FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions:

Diet

What sugars do you eat? Honey? Coconut Sugar? Why?

I try to avoid honey, agave, coconut sugar, or syrups of any kind. The only sweetener that my body hasn’t reacted negatively with is stevia, and I still use this in small amounts. Naturally occurring sugar from whole fruit, etc. is always ideal. The best judge for your body is your own body, so experiment and see how you feel!

How do you deal with negative comments about your diet? I’m assuming for the most part people are supportive but do you ever get weird looks or judgey comments when talking about how you eat?

I really don’t get many negative comments about my diet. Most people are very supportive of my healthy lifestyle. People are usually shocked that I can even survive in this world without sugar, but they are not negative at all. I do receive comments about my “weird” diet a lot, but no-one is ever really ‘mean’ about it. I’ve pretty used to other’s comments, so it doesn’t bother me.

Eating Out

Is it hard eating out at restaurants? How do you do it?

Everything comes with practice! As you can see from my Instagram account, I love to eat at exciting new restaurants. Read about the places sugar hides HERE. Sticking to fruit, vegetables, meat, beans, and nuts is ideal when eating at home and eating out. Salads with an oil and vinegar dressing and meat and veggie dishes can be a great go-to if you are unsure.

How do you find out what dishes are “sugar free” when you’re eating out? 

Most chain restaurants have ingredients listed on their website. Don’t worry too much about trace amounts here and there, though, everything in moderation!

Sugar-Substitute Thoughts

What are your thoughts on agave? I am allergic to cane sugar and find that anything without cane sugar has agave instead and I’m suspicious that it is just as nasty to the body but have read conflicting conclusions.

Yes it does have a low-glycemic index and a high-fructose content; however, because fructose does not raise insulin levels, this strengthens your insulin resistance which can bring much more consequences to the body. You can read more HERE to decide for yourself.

What are your thoughts on stevia?

One of my earliest posts was my thoughts on stevia (this was when stevia was just coming onto the market), found HERE.  It is an herb, which I like, and is definitely better than using toxic no-calorie sweeteners like aspartame. Some brands have a bitter-aftertaste, but this is due to the processing the company uses. Also, make sure that the stevia you buy is made with only stevia. Some brands combine stevia with other sugar-substitutes like erythritol or maltitol. Also note that those with insulin issues should probably avoid sweeteners altogether, including stevia.

Path to Sugar-Free

How did you find out you were sugar intolerant?

You can read more about my path to sugar-free in my About Page.

When you were little did you have a hard time avoiding sugar?

When I was little, I did not avoid sugar. I ate sugar like every other little kid. It wasn’t until about age thirteen when I realized sugar was affecting my health.

What symptoms do you get from eating sugar and what made you finally make the switch?

When I eat sugar, a bright red rash will shoot up the side of my cheek. Then I’ll get a headache and feel sick for the rest of the day. This really is not worth it to me at all, so I don’t eat sugar. What made me finally make the switch was when my symptoms started getting worse. When I was little, the rash was the only indicator to sugar sensitivities. As I grew older, this worsened and I realized I had to quit eating it. I don’t regret the decision at all.

Life

How did you get that amazing ‘golfers’ tan’?

Ha! Well, I am a tennis player, so it is really a ‘tennis tan.’ Most people hate their tan lines, but I love mine!

 

If you have a question of your own, please comment below or email me at spoonfulofsugarfree@gmail.com.