• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

How Do I Know When Sugar Is Needed

Terryp

Terryp

Member
Messages
11
onw of the biggest issues I have had since a child is my love of sugar, loads of it, this I am now paying for it. I actually have now totally binned sugar and have started using no calorie sweetener, my intention is to dump those pretty soon to. I am led to believe that some sugar is needed by the body, can this be from just say eating an apple or is there more required? Getting very confused at the moment. Thanks for any pointers.

Terry
 
Hi @Terryp, As a bit of historical perspective, Eskimos, the Inuit, have lived for many, many, many generations on fish, whales etc. The only thing that this diet was thought not to contain was Vitamin C and indeed the 'bleeding sickness' (= scurvy and no swearing intended)! was a problem at times. However scientists were able to prove that the tissue just under the skin of Beluga whales and similar contained Vitamin C and as long as not cooked (which would have denatured the Vitamin C) there was sufficient vitamin C to survive. Now, we are not all Eskimos nor would we have access to or the inclination to eat raw Beluga whale but access to other vitamin C containing foods makes zero carb diets possible (according to researchers and those that have trialled such diets).
As Captain Cook found, scurvy could be prevented by consuming fresh meat, or fresh vegetables or fresh citrus like limes. Humans and guinea pigs are the only animals not able to produce their own Vitamin C. (so please do not eat those adorable creatures)!!
Studies have also shown that about 50% of protein we consume is converted to glucose by the body. That takes ? 3 to 4 hours so protein is definitely not a treatment for hypos!!
 
Terryp said:
So no sugar required, that actually makes things a tad easier to work with to be honest. Thank you for the advice.
Click to expand...
More than that there are no essential carbohydrates so you can get away with not only no sugar but virtually no carbs too.
 
I think the belief, which is false, derives from the truth that the brain uses about 140g glucose daily. However those of us who don't eat any sugar and often very little carbs, just make this from our livers i.e. you do not have to eat it which I agree makes things easier if you are a bit of an addict. The less sweetness you have the less of a sweet tooth you'll have so that's good news too.
 
Back
Top