Supplements helping with sugar/salt cravings?

[Ruthi]

A while back someone mentioned, in a very long post, that she was taking a couple of supplements to help with cravings. I looked at it at the time, but obviously didn't bookmark it because now I cannot find it.

Anyone remember?

[humanbean]

Sorry, I don't remember which post you are talking about.

For sugar cravings do some research into L-Glutamine powder and chromium picolinate. I'm not sure if either substance is suitable for people with diabetes or hypoglycemia - I've never researched it, they might be fine.

Sorry, can't suggest anything for salt cravings.

I am currently taking L-Glutamine - a spoonful of powder mixed in cold water and drunk, once or twice a day. It is tasteless and odourless so it is easy to swallow. It is very sensitive to heat and mustn't be taken close to eating hot food or drinking hot drinks. As well as helping with sugar cravings, L-Glutamine also helps with gut repair.

[Ruthi in reply to humanbean]

That's interesting, Bean. I'm neither diabetic nor hypoglycaemic (although I used to be) my sugar cravings are mostly related to stress and the adrenals, although I have also read that we can crave sugar when hypo. But if I am stressed (all the time at the moment) I'm in the sweetie shop before I even know it. I have done this for a long time - since my mother fell ill and then died of cancer when I was 12.

And no, salt isn't really the issue. I certainly don't crave it.

Have tried chromium before with no obvious effect. Chromium is involved in the regulation of blood glucose, so would be a good one for someone with blood sugar issues. But despite my terrible sugar habit, my blood glucose remains remarkably healthy, although one never knows how long that might last!

[Hidden in reply to Ruthi]

Hello Ruthi, I'm new here - live near Reading. Is there a local thyroid support group that meets up - I've seen there is one in Basingstoke but that is quite a hike from where I live.

Warm Greetings

Breizh

[Ruthi in reply to humanbean]

I bought some L-glutamine, but am not sure if its the cause of my current gastritis flare up. I have stopped for a while, and will try again when my stomach is happier.

Then I came across a short article about it, and have now bought the book the theory comes from 'The Diet Cure'. A little light reading for my holiday!

[humanbean in reply to Ruthi]

My gut problems are responding very well to L-Glutamine at the moment. (I'm taking it for gut repair, not for sugar cravings.) I've been taking a heaped teaspoon of the stuff in water twice a day for a month or two, but will probably reduce my dose soon. I've been slightly less dependent on my pain killers recently.

I do think the dose I take in the evening disturbs my sleep if I take it too late, but that isn't a new observation for me.

[humanbean in reply to Ruthi]

I've recently bought The Mood Cure which I think might be by the same author - Julia Ross. I haven't started it yet but it gets quite good reviews.

[Ruthi in reply to humanbean]

My poor guts are very unhappy at the moment. I've suddenly become much more constipated than usual - and nothing I do to help is without discomfort, albeit less than the discomfort of being bunged up. And then my low level of gastritis which I had largely ignored, suddenly flared up. Mind you that might be totally unrelated to the L-Glutamine and be more to do with the joint encrusted in black pepper that I had over the weekend!

What is it helping for you Bean?

[humanbean in reply to Ruthi]

I'm treating myself for leaky gut. Taking L-glutamine was my first step in the process.

I have found the stuff has a tendency to slow down my gut transit which isn't great, but it is still helping me a lot so I put up with being slightly constipated. There are plenty of products around I can take if things get really bad.

[Ruthi in reply to humanbean]

Uh-oh! I started the book last night!

You know that feeling, when you read a new book and immediately you think - that's me! And you rush into the next fad diet, or supplement regime?

She says milk can cause constipation!!! I have no obvious problems with milk, and was milk free for a year or more when my daughter was tiny (and violently allergic, even to the little that came through in the breast milk). But of course I wouldn't have noticed if I became (more) constipated when I went back to dairy, especially as for a while it was only when we were out. And although I don't like liquid milk (never did as a child - another red flag) I rarely go a day without eating cheese!

So that will be me in a week or two, gluten, dairy AND sugar free - courtesy of her fab amino acids which will miraculously cure my sugar addiction!

S'cuse me, gotta go read the book!

