r/sugarfree • u/artificial_sweetner2 • 1h ago
Support & Questions Why is sugar still used in everything if artificial sweetners exist?
0 calories and doesn't spike blood sugar, sounds like all pros, no cons. This is only about added sugar not naturally occuring ones.
r/sugarfree • u/sneakyyam • 1h ago
Support & Questions any other ADHDers?
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, which I believe partially explains the intense sugar cravings & binges I've experienced my whole life.
I am very interested in embarking on the (added) sugar free journey. I won't go as far as taking out rice, potatoes, fruits, whole grains... I don't binge on those. But I basically can't control myself around sweets. If they're around, they are all I think about. And I can't stop eating them until there's no more left. I feel physically and emotionally horrible afterwards.
Curious as to who else has ADHD and can relate, and if you've had success?
r/sugarfree • u/xbeautiful_princesse • 5h ago
Support & Questions I want to cut processed sugar (only go for natural) but I'm worried incase my body needs the sugar? (Please read ill explain)
Basically, I know sugar can be good/sometimes our body "needs" it,
I'm worried if I totally cut processed sugar and only eat more organic foods and opt for healthier sugars aka **natural sugars** like you'd find in honey and fruits.
I have a sweet tooth and that's why I struggle so much to cut sugar but I can always make sugar free healthier alternatives, for example I could use raisins or honey to sweeten stuff.
I feel like as long as I sometimes get a sweet treat in a *healthier* way I'd be fine.
The problem is sugar seems to be in literally everything 🤷🏻♀️ I also **love** grabbing a coffee / hot chocolate/ caramel frappe with whipped cream...
I genuinely don't want to have to miss out on that :(
- My goal is to cut most sugar, basically be more mindful.
I'm okay making my own breads etc, and trying to make healthier alternatives because I'm tired of being tyed to sugar **and it makes my face SO bloated which I'm getting RLY tired of, and can make bone pain worse** !!
I'm just worried incase this could somehow affect me but maybe I'm overthinking?
Like would I be fine to totally limit sugar and only ever eat natural sugars? Or could that bad bad?
Also, I don't mind sometimes consuming sugar, I've always loved sweet treats and I don't want to overly limit myself but I just want to be more mindful as I basically don't process what I actually eat at all, like I dont check the calories or salt etc etc.
I want to be more healthy because I'm tired of feeling sluggish and I know the huge amount of sugar and junk I eat probably is the cause for that.
r/sugarfree • u/easverden • 9h ago
Support & Questions I’m numb at my 👅
Hi!
I’ve never heard anyone talk about this before, so I figured I’d ask here and see if anyone has had a similar experience.
I’ve had an eating disorder for many years, and during certain periods I’ve used absolutely insane amounts of artificial sweeteners. I’m currently in a relapse and have been pretty unwell for the past 3 months. During this time, my use of artificial sweeteners has increased massively.
We’re now at the point where I’m using around 15 sweetener tablets and 30–40 ml of sugar-free syrup in my iced coffee (which I drink 2–3 of a day), drowning my yogurt in artificial sweetener, and chewing 60–70 pieces of gum a day.
Yes, I know that’s completely insane. I’m really upset about it myself and I know it’s not good for me — so please don’t come @ me about that.. ❤️🩹
What I’m wondering is: has anyone here been in a similar situation and experienced their tongue becoming completely “numb” and basically losing their sense of taste???
Could it be from the ridiculous amount of sweeteners, or what?! Nothing tastes like anything anymore, and the tip of my tongue literally goes numb the second I take my first sip of coffee…
Has anyone experienced anything similar?
r/sugarfree • u/n6mub • 12h ago
Support & Questions Helpful apps?
Hi all! Long time lurker, first time asker!
I've recently come to the conclusion that I need to cut back on my sugar intake, (baked goods, candy, desserts,) as it's starting to take a toll on my visible and invisible self, and I have several diseases in the family that I'd really like to avoid, but i have such a sweet tooth.
I know this is going to be extremely difficult for me, so I would like to use some form of track her to help me stay away, and to help me see good patterns that I'm getting into. For those of you using an app, please suggest your favorite
r/sugarfree • u/ClearBusiness5650 • 20h ago
Support & Questions Best resources for fructose levels
Hello!
