Turns out my body doesn't deal well with sugar.
It's an intolerance I've only recently recognised but looking back I can recognise probably having it about 15 years (30 now) if not longer.
Recently came to light on a walking holiday where we rented a cottage with a kitchen. Having home cooked meals and making our packed lunches every day meant that my sugar intake happened at a very specific time of day - namely a chocolate button or two (i.e. a whole bag...) after dinner in the evening.
It only twigged on the last day of the trip when for the second day in a row I had indigestion immediately after having one or two chocolates in the evening. It was weird to me because the rest of the trip I'd noted to myself that it hadn't bothered me for most of the trip.
At that point, I figured I'd try and avoid chocolate for a wee while when I got back.
A week later, apart from the obvious things that most people say benefit from cutting out sugar, I'd noticed really positive changes not just in mitigating indigestion but (without going into too much detail) going to the toilet as well.
At the end of the week, to put my theory to the test I had a single spoonful of sugar when I got home after work, but before dinner, and within about 5 minutes I needed the toilet.
Since then I've been off it the best part of two months.
Luckily I've found that I don't need to be too strick with it. I avoid obviously sugary things (like jam) but I'm still having white toast as it doesn't seem to have enough sugar to effect me.
I've also found that plenty of natural sugars seem to be fine. If I have honey/fruits etc either I'm not having enough to trigger a response, or my body sees them differently enough that it's fine with them.
I'm not diabetic (as far as I'm aware...) but the timing has worked out quite well as I'd been looking to loose a little weight and I've gone from 110Kg to 102Kg in the 8 weeks I've avoiding sugar - combined with more walking, gym and healthier eating in general.
I think I'm a little lucky in some ways. I know there's plenty of people that want to give up sugar but can't because of the cravings. Since I've been able to associate so many things like an upset stomach, headaches and indigestion with sugar, it's been really easy to avoid.
So yeah, sugar. Who knew!
EDIT: Damit, posted too soon! I meant to have a point to this thread!
Other than letting people know that sugar can have this effect and that others might notice it themselves, do people have any good sugar free deserts?
It's about the only thing I'm struggling with to find good ones.
Any ideas much appreciated!
It's an intolerance I've only recently recognised but looking back I can recognise probably having it about 15 years (30 now) if not longer.
Recently came to light on a walking holiday where we rented a cottage with a kitchen. Having home cooked meals and making our packed lunches every day meant that my sugar intake happened at a very specific time of day - namely a chocolate button or two (i.e. a whole bag...) after dinner in the evening.
It only twigged on the last day of the trip when for the second day in a row I had indigestion immediately after having one or two chocolates in the evening. It was weird to me because the rest of the trip I'd noted to myself that it hadn't bothered me for most of the trip.
At that point, I figured I'd try and avoid chocolate for a wee while when I got back.
A week later, apart from the obvious things that most people say benefit from cutting out sugar, I'd noticed really positive changes not just in mitigating indigestion but (without going into too much detail) going to the toilet as well.
At the end of the week, to put my theory to the test I had a single spoonful of sugar when I got home after work, but before dinner, and within about 5 minutes I needed the toilet.
Since then I've been off it the best part of two months.
Luckily I've found that I don't need to be too strick with it. I avoid obviously sugary things (like jam) but I'm still having white toast as it doesn't seem to have enough sugar to effect me.
I've also found that plenty of natural sugars seem to be fine. If I have honey/fruits etc either I'm not having enough to trigger a response, or my body sees them differently enough that it's fine with them.
I'm not diabetic (as far as I'm aware...) but the timing has worked out quite well as I'd been looking to loose a little weight and I've gone from 110Kg to 102Kg in the 8 weeks I've avoiding sugar - combined with more walking, gym and healthier eating in general.
I think I'm a little lucky in some ways. I know there's plenty of people that want to give up sugar but can't because of the cravings. Since I've been able to associate so many things like an upset stomach, headaches and indigestion with sugar, it's been really easy to avoid.
So yeah, sugar. Who knew!
EDIT: Damit, posted too soon! I meant to have a point to this thread!
Other than letting people know that sugar can have this effect and that others might notice it themselves, do people have any good sugar free deserts?
It's about the only thing I'm struggling with to find good ones.
Any ideas much appreciated!
Seeing as a race (largely) without issue metabolise glucose quite effectively for energy I'm sure I and others would disagree that it is 'poison'.