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Nancy Appleton Books Health Blog 
Hi Nancy
I’ve just found your wonderful site, through a link from the Nourishing Gourmet, and have a question (which I also posted on that site).
I understand the evils of sugar, and I’m curious about how it changes (or not) in a fermentation process. I didn’t ever buy sugar before I started brewing Kombucha, and now even though I use the organic, less processed kinds, I wonder about its impact.
Do you have any insights or suggestions about sugar issues for those of us switching to a diet that includes lots of fermented kombucha?
Thanks so much
Sarah
We don’t support Kombucha, except as a transition to a more sugar-free life like a nicotine patch. Fermenting sugar gets you alcohol and spirits can act as yet another source of carbohydrates or sweet calories. In some cases, fermenting isn’t so bad, but cutting back as much as possible is always better.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
I feel your position on Kombucha is in error. It is a healthful drink that can actually help you get off sugar. The sugar is for the Scoby to consume.
https://www.kombuchakamp.com/sugar-and-kombucha-faq-top-10
1. Do I have to use sugar? I never consume sugar so it puts me off Kombucha.
The sugar in Kombucha is for the culture to consume, not for you. When done fermenting, there will be about 2-6 grams per 8 ounce glass of unflavored Kombucha. By contrast, an 8 ounce glass of orange juice has about 24g of sugar. Natural carrot juices have 13g per 8 ounces. If fermented longer, say for 3 weeks or longer, sugar levels in Kombucha may be even lower – Recommended for diabetics and others with low sugar tolerance.
I would like to introduce you to my facebook page………
am a NP and enjoy working with diabetics.
you are terrific!
Thank you for your works.
joy
Thank you for your article in August 2011 issue of “Bottom Line” regarding the effects of high consumption of fruit juices, fruit beverage, and sodas. Your explanation of the serious risks was well defined. Are you a registered dietitian? I seek out nutrition information from that professional group as their information has been quite reliable.
juvenorton@comcast.net
No. The doctor never held an RD and never practiced as such.
Thank you for your comments.
Hi, Susan Cary here again. I should have read more on your site before I posted my message and questions, SORRY! My questions were mostly answered by what I read.
Didn’t know not to mention my symptoms, but I was so excited to have found you and your information, I just wanted to write to you to thank you and say that I can’t wait to get your books. Susan Cary
I wanted to share this with you so you could possibly add this to your list of how sugar is a problem. Several weeks ago my husband has begun having difficulty sleeping. I had noticed that he was drinking 4 to 5 cups of sugary drinks a night before bed. I gently mentioned to him that I had noticed it and try to lay off sugar for a time. He agreed. Two weeks later, when he does get sleep, he is calm, no snoring, peaceful and NO SLEEP APNEA. He still is not able to sleep well due to other possible issues, but when he does sleep, it is lovely. The 1st time in 22 years of marriage I don’t sleep with “MR. ED” the horse. I sent my husband your list several days ago and he was amazed.
Also, one of my patients came in and said he has sleep apnea and I just told him my story. He said all he drinks are sodas and sugary drinks. I didn’t advise him to do or not to do anything, but stated we were surprised with the outcome and do what he thinks best. He said he is going to cut out the sugar and help his daughter do the same. Thanks again for the information that you give to the public. Many Blessings.
I am reading “Lick The Sugar Habit” and it really isn’t telling me anything I don’t already know about the “evils of sugar”. But it has given me a good “prodding” to give up sugar. Sugar is my heroine and I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. My reward for giving up sugar and becoming healthy is a trip to Italy. I just turned 73 and am tired of feeling like a sick old lady. Thank you for your wonderful books.
Marie, I just found this website and read your message. It has inspired me! I too am addicted to sugar and know the dangers. I was considering buying the book and after reading your message, will go pick it up as a birthday present for myself (am 61 years old tomorrow). Congratuations!
Hi Nancy ~ Just wanted to say a huge and heartfelt “Thank You” for writing your book “Stopping Inflammation”. Your book enabled me to figure out that I have food addictions/allergies to Sugar,Wheat and Diary. I have totally given up all sugar including any subsitutes as well as Wheat and diary. My CPR was 15 and have had RA pains. The pain has reduced since not eating the foods that I am addicted too. Your book really has helped me to figure out is wrong.
Your welcome!
Dr. Appleton
Thank you for your book on Stopping Inflammation it has been a big help to me. I had an edema type swelling in my legs for the past three years that kept getting worse. My doctor was not able to cure the problem so after some prayer and a three day fast I realized that the swelling went down in my legs which made me curious as to why they would shrink after fasting and swell back up after I started eating again. I went to a website that had some information from your book about inflammation caused by semi-digested food entering into the blood stream and causing inflammation, so I bought a copy of your book and started taking a pro biotic capsule everyday. After three days my legs started shrinking and are almost back to normal size. Thank you very much for your hard work and book.
