Is it okay for a sugar addict to drink diet sodas?
, medical content by Bitten Jonsson, RN
in Addiction, Q&A, Sugar/fructose 
Are there support groups online? How many ounces in carbs, fat and protein on a keto diet for weight loss is ideal? Is Cola Zero bad for the body?
These and other questions are answered this week by our food-addiction expert, Bitten Jonsson, RN:
Online support groups?
Are there support groups online? I am desperate to find a support group and haven’t had much success finding one where I live.
Dolores
Hello Dolores,
Yes, there are. On Facebook, we have a group called “Sugarbomb in your brain.”
Welcome onboard,
Bitten
Sugar addict
Hello, Bitten!
I believe I am a sugar addict. When I eat sweet things and I cannot stop, I will eat until there is nothing left. I love everything sweet, but when I sometimes have restricted sweets I can control myself, but then comes that time of the month – PMS and all the control just seems impossible. From one day to the other it seems like I am a different person and these are the times I relapse (and also on vacations, so that’s why I am actually scared to go on vacations, especially if those two things happen at the same time). I have gone almost one year without sweets on a paleo diet and then I relapsed and for two years just could not get out of it again. Now I am on my second month of LCHF and just went through a bad PMS-craving week, I controlled it with dark chocolate, but I almost didn’t get through with that. Today is again the first good day but I am already scared about the next month.
But my question is – do you have any suggestions about PMS cravings, it’s so bad that I could run during a storm to the nearest shop and buy any sweet that they have, even something I don’t enjoy, if nothing else is there. Or maybe PMS cravings and sugar addiction have nothing to do with one and the other? I am 28 years old, 173 cm (5’6″) and 75 kg (165 lbs).
Thank you!
Agnese
Agnese,
They do trigger each other very much. I recommend that you read “Female brain gone insane” by Mia Lundin. It is a very good book that explains PMS and other hormonal rollercoasters. My advice is to stick to your meal plan, no dark chocolate, it can worsen the triggers. It is not only the sugar that triggers us, addicts, it is also an ingredient in cocoa called “anandamide” that can trigger us to go on a binge. When you feel the beginning of PMS, eat small meals every 2-3 hours those days in order to curb volatile blood sugar which is what happens. Do not forget coconut oil as a snack and if you take a tablespoon of glutamine powder in half a glass of water, it will curb cravings even more. Next time will be better.
Bitten
Cola Zero
Hi!
My husband has had great results on the low-carb diet and has lost 20 kg (45 lbs) since January. He is skinny now and do not need lose any more weight. He has problems staying on the diet or staying away from sweets, but he likes a daily can of Cola Zero (no carbs). Is Cola Zero bad for the body?
Kathrine
Kathrine,
Any sugar addict having anything with sweeteners may risk relapsing in the long run, so I advise against it. For me, it is a chemical :)
Say hi from me,
Bitten
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