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I gave up eating sugar and my skin looks lovely

37 replies

Romann · 07/07/2013 11:06

Just that really. Thought I'd share. All glowy and no spots. I don't always bother with make-up anymore (I am 40).

I read this book, and basically do what he says. I was Shock when I read it, I must say.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

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amigababy · 07/07/2013 11:22

how easy or difficult was it to put it into practice? how long have you been doing it? it's something I'd like to try but am nervous of giving it a go.

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EarlyInTheMorning · 07/07/2013 11:27

Could you give us a summary Romann? I always find these books tend to repeat the same thing over and over again and always give up.

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EarlyInTheMorning · 07/07/2013 11:28

Please Blush

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Romann · 07/07/2013 12:04

I've been doing it for about 6 weeks. It's very similar to no-carbing, except that he says whole grains and unpeeled fruit are OK. The book says that fructose especially, and other refined carbs generally, are really bad for you. It's an interesting book, both about the metabolic effects, and about food industry practices and government policy, and their effect on what we eat and our health. You can counter the sugar effect by eating a lot of fibre at the same time, hence unpeeled fruit is OK unless it's really sweet fruit likes grapes or melons, which you should probably avoid. Key things are not to drink any fizzy drinks (even the diet versions, which have the same metabolic effect, apparently), no fruit juice, no smoothies, no dessert, no sugar in/on anything, really keep any other refined carbs to a minimum - like rice once per week or whatever. Milk and dairy carbs are fine, they are metabolised differently.

Anyway, I tend to eat quite a lot of meat and fish, with salad or vegetables, and only drink tea, milk or water. I eat some whole grains: spelt pasta, or whole spelt grains (sounds a bit knit-your-own-lentils in UK I know, but these are normal things to eat in Italy, where I am), brown rice. I don't really eat bread, but wholemeal would be OK. I snack on nuts, plain yoghurt and apples.

I don't let my kids have fizzy drinks, juice, or sweets. Dessert/ice cream only at the weekend. Mix of whole grain and ordinary carbs for them. They still put Nutella on their toast though!

I wasn't trying to lose weight as am quite slim, but I was convinced by the health arguments. I think you would lose weight doing this, if you're carrying a bit of flab. I still have plenty of energy - I run quite a lot and haven't noticed a difference. The really striking thing for me has been my skin though. I look younger, less haggard, and my skin feels all velvety. I've always had problem skin (acne, plus dry patches, plus large pores etc), so I'm really pleased.

If you don't want to buy or read the book, you could look up the author on Youtube. there's a 90 minute lecture there which sets out his argument well and concisely. He is quite focused on the obesity epidemic, but the information is relevant to everybody.

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Romann · 07/07/2013 12:09

Just to add, I'm not finding it very hard. I hardly ate any processed food anyway, so that wasn't a problem, and I'm not a big drinker at all. I did eat quite a lot of chocolate, and liked desserts like chocolate mousse etc, but I haven't craved any of those things at all.

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YoungBritishPissArtist · 07/07/2013 12:14

How about peanut butter?

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amigababy · 07/07/2013 13:16

I should get teenage dd to read it, she eats loads of sugary food and fruit juice and her skin isn't great.

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Romann · 07/07/2013 13:52

I'm sure peanut butter is fine if you get a no-sugar version. They definitely sell it in health food shops. Don't know about the supermarket.

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Downfall · 07/07/2013 15:33

That's really interesting romann, and a helpful summary, thanks. I didn't think I ate an overly processed diet, but it's surprising how it sneaks in. I'm just starting a low carb way of eating, so this is timely.

Well done on the clearer skin - no make up in this sunshine, what a treat Smile

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YoungBritishPissArtist · 07/07/2013 15:37

Thanks, Romann! The book sounds really interesting, I'll try to get it from the library.

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Nonotthatagain · 07/07/2013 15:46

my dh has also read this book and listened to lectures on you tube he has lost over a stone following this!! I'm trying to do same having seen him do it.

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Moominsarehippos · 07/07/2013 15:52

What about caffeine? I know a few folks who don't drink tea or coffee and they have lovely clear skin.

I loves me tea and coffee though!

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holmessweetholmes · 08/07/2013 10:20

I'd love to give up sugar and have lovely skin. I tried paleo/primal for a little while but found it too hard. Just cutting the sugar sounds doable though. Especially if I can have wholemeal bread. I worry about how much sugar my kids eat. Cutting out the juice is the hard bit...

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Moominsarehippos · 08/07/2013 11:47

Is it just processed/white sugar though? You can make your own cakes and biscuits with brown/light brown stuff and fruit cakes are sweet. I do need my cheap n nasty chocolate fix. Much as I like Green & Blacks, you can't beat Galaxy Caramel!