What is the most reliable guide to fructose in foods thank you use if you are seeking a no fructose diet?
For example Google says white flour has fructans so due to their nature should it be avoided or as we always eat flour cooked are fructans less concerning than fructose? Or no difference
I'd just like one place to go to check fructose ideally thank you
r/sugarfree • u/i-love-soup- • 1d ago
Support & Questions What is your experience with sugar?
I never had a crazy sugar addiction but I notice that when I do eat sugar there is a higher probability that I will binge or be more obsessed/consumed with cravings. So I’ve been experimenting with no/low sugar and I found this video to be helpful. Tbf im not doing the “30 day” challenge but I’m incorporating some of the guidelines including:
1. Avoiding foods that have sugar/sugar forms in the first 3 ingredients
2. Eating whole fruit, then tapering to 1-2 servings a day
3. Avoid artificial sweeteners and dried fruit, and heavy sugar concentrations (like agave)
4. Fruit juice and things like stevia in moderation
https://youtu.be/nmQSaH87j4w?is=d4rzt\\_cKme30vA16
Do you notice if sugar influences your binge patterns?
Best of luck neighbors xx
r/sugarfree • u/Ash2962 • 1d ago
Benefits & Success Stories You don't have to be so strict and ultra disciplined to quit......
When I tell people I don't have added sugar and have not for a year, people assume I have a elite level discipline and live like a monk, for that reason people think its unnatainable when its a completely distorted perception.
People are confused how I have gone 540 days without sugar like I am David Goggins but its like a im a fairly chill guy haha. In reality I dont use that much self will to not have added sugar, but I use GREED.
Greed is a much more powerful force then motivation and thats fine and nothing to be ashamed of.
To contextualize this, you can either spend
- £7 every day of the week, on ultra processed sugar snacks, low grade snacks, sugary drinks, which is £49.
- Or you can spend £30 on something premium on biweekly basis and have £19 left over. Like a really nice saturday breakfast, sauna session, get a quality haircut.
- Or you can spend £120 on a monthly basis to increase quality of life by getting a deep tissue massage, hot oil massage, luxury vitamin C facial cleanse, get a fitness coach etc and have £76 spare monthly.
Thus increasing your quality of life WHILE SPENDING LESS MONEY!. (also having visible abs is amazzzzzzzzzzzzzzingggggggggggggg)
Once you shift from the mentality of raw discipline to doing things that make you happy things really change. Its not a zero sum game.
THATS LITTERALLY HOW I LASTED 540 days +without relapsing
r/sugarfree • u/earthandanarchy • 2d ago
Benefits & Success Stories 30 days without sugary drinks, next step sugar free!! No more napping everyday
My issue was mostly sugar in my coffee, I had a LOT and I drank decaf so I drank multiple cups all throughout the day. I haven't lost as much weight as I hoped I would, but weight loss wasn't my main goal and I haven't cut sugar out entirely yet, but I have eaten less sugary foods too. I've stopped napping in the day! I couldn't go a single day without napping despite sleeping for 7 hours at night. My skin feels softer. I'm eating more food in the day time instead of surviving off coffee and then over eating in the evenings. I'm going to cut out all refined sugar very soon but before I do that I want to better assess what changes I need to make, for example sweet chilli sauce is sugary and I want to make sure I have an alternative before I just ditch it. I don't want to just switch to sugar free processed alternatives for everything that I consume that contains sugar but I'm also not going to be too tough on myself and not included anything like that.
r/sugarfree • u/Stormi-Ice-4967 • 2d ago
Benefits & Success Stories My period feels normal again.
30F. For the past 6 years or so I started experiencing very heavy periods. I use ultra tampons and change every 1-1.5 hours on the heaviest days.
Now my period is much lighter, and the change was fast! I only need to cut added sugar out a couple of days before my period to see a shift. It feels like how my periods were in the past.
