning?
Does your energy flag by mid-afternoon?
Do you get frequent headaches?

Dr. Teitelbaum’s Wellness Rx:
1. Get seven to nine hours of sleep a night.
2. Take 15 to 25 mg of zinc per day.
3. Eliminate “energy drinks” loaded with sugar and caffeine.
4. Get 30 to 60 minutes of exercise four to seven times a week (preferably outside).

Type 2 Sugar Lover Addict“Feed Me Now or I’ll Kill You”

Do you find you are often thirsty and need to urinate frequently?
Do you get recurrent sore throats and swollen glands?
Do you sometimes get dizzy when you stand up?
Is life a crisis for you?

Dr. Teitelbaum’s Wellness Rx:
1. Supplement with vitamins C and B5, the mineral chromium, and an herbal licorice extract to decrease the symptoms of low blood sugar.
2. Eat a high-protein, low-sugar, low-carb diet.
3. Eat small meals frequently during the day.
4. Do a reality check. When you start to feel anxious, ask yourself, “Am I in imminent danger?” If you aren’t, realizing this will turn off the fight or flight reaction and allow your adrenals to relax.

Type 3 Sugar Lover Addict “Happy Ho-Ho Hunter”

Do you have chronic nasal congestion or sinusitis?
Do you have spastic color or irritable bowel syndrome?
Have you been treated for acne with an antibiotic for one month or longer?
Do you have postnasal drip or clear your throat a lot?
These sugar cravings may be caused by yeast/candida overgrowth.

Dr. Teitelbaum’s Wellness Rx:
1. Make high-protein foods such as meat, eggs, and seafood the foundation of your diet.
2. Eat no more than two servings of whole-grain bread a day.
3. Eliminate sweets except for dark chocolate in moderation.
4. Take anti-yeast herbs, which include oregano powder, uva-ursi, garlic powder, grapefruit seed, olive leaf, and milk thistle, among others.

Type 4 Sugar Lover Addict“Depressed and Craving Carbs”

Do you have a history of PMS?
Are you a woman older than 38 with decreased libido and irregular periods?
Are you a woman older than 47, in menopause, and experiencing depression, fatigue, insomnia, and loss of libido?
If you are male, are you older than 45, and do you have a spare tire around your waist?
Your sugar cravings may be caused by fluctuating hormones.

Dr. Teitelbaum’s Wellness Rx:
1. Choose whole grains, high-protein foods, and foods that score low on the glycemic index.
2. Exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day, outside if possible.
3. For depression caused by low estrogen: Take the herbs magnolia and St. John’s wort and supplement with the amino acid 5-http.
4. Take fish oil, which can elevate your mood.

 

Some sweet options

Despite the good doctor’s warnings, life does not have to be bereft of sweetness; rather, you just need to be judicious about what you chose to titillate your taste buds.  I’ve written a post called Are You Getting Fat and Sick from Sugar which examines various forms of sugar and their effects on metabolism.

The upshot is that, stevia (a natural herb), and xylitol (derived from fruit and vegetable fibers) are considered your best sweetener options, with one proviso – some stevia distillations contain unwanted chemicals, so the whole leaf is a better option.  Check out my post for more information, and do be careful about the unhealthy sugars that lurk in so many processed foods and sodas!

 

Want more sugar?

How Sugary Is Your Blood?

Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers

Are You Getting Fat and Sick from Sugar?

My Blood Sugar Numbers Dumbfound Me. Truely.

Are You A Bit Addicted to the “Holy Trinity” of Salt, Sugar and Fat?

Sugar is a Toxin, say Three Celebrity Doctors. Watch the Interviews.

9 Ways to Fight Diabesity with The Blood Sugar Solution

Last Updated on June 1, 2021 by Joe Garma

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Joe Garma
 

I help people live with more vitality and strength. I'm a big believer in sustainability, and am a bit nutty about optimizing my diet, supplements, hormones and exercise. To get exclusive Updates, tips and be on your way to a stronger, more youthful body, join my weekly Newsletter. You can also find me on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 4 comments
Rob - November 16, 2010

Hey dude, I've been reading your website and I'm way impressed. The
wife and I have been slowly moving to a more healthy diet over the
years and I have some questions for you about certain habits I have
and if they are healthy or not.
I drink almost half a gallon of orange juice a day. I was raised in
Florida and I absolutely love it. I know it is high in sugar but I
don't see it being that bad for me. The wife doesn't drink it nearly
as much and she still gets sick on occasion. I haven't gotten a
sniffle in years, and I think it's because I drink a lot of OJ. The
only kind I drink (when I can get it) is the simple orange variety.
Here's the website, I love the pastoral back round music
(http://www.simplyorangejuice.com/)

Second question is that I snack on Pretzels. When getting off of a
massive sugar habit I substituted pretzels into the mix. I can eat a
bunch at one sitting. I know it's not as good for me as veggies, I
do love to snack on carrots, or even butterless popcorn, but how
unhealthy is it for me? I usually opt just for the rold gold variety.
If you have any opinions about this that would be great. The OJ is
probably here to stay, but the pretzels I was curious about just to
see if I should look at them as more of a step to my next healthy snack food.
Thanks for the time
Rob

Reply
    Joseph Garma - November 16, 2010

    Yeah, Rob, OJ can taste great, and no question, it's a good source of vitamin C. But as you suggest, the amount you drink delivers a lot of sugar into your body, and it would be much too much for most people, perhaps even you. You may not be sensitive to the sugar/energy rush and then energy dump due to the spike then rapid retreat in your blood glucose levels, but it's happening. Sugar also will cause insulin levels to rise which can lead to weight problems, etc. http://drbenkim.com/articles-bloodsugar.html

    If you subscribe to the point of view that high doses of vitamin C protects you from sickness (and it seems to play a role), consider either obtaining it from other food sources such as kiwi fruit, broccoli, bell peppers, kale, cauliflower, strawberries, lemons, mustard and turnip greens, brussels sprouts, etc. — or supplement with a vitamin C capsules.

    Now to pretzels. They might be filling but offer no nutrition and too much salt. Think about what a pretzel looks like after being soaked in water. Just a lump of dough… and that's what you're putting in your stomach. Although higher in calories, try to snack on raw nuts. Butter-less popcorn is better than pretzels too. If your snacks need not be crunchy, consider a serving of yogurt, or cottage cheese, or a smoothie. I'm sure the Web would give you hundreds of good alternatives to pretzels.

    Good luck!

    Reply
Anonymous - July 8, 2011

The point is that no addiction is worthy of ignorance. All types of
addiction are undesirable and potentially harmful. But all types of
addiction can be beaten, too.
Types of Addiction

Reply
sugar glider information - November 11, 2011

You’ve made some really great points in this article that I feel make readers think. This is unique. I must say i love your post, I just added this page to my bookmarks. I really enjoy reading your posts. Thanks.

Reply

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