[humanbean in reply to Ruthi]

Let me know how it goes. I eat a g-f diet. I haven't adapted very well to it, I resent it enormously, and I still stand in the bakery department at supermarkets and drool sometimes.

The idea of having to go dairy free as well would give me a nervous breakdown.

Hope it works for you.

[Ruthi in reply to humanbean]

Its strange, because I wouldn't have expected to respond like that, but in general I choose not to eat gluten, even though nowadays I can get away with small amounts, and with larger amounts if I take DPP IV. But when faced with the choice I just decide its not worth it.

This does not apply in France, however. There I do eat both croissants and bread, although still in moderation because I know eventually I'll get heartburn.

I could go dairy free, although its quite hard in practical terms. I did it before. I just need to get a bit more organised than I am at the moment.

But sugar now. That one is currently impossible.

[humanbean in reply to Ruthi]

I totally agree about sugar. I've been addicted for years.

I sometimes have good days but having a good week is almost vanishingly rare.

[Hidden]

Could it be this one...?

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Ruthi in reply to Hidden]

That is the one, cat. Thank you!

[Naomi8]

I have been gluten free for a few months & have been surprised to find it has really reduced my desire for sweet things.Chocolate cravings have reduced to zero.

Previous to going GF,the only way I found to cope with sugar cravings was to stop consumption completely.I use a little xylotol.

[Ruthi in reply to Naomi8]

Xylitol is nasty stuff, not allowed in this house as I have dogs.

Been GF for six years, no effect on the sugar cravings, sadly

[Naomi8 in reply to Ruthi]

tell me more re xylitol

[Ruthi in reply to Naomi8]

It is extremely toxic to dogs, potentially fatal in quite small doses. It turns up especially in things like chewing gum and sugar free sweets, but can be in all sorts of things. There was a big scare a while back about peanut butter with it in, because some people use PNB to hide pills for their dogs.

AND its not so hot for humans, with digestive upsets being cited as the most common problem, but it is also a suspect in some cancers. Although it occurs naturally in small amounts that does not mean its good for you in the kind of amounts that you need to ingest to mimic the effect of sugar or honey.

Add to that the fact that all sweeteners tend to stimulate an insulin response, to a greater or lesser degree. This is because they work by binding to sugar receptors and of course that sets off a chain reaction. There are sugar receptors in the stomach wall, so long before sugar actually enters the blood stream, insulin is being produced to counter a potential rise in blood sugar. As a result, if you consume artificial sweeteners, blood sugar drops and you crave sugar - and once the craving starts all caution and use of sweeteners tends to go out of the window because they don't do what you want, which is raise blood sugar. This mechanism is part of the reason that consumers of sugar free drinks tend to be fatter, and to continue to gain weight.

There is, sadly no nutritionally sound substitute for sugar. The counsel of the wise is to avoid added sugar and concentrated natural sweeteners such as honey and maple syrup. Not a realistic option for a sugaholic like me!

[Naomi8 in reply to Ruthi]

Is chocolate banned in your house then?We have a dog but that doesn't mean we ban chocolate or xylitol.I agree with you re added sweetners.I wouldn't lump xylitol in with artificial sweetners,though.It is technically a sugar.

[Ruthi in reply to Naomi8]

Chocolate is nothing like as poisonous as xylitol. And it is instantly recognisable without label reading. Nevertheless it is very carefully stored in this house. My sugar addiction doesn't translate to a chocolate addiction, fortunately.

Technically Xylitol is a sugar alcohol(a half way substance), but only has five carbon atoms, instead of the six that our bodies are used to. I haven't gone into why it affects dogs the way it does. The stuff sold for human consumption is made from wood cellulose in a multi-stage process. All for only a third reduction in calories from sucrose.

[Naomi8 in reply to Ruthi]

you've been really helpful in breaking my denial.Thank you

[Ruthi in reply to Naomi8]

You are welcome! I am sure it's fine in moderation. But then so is sugar and honey.

Not that I do moderation!

[Crlnfly]

Magnesium ☺☺

[Ruthi]

Yep, I already do Magnesium, Whole C, B6 and Boron.