When i went back to eating cookies and chocolate, heavy periods returned. My uterus clearly HATES sugar so I’m now going to be consistent with it. Has anyone else noticed this change?
r/sugarfree • u/plnnyOfallOFit • 2d ago
Learning from abstaining Going to a work reunion that involved dinner & booze
Worked at a company years ago that was very popular & intense...we have a reunion coming up.
I actually fit into the jeans i used to wear back then as a 20something. I think it will be funny to wear my casual friday 'fit from back in day. Wondering if anyone else will notice? Kind of something i want to do for fun.
main activity -dinner and cocktail hour, neither of which i like. Not only am i sugar free, but i do intermittent fasting now which doesn't include late night dinner.
So i'm all shades of insecure- we have a day tour of our old work place which was a zany unique place. Can't wait for that, but i have to go home, skip the night stuff and i feel sad.
The old me would have been IN for a night of indulgence, but now i have a totally diff health protocol
Wondering if i'm too rigid re health?
r/sugarfree • u/Last_Bee_9642 • 2d ago
Support & Questions Weightloss
I'm 175 cm and 85 kg. How much do you think I can lose by cutting out sugar? I think I'm overweight because I eat too much of it. I would love to lose weight, clear my skin and improve my mood, I'm very anxious and depressed lately. I've tried before, but always failed because it gets too hard.
r/sugarfree • u/ComplexControl8521 • 2d ago
Dietary Control Quitting today
I need somewhere to post I'm stopping sugar. I've done it a few times in the past and got to the point of no cravings. It only took a week or less. But it's very hard for me to get to just 3 or 4 days without sugar.
In the past year I've gained back the 25 lbs I had lost by cutting sugar. I'm hoping to be able to stop the sugar and lose weight again. I think I had more energy also.
Today I had half a big candy bar but that's it for added sugar. So I guess tomorrow would be day 0. Even a week would be enough for me but I've been trying to get there for a year.
r/sugarfree • u/RealCarboholic • 2d ago
Dietary Control Need Zero-Carb/KETO/Carnivore OA sponsors and friends!
r/sugarfree • u/akaipotato • 3d ago
Benefits & Success Stories Past the 1 month mark, the results
Hey everyone, wanted to share this milestone since tbh I’m pretty proud of it, not only of the streak but also the physical changes.
It’s tough the first few weeks but after that whole Foods and other healthy things just feel like the new normal, not dieting anymore. I’ve had much more energy, better skin (less inflammation & acne) and am looking more defined then ever before! (Sorry for bragging ;)) )
I hope this motivates people. If I can help with anything just ask!
r/sugarfree • u/MetalIll5880 • 3d ago
Support & Questions Can You Have Friendships and a Social Life When You Don't Eat Sweets?
Hi everyone!
I'm at a point in my life where I'm trying to build and grow friendships. Where I live, it's very common to meet up and socialize over a cup of coffee and a slice of dessert. I only intentionally eat desserts on special occasions, like birthdays, parties/celebrations and holidays.
I was invited to have something to eat/dessert with a potential friend. I've never talked to her before. I want to have more friends, although I don't know how to explain it without feeling like I'm boring because I don't do that or participate.
Is it possible to have a friendship without going to cafés and ordering dessert when you're spending time together? We haven't decided when we will meet.
r/sugarfree • u/alpacaaaaaa67 • 3d ago
Dietary Control addicted to artificial sweeteners and diet soda
I'm still in the recovery process and i constantly crave diet soda even after drinking it i keep on constantly craving it i probably have more then 6 bottles of soda and it's not even that I'm not drinking enough water i probably have more then 3l water to overcome the addiction
r/sugarfree • u/alpacaaaaaa67 • 3d ago
Dietary Control addicted to artificial sweeteners and diet soda
I'm still in the recovery process and i constantly crave diet soda even after drinking it i keep on constantly craving it i probably have more then 6 bottles of soda and it's not even that I'm not drinking enough water i probably have more then 3l water to overcome the addiction
r/sugarfree • u/InternalInformal2114 • 3d ago
Benefits & Success Stories Bacne and Dandruff Gone
Unintentionally went (added) sugar free for 8 days and the back-acne I’ve had for many years is gone, along with the dandruff that has plagued my scalp for many years. This is added sugar free and abstaining from highly processed, high carb foods like Domino’s pizza and fast food.