You’re welcome.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
Dear Dr Appleton
I’m 33 and have been diagnosed with arthirities, schitzophrenia, bipolar, cancer, hyperthyrod, annorexia and and and. I stopped using sugar in my diet and this sorted almost everything out except the cancer, whaw. Then I went on holiday and cheated a bit, and oh boy, the schitzophrenia came back in the most terrible way.
My question is this, is raw organic honey with for instance white yogurt or on rye bread ok? I find it extremely hard not to have any sweetness, and end up crawling around due to tiredness. My metobylism is extremely fast, and my kj intake is higher than most mens (even if I’m a woman), which makes a stricktly veg protein diet really hard. I loose weight easily, and with chemo have gone underweight. Also, what about fruits, fresh and dried?
Thank you,
Elsa
Hi,
None of the foods you mention are presently good for you. Rye bread: there are plenty of gluten-free substitute grains – millet, flax etc. – for your sandwiches that won’t affect your body nearly as much. Fruit: a cancer patient has no business eating fruit until your remission is stable. Yogurt: we may make dietary exceptions for butter and sour cream for being loaded with milk fat compared to lactose, but even plain yogurt is worrisome because few people process dairy products properly. Honey: indistinguishable from sugar.
Please read one of the doctor’s books and apply Food Plan 3 until the cancer passes.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
Dr. Appleton – I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2010 & had surgeries in 2011 & 6 wks of radiation….are you saying that I should hold off on hold off on eating fruit? I am really interested in knowing why…
The very earliest modern research into cancer suggests that sugar makes cancer grow FASTER. Dr. Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1931 for discovering this link between sugar and cancer. Cancer cells can’t get enough sugar and multiply out of control when fed sugar, but are more likely to starve and die when not fed sugar. A practical application of this principle is the Positron Emission Tomography scan where in order to find a tumor the patient drinks a solution of irradiated sugar water. The solution rushes to the tumor and marks it with the radioactive isotopes to be picked up on the scanner.
Fruit is good for you in moderation when you’re healthy, less so when you’re not. Fruit affects a cancer patient just like sugar. So whether you specifically should eat fruit or not depends on more information that you told me in your post. Does your doctor feel you’re in remission? Are you presently without symptoms? Are you still doing chemo or radiation? These answers will guide your answer about fruit while you heal from your cancer.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
Elsa, I’ve read that cancer cells cannot tolerate an alkaline system, so I started drinking alkaline water, with a pH 10.0 rating. I chose the Kangen brand, but there are many brands out there to choose from. I had ovarian cancer in 2000, had a complete hysterectomy, and 6 months chemo. I’m 14 years clear now and intend to stay that way! It might help you, dunno. Just sayin’. Keep yer chin up, girl, hold to a positive attitude!
I am a doctor of herbal medicine from Canada, sugar has always been my greatest advercary in keeping my community healthy. We have a very high mortality rate here in the community. I keep informing the people that sugar shuts down the immune system first. Yet our death rate is 60 in 3 months. I am even handing out stevia but the sugar addiction is so great, even the old people drink pop at sacred cerimonies. I try to be very outspoken about the harm of sugar, and invite them to visit your website. I tell everyone about your work, and I wholeheartedly agree with you because I specialize in cancer and diabetes. One lady who was diagnosed with cancer in her enlarged neck contacted me, and I found out she was drinking 8 cans of pop each day. I challenged her to stop drinking pop for 4 days. In 3 days her neck was back to it’s normal size, on the fourth day she wantrd to sue her other doctor. Sugar really is 10% real sugar and 90% dried acid, that explains why cancer grows, because cancer thrives in an acidic environment. I have to use herbs that have high alkali content to neutralize the acid in my patients’ systems. I tell people that I am not a good doctor, I am a great doctor, a good doctor will cut off your leg to save your life, I will cut off nothing, and cure you of everything.
Dr. Nancy Appleton I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart, for enlightening the world of the harms of sugar. I personally encourage you, and hope that you enjoy a long healthy happy life. I walk the talk, cause I can run 3 miles no problem, and I am 57 years old. Hugs and kisses to you Nancy, from the land of ice and snow, Canada.
Great story and props! We would caution about an immediate transition from an active sugar addiction to Stevia, because even Stevia can feed the addiction. Other than that keep it up!
Thank you for your wonderful note!
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
Dear Dr. Appleton, thank you so much for all your work. I’m licking the sugar habit and have been an addict all my life! It’s interesting how difficult it still is, even tho my clean and sober date is 6/6/85.
A friend is selling dark chocolate and I believe the manufacturer is totally ignorant on some issues. He is promoting the fallacy that dark cocoa is SO healthy and using xylitol as the sweetener and doesn’t put this on the label, but advertises “contains no sugar”. Most people need to be near a restroom after eating it, well, DUUH! We know that xylitol is used in laxatives!
My research tells me that cocoa contains highly addictive substances that can cause a “high” similar to alcohol, mj, or even cocaine.
