The Sweet Truth: How A Sugar-Free Lifestyle Can Set You Apart

As someone who follows an intuitive eating approach, I've had my fair share of struggles with food, including rare instances of binge eating. It's widely believed that binge eating and cravings, particularly for sugar, are often psychological. However, a well-nourished body and mind can help reduce these urges. Some doctors even link sugar consumption to depression, though that’s a topic for another blog post.

My aversion to sugar started early. As a child, I had an unusual obsession with raw carrots. I would meticulously chew the outer part of the carrot and save the stem for last. My carrot consumption was so excessive that I once woke up completely orange, prompting my concerned parents to fear I had hepatitis. Thankfully, it was just an excess of beta-carotene.

As a baby, I also had strong reactions to sugary foods. I would cry uncontrollably when introduced to sweet treats like rice pudding. My mother, assuming that I should enjoy the same foods like when my older sister was a baby, was puzzled by my refusal. A pediatrician finally suggested that I might just not like sugar, a notion mom initially dismissed.

Unlike my family, who could indulge in sugary treats like double waffles washed with chocolate sauce or piles of baklava without a second thought, I found these foods repulsive. My aversion was so pronounced that my family's attempts to include me in their sugary rituals felt like a punishment rather than a treat. I vividly remember the mess and discomfort of trying to handle melting ice cream cones, while my older sister would eagerly finish hers to claim mine:))

Instead of sweets, I developed a love for pickle juice and pickles. I even dreamed of marrying a pickle merchant! Little did I know that fermented foods are excellent for gut health, but my body seemed to instinctively salivate for them. This may sound strange, but sometimes our bodies have a better understanding of what they need than we realize.

Throughout my life, I've maintained a diet that excludes cakes, cookies, and sugary foods. I rarely consume more than a small amount of sugar in hot tea or coffee. My aversion to cupcakes and other sugary treats often leads to bewildered reactions from others. It’s as if not liking cupcakes makes me socially unacceptable. To avoid judgment, I often say I'm on a sugar-free diet, though this doesn’t always prevent skepticism.

Interestingly, after a decade of being eczema-free, I experienced a flare-up about a year ago. This prompted me to cut out sugar from my diet entirely, a habit I had previously maintained out of convenience rather than necessity. To learn more about my journey with eczema, check out my related blog posts.

Today, I occasionally enjoy high-quality fruit sorbet and 90% cocoa chocolate, though I wish they contained less added sugar. My lifestyle isn’t about spending a few weeks on a retreat in Bali just to come home and eat pasta again. It is rather about listening to my body’s natural preferences.

In summary, the key takeaway here is to listen to your body and honor its cravings for healthy foods. If you’d like to read more about my experiences or my time in Bali and Lombok, where I lived full-time for seven years, feel free to explore my other blog posts like this one here on Kambo.

Stay tuned for more insights and tips on finding and maintaining your balance!