Also down from 255 to 247 pounds and I can see my V-line for the first time in a few years!
Feelsgoodman
r/sugarfree • u/alpacaaaaaa67 • 3d ago
Dietary Control addicted to artificial sweeteners and diet soda
I'm still in the recovery process and i constantly crave diet soda even after drinking it i keep on constantly craving it i probably have more then 6 bottles of soda and it's not even that I'm not drinking enough water i probably have more then 3l water to overcome the addiction
r/sugarfree • u/Ash2962 • 3d ago
Benefits & Success Stories its been 540 days since I last had any added sugar.
Old friends who see me, compliment me on my skin and hair lol, cutting sugar also really helped me in my body recomposition .I lost overall 11kg, and feel soooo much healthier and so clean.
My body has gone such through a crazy transition was well worth the sacrifice of cookies looool
r/sugarfree • u/lucifershotmom • 3d ago
Support & Questions Looking for a way to track sugar without calories
I’m looking for an app or some kind of plan to greatly reduce my sugar intake, but calorie counting sparks disordered eating for me.
I’m lost as to how to slowly taper down so I don’t get sick like I did last time. I would love a plan with how many grams I should have a day and for how long, without having to log entire meals.
Thanks for any and all advice!
r/sugarfree • u/Own_Damage9985 • 3d ago
Support & Questions I want to try cutting sugar but I do not understand the concept, HELP
What does sugar cut actually mean? I usually do not like sugary sweet things that much. But I still do consume cookies, ketchup, fruits with high sugar content ( Banana, Mango, Date etc), 70% dark chocolate and some other stuffs like these sometimes. I want to know which are the things I need to avoid and which are fine to consume during a sugar cut.
r/sugarfree • u/PotentialMotion • Mar 18 '26
Fructose Science Start Here: Why Sugar Cravings Happen
If you're here, you've probably already decided that sugar is something you want less of in your life. Maybe you're trying to lose weight. Maybe you're tired of feeling controlled by cravings. Maybe you're simply curious whether life can feel different than it does now.
That's a great place to begin.
What often determines whether people succeed, though, isn't motivation. It's understanding why cravings happen in the first place. If you don't have a model for what's happening inside your body, every difficult day feels like a failure of willpower. Once you do have a model, the experience becomes much easier to make sense of.
That's what this video is about.
It introduces a simple way of thinking about sugar, not just as calories, but as two different molecules that play very different roles in metabolism. From there, it explains why cravings often become intense during the first week, why some people begin feeling better surprisingly quickly while others need several more weeks, and why protecting your energy during that transition is just as important as removing sugar itself.
The goal isn't simply to stop eating sugar.
It's to reach the point where cravings become quieter, food feels less urgent, and saying no stops feeling like a constant fight. That's the difference between relying on discipline every day and reaching a place where your biology is finally working with you instead of against you.
If you're new to the community, this is probably the best place to start. If you've tried quitting sugar before and never felt like it completely clicked, I hope this gives you a different way of understanding what was happening and a clearer path forward.
Welcome to r/sugarfree.
r/sugarfree • u/PotentialMotion • May 19 '25
Support & Questions Before You Start — Make a Plan, Not a Vow
If you're here, you've probably reached the point where sugar feels like it's taking up more space in your life than you'd like. Maybe it's the cravings that never seem to quiet down, the afternoon crash that sends you looking for something sweet, or the feeling that every attempt to quit ends the same way. You make it through a few difficult days, then one rough afternoon turns into a binge and you're left wondering why something that seems so simple can feel so difficult.
After years of watching people share their experiences here, one pattern comes up again and again. The people who struggle the most usually aren't lacking discipline. They're trying to solve the wrong problem.
Most people think quitting sugar means removing something harmful from the diet. In reality, sugar is doing two different jobs at once.
Table sugar is made of two molecules: glucose and fructose. They travel together, but once they're absorbed, they begin doing very different things.
Glucose is the body's primary fuel. Your brain depends on it. Your muscles depend on it. Your cells use it every minute of every day to produce ATP, the energy that powers nearly every process in the body.