At the moment, stress and the heat are my 2 enemies. I'm trying to cut our the sugars and caffeine as they are making me feel really really crappy when I have them. I'm falling to bits!

I love peanut butter and get the one in the plastic jar, blue lid and a monkey picture on it. I think its called 'the Peanut Butter Co' and has only nuts in it - no oil, no salt or sugar. Its revolting when you first open it as all the oils rise to the top and you have to stir it with a knife but it settles down! Sainsburyus used to sell it but I get it from our healthfood store now.

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holmessweetholmes · 08/07/2013 12:09

No, I think it's all sugar, Moomins. White sugar may be worse, but they all seem to have the same addictive effect Sad.

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PicnicPie · 08/07/2013 12:10

Very interesting op. I am always looking at ways of improving my health and am generally pretty healthy. Lots of fruit and veg and good dairy, milk, yoghurt etc.

I don't take sugar in my tea but I do have honey on bran flakes at breakfast. Is honey allowed?

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Moominsarehippos · 08/07/2013 12:59

All sugar... ALL? oh dear God! Does that include natural sugars - honey too? Fructose naturally in fruit?

EEK!

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StringBeanJean · 08/07/2013 13:19

This is so interesting, thanks Romann, I think I will buy the book you recommend as I have cut out sugar recently and would like to know more.

I have had bad skin since having dd a few years ago. Spotty around the chin and blotchy dull complexion. No cream or potion made any difference. In May I was in despair and decided to change my regime for six weeks to see what would happen. I have been using the derma flannel along with LRP effaclar and bravura 10% glycolic acid cream. I also stopped eating sugar - so no chocolate, cake, biscuits or yoghurt. I still eat white bread sometimes. The change has been amazing. My skin is glowy and spots gone. The scars from old spots are now fading and I'm almost at the point at which I would be confident to go out without foundation on. This is a miracle for me and my previously teenage skin. For anyone with bad skin I would definitely recommend the no sugar approach, tis amazing Grin

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EarlyInTheMorning · 08/07/2013 13:21

Thank you for the summary Romann, very helpful. I get that diet drinks are not good for you as they're full of chemicals, but I don't undersntand why they're also not good for you from the point of view of trying to cut down on sugar...

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holmessweetholmes · 08/07/2013 13:59

Moomins - fructose in fruit is fine if you eat the fruit, not drink it as smoothies or juice, because with the former you get a bit of fructose and a load of good fibre. With juice you get no fibre and tons of fructose. I want to know about honey too!
I just watched the whole lecture by the author on YouTube. It's very long and has some science bits I don't understand, but the message is clear and very alarming. I feel like going and chucking out half the food in my cupboards. ..

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prettyanddainty · 08/07/2013 16:11

I have just ordered it, can't wait to follow it now, I definitely need to cut back on sugar, or shall I say give up on it Smile.

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Romann · 08/07/2013 21:55

Moomins it is all sugar, including honey, brown sugar etc, but as holmes says, eating solid fruit is OK because of the fibre.

Very interesting stringbean it's not just me then! Thanks for posting. I had also been an adult acne sufferer - so depressing to have wrinkles and spots together! I'm really, really pleased about the recent change. I wasn't particularly expecting it, so it's been doubly delightful.

Early tbh I forgot the sciency bit about diet drinks. The book has a lot of detail about the body's hormonal response to what you eat and drink (leptin, insulin etc) and how your fat cells work. Very basically the fact that you think you are having fructose provokes a metabolic response that is as bad as if you were having it.

The bottom line is that you should basically give up all sugar and more or less all refined carbs, and you should exercise every day (even only 15 minutes) not because it will make you any thinner but because it's really good for you. It helps to get rid of the visceral fat in/around your organs, which is massively bad for you.

I don't really know about caffeine, I don't drink so much - maybe 1 or 2 coffees a day and 1 tea, but I often have red bush tea or herbal whatever instead of regular.

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hollyisalovelyname · 08/07/2013 22:09

Thanks Romann for all the info. I am a disgrace where sugar is concerned Hmm. Chocolate and sweets are my downfall and am soooo fed up with my lack of weight loss and will power. I comfort eat when I'm stressed and I'm stressed. I shall really try from now on.

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MistyKnight · 08/07/2013 22:17

I'd agree cutting out the sugar makes an amazing difference. The clearest skin of my adult life has been a surprising side effect of cutting out refined sugar due to gestational diabetes. I saw a difference in two weeks or so. I eat low GI fruits, whole grains etc but no juices, refined carbs or sugary things. Same sort of diet as for type 2 diabetes. I will be keeping it up after the birth just for the benefits to my skin!

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hollyisalovelyname · 08/07/2013 22:24

What fruit is good?

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