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Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

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Re: Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

#51

Post by seanmcdirmid »

msiyer wrote: post #48
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are also a plethora of sugar free or low sugar processed foods to look into. Some of them use sugar alcohols or some artificial sweetener that might have some adverse effects, but they are fairly effective as a better substitute when you are otherwise craving a candy bar or a mocha. Fruits, some are better than others, depending on how much fiber they have.

Please stay away from artificial sugars. We have no idea what diseases they might be causing.

That is like saying please stay away from vaping as a way of stopping smoking. Great advice if you can, horrible advice if you can’t.

Perfect is the enemy of good.

Re: Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

#52

Post by rusk »

tpm wrote: post #49
msiyer wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not at all. All the protein a human needs can be sourced from plants and in huge quantities. Even grass has enough protein to help an elephant grow to ~1.5 tonnes.

Yes, but grass is not fruit and also protein from grass is useless for human nutrition (it would be quite the nutritional revolution if it was somehow made bioavailable for humans).

> it would be quite the nutritional revolution if it was somehow made bioavailable for humans

Cows do a pretty good job of this [edit - for us].

Its kind of funny to say that because Elephants can get all their protein from grass so can humans (unaided by outsourcing to cow) because there are differences in physiology and lifestyle that are more than significant.

Re: Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

#54

Post by msiyer »

tpm wrote: post #47
msiyer wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fats and proteins are available in fruits. I eat legumes occasionally and nuts etc. very rarely. The funniest thing is, once your system is reset, many foods that seem OK cause troubles. I could eat a lot of onions and garlic in the past. Now, they trouble me a lot.

Which fruits in your diet are rich in fats and proteins?

https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/nutrients/report/nutrientsfrm?m...

here you go.

However, I do not like to measure these things. Like other animals, i like to eat and enjoy my food.

Re: Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

#55

Post by tpm »

rusk wrote: post #52
tpm wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but grass is not fruit and also protein from grass is useless for human nutrition (it would be quite the nutritional revolution if it was somehow made bioavailable for humans).

> it would be quite the nutritional revolution if it was somehow made bioavailable for humans Cows do a pretty good job of this [edit - for us]. Its kind of funny to say that because Elephants can get all their protein from grass so can humans (unaided by outsourcing to cow) because there are differences in physiology and lifestyle that are more than significant.

For humans, as in, (more) directly for humans, without the (inefficient and cruel) cows step.

Re: Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

#56

Post by chetanbhasin »

louthy wrote: post #25

I have a super sweet tooth and have become more and more concerned about it as I get older. One thing that I am really bad at is any kind of conscious diet or regime, I am just not regimented with anything really. So, I tried the big-bang and did a 4 day fast - my theory being, well, treat it like a drug addiction and go 'cold turkey'. It worked. I massively cut down on my sugar intake because I didn't feel like I ne…

I tried something similar and that worked too. I decided to not have ANY sugar whatsoever for a week, and I managed surprisingly well. Then I thought I could do it for another week. Weeks became months and months became a year. Over time I've started consuming a little bit of sugar here and there, including fruits, and some added sugar in food that I buy. It's hard to not have any sugar because it's added to pretty much everything these days. But reducing cutting it out for a couple of weeks and then having reduced sugar works wonders!

Re: Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

#57

Post by msiyer »

rusk wrote: post #52
tpm wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but grass is not fruit and also protein from grass is useless for human nutrition (it would be quite the nutritional revolution if it was somehow made bioavailable for humans).

> it would be quite the nutritional revolution if it was somehow made bioavailable for humans Cows do a pretty good job of this [edit - for us]. Its kind of funny to say that because Elephants can get all their protein from grass so can humans (unaided by outsourcing to cow) because there are differences in physiology and lifestyle that are more than significant.

The elephant thing was an example. Humans too can get whatever they need from plant sources.

The day humans start eating raw fresh or rotten meat and find enjoyment in that is the day I will accept that humans are meant to eat other animals.

Also, if you are downvoting me thinking that I am some vegan activist, you are wrong. I am from Asia where relying on fruits and vegetables is or at least was till a few decades ago quite natural.

Re: Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

#58

Post by johnkpaul »

At what stage, if any, are we going to call sugar an addiction? "Craving" being the word used here is very obviously an indicator of the strength here and there are negative consequences to having too much. I don't know what other leaps need to be made to formalize the addiction category.

Re: Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

#59

Post by tpm »

msiyer wrote: post #54
tpm wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which fruits in your diet are rich in fats and proteins?

https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/nutrients/report/nutrientsfrm?m... here you go. However, I do not like to measure these things. Like other animals, i like to eat and enjoy my food.

Thanks, but most of those are dried fruits and all are quite low in protein anyway in my opinion (with the exception of goji). But of course if that works for you, it's okay.

Re: Training the Brain to Eat Less Sugar

#60

Post by muse900 »

louthy wrote: post #25

I have a super sweet tooth and have become more and more concerned about it as I get older. One thing that I am really bad at is any kind of conscious diet or regime, I am just not regimented with anything really. So, I tried the big-bang and did a 4 day fast - my theory being, well, treat it like a drug addiction and go 'cold turkey'. It worked. I massively cut down on my sugar intake because I didn't feel like I ne…

You don't need some crazy fasting diet to cut down sweets. Just diet for 3-4 days and boom the crave is gone. It comes back but you need to be able to handle it.

I'll say this to anyone out there wanting to look after himself and maybe lose extra weight or whatever.

I used to be overweight growing up. I mainly think is the fact that one of my parents used to be overweight and it reflected on our bad habits of eating. I've lost all the extra weight since I was 17 and maintained it now in my 30s. I still have the craves and I still wanna stuff myself with food and sweets and everything yes. What keeps me going is taming it and understanding that food for me is one of those things that I'll struggle with for the rest of my life. Its me that has to say no I won't eat anymore, I won't have that sweet I won't this or that. I do eat sweets maybe once a week. Everything in moderation though. I weight myself every single day and I am trying to maintain my weight to a healthy level. +3 -3 and don't go above or under.

Its on me! And as soon as you understand that then you'll have an easier time maintaining yourself. Food is an addiction and for me personally its very close to drinking.

The same way you'll say to yourself 'no I wont drink tonight' (and you go off and get absolutely blind :P) because I don't want to, I got work tomorrow, drinking is only for the weekend or special days cause I got a family etc. The same way you should be able to tame yourself and your needs around food and sweets. 'No I won't eat this delicious burger or sweet cause I already had my fair share this week, I'll try it in 3 days, today am gonna have some steamed veggies, some lean meat, some good carb etc'.

Some people are born with the privilege of not caring about food and not being overweight and being in perfect health. Others like me just have to struggle their whole lives for it, but its until you realise that this is what you have to do and until you realise that you have to change your habits and maintain it for the rest of your life you won't just change. Also find a sport, doesn't need to be the gym specifically just something you do 2-3 times a week and maintain yourself. You need to be active especially if you are working an office job.

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