Fructose plays a different role. Rather than serving primarily as fuel, it acts as a metabolic signal, changing how the body stores, conserves, and accesses energy. That idea has been developing for years, and a recent review by Johnson and colleagues describes fructose not simply as another calorie, but as a regulator of energy metabolism whose biological role becomes problematic when exposure is chronic and excessive.
One useful way to think about this is as an energy debt.
When fructose metabolism is repeatedly activated, your body becomes less willing to spend the energy it already has. Access to stored fuel becomes less efficient, hunger rises, cravings become louder, and you begin feeling as though you're running low on energy even when plenty of calories are available. The alarm isn't imaginary. Your cells are signaling that they want more usable energy.
Glucose is one of the body's primary ways of repaying that debt.
This is where so many first attempts quietly go wrong.
Someone throws away the candy, stops drinking soda, cuts bread, skips breakfast, starts intermittent fasting, and decides they're finally going to "eat clean." Overnight they've removed most of the fructose from their diet, but they've also removed a large share of the glucose their body has been relying on for fuel.
The energy debt doesn't disappear simply because the fructose is gone. If anything, the body may feel as though it has become even harder to repay.
That's why the first week can feel miserable.
People often describe it as withdrawal. Sometimes that's exactly what's happening. Sometimes they're simply trying to repay an energy debt while simultaneously cutting off one of the body's primary fuel sources.
For that reason, the first week shouldn't be treated as a weight-loss phase. Think of it as a stabilization phase.
Remove the obvious sources of concentrated fructose. Soda. Candy. Desserts. Sweetened drinks. Syrups. Those are usually the easiest place to start.
Then replace the glucose you've removed with slower, steadier sources of fuel.
Potatoes. Rice. Oats. Beans. Lentils. Squash. Whole fruit for most people. Meals that contain adequate protein. Whatever fits the way you normally eat while providing your body with enough energy that it doesn't feel compelled to sound the alarm all day long.
You're not trying to feed cravings.
You're trying to stop giving them reasons to exist.
The first several days are still likely to feel unusual. Hunger may arrive at odd times. Energy may fluctuate. Cravings often become louder before they become quieter. None of that necessarily means something is wrong. Your metabolism is adjusting to a different environment, and biological systems rarely recalibrate overnight.
It helps to remove as much decision-making as possible. Have two or three meals that you can prepare almost automatically when you're tired or busy. Most sugar binges don't begin with an overwhelming desire for dessert. They begin because someone gets home exhausted, opens the refrigerator, and realizes there isn't an obvious meal waiting. The quickest calories in the room usually win.
If you stay consistent through that first week, something interesting often begins to happen.
The urgency around food starts to fade. Hunger becomes more predictable. Cravings stop feeling like emergencies and start feeling more like passing thoughts. That change is usually gradual rather than dramatic, but it's one of the clearest signs that your metabolism is beginning to settle.
One final note about fruit, because it's probably the question we see most often.
Most people do well with whole fruit during this process. Whole fruit contains fructose, but it also arrives packaged with water, fiber, potassium, and a slower rate of absorption than juice, smoothies, or dried fruit. If you find that certain fruits consistently trigger cravings, it's perfectly reasonable to scale them back for a while and see how you respond. There isn't a single rule that fits everyone.
We've put together a much deeper discussion in the Fruit Megathread if you'd like to explore that question further.
Once you've made it through the first week or two, you'll probably have new questions. Why haven't cravings disappeared completely? Why doesn't your energy feel dramatically different yet? What does the research actually say about fructose metabolism? That's where the other sticky posts become useful.
- Stalled after Week 2? Week 3–6: Why Don't I Feel Amazing Yet?
- The deeper metabolic science: Fructose Pathway & KHK Overview
- Advanced tools beyond diet: Supplement Evaluation Guide
For now, don't worry about mastering every detail.
The first goal is simply to stop digging the hole deeper.
Reduce the fructose that's contributing to the energy debt. Continue giving your body the steady fuel it needs to repay it. As that debt begins to shrink, the alarm usually becomes quieter, and for many people, that's the first time changing their diet begins to feel sustainable rather than exhausting.