No matter what type of choc I would consume would lead straight to the purchase of ice cream and a big bag of Hershey bars!
I believe his work is cruel and that he hasn’t a clue what he’s doing!
Keep up the terrific work and if there is time for an affirmation for me on my thoughts, it would be terrific!
Jo in AZ
Thank you for your words.
Hello Nancy, I am new to your blog. Can you tell me whether eating nuts are a healthy choice?
If you’re not allergic to nuts, yes.
Have been part of a group that we try to safely SLOWly lower our oxalate levels we intake (they are high in spinach, beets..very high in almonds ) and see if may be making them (low nutrients…). Since I used a lot of almonds (first soaked with L. acidophilus… ) and almond butter, have been slowly reducing and notice less urgent urine,…. and other beneficial reactions.
So eat with balance in mind. They are so good tasting and nice texture , that is easy to snack on.
Thanks for your website
Lynn D
Have been diagnosed as a borderline diabetic. I have however, an allergy to sugar, and have all my life been unable to take sugar in any form. Not just sugar, but also fruit, unless a citrus fruit lemons etc., some vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, swede and turnips are not in my diet. I do eat potatoes, rice and pasta, but in moderate amounts, together with bread, again not in quantity. Is there a name for this allergy? Angela B
There’s a name for everything. The doctor and I just aren’t sure what it is. Thank you for your comments.
I linked your blog to mine. Thanks for all your great info. Katherine (God is Green)
I have an autoimmune disease plus Lyme disease (3x). I am a vegan now but the urge for sweetness is strong and I end up on a binge. I try to eat gluten free but do eat a lot of brown rice pasta, gluten-free oatmeal, brown rice and quinoa…some potatoes. No dairy. (Forks Over Knives kind of eating.) I can’t shake these PAINFUL diseases and am wondering if my one day binges with sugar and also pizza, every few weeks is keeping me ill.
We couldn’t say for sure without you and the doctor being in the same room with your blood test (something from which the doctor is specifically retired), but doing your best with the binges is at least something to try.
However, maybe you are in a fragile state where even the generally good carbs you list in this post are hurting you. For example we generally tell people who are healthy that whole fruit is good, but we’d never say to someone who is currently sick (cancer, lupus, whatever) that fruit is good for you. It might also be true of potatoes, rice and the rest.
So, first do your best curbing the binges of things you know to be bad. You may see results immediately. You may see results in twelve weeks (a long time). You could see results somewhere in between. We’ve commented on this elsewhere but treat these binge foods like an addiction. Join a food based 12-step program (OA, FAA etc.). Crowd source your resistance to other addicts.
Second, get a comprehensive allergy test. You may be eating foods that are good for other people (tomatoes, beef, whatever), but aren’t good for you because of your individual biochemistry. Find these foods and take them out of your diet. Our Body Monitor Kit used repeatedly according to instructions can substitute for an allergy panel in some cases. But, get an opinion from the right for you medical professional.
Lastly, once the binge foods and allergy foods are eliminated you will either see results or you’ll still hurt. Or you’ll see partial results where you hurt less, but you still hurt. If you experience either of the last two outcomes you’ll have to go completely carb-less. Take out all carbs that survived the first two suggestions and keep your diet rigidly to protein and vegetables that passed your allergy screening. Do this under the supervision of a medical professional versed in proper nutrition (not necessarily an MD, they’re getting better, but…) Neither the doctor nor I are vegetarian/vegans, but our suggestions are intended to be animal protein neutral, so that even carnivores have the best chance to get well. That said, we have noticed that many vegans consume too many carbs to replace animal protein. Carbs and protein are filling, but they are NOT fully interchangeable. The body can make glucose from protein, but it can’t make amino acids from carbs.
Finally, your last resort is see a doctor and get a consult for the traditional treatments for your ailments. We can’t give medical advice. We can’t promise you won’t need medicine even if you do get clean nutritionally speaking. If you are prescribed drugs, we would tell you do both: take your prescriptions AND do the best you can nutritionally. We believe that at that point something has to work.
The doctor and I extend our best wishes as you begin your recovery.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
Thanks for the great reply and suggestions. I am already on prednisone for years and want to get off it. So far, the best eating plan I ever followed was Dr. Ronald Hoffman’s Salmon and Salad diet. No sugar at all. After three months my blood work was perfect. (O went to him for a total work up, including allergy testing.) I have been meatless for three years plus, and I was told by a nutritionist that once you are meatless for that long it is dangerous to eat meat again. Many have gotten cancer from doing so. That sticks to my mind. I do not, however, feel much better from being vegan. But my cholesterol is like a baby’s. Too many carbs maybe…yes.(Don’t tell that to Dr.John McDougal!!) I will have split pea soup, lentils, or some legume for breakfast rather than a carb. Maybe use ‘meat’ as a sort of condiment for some protein in other meals. Miniscule amounts. THANKS AGAIN.
You’re welcome.
Linda, Had purchased a blood sugar meter to help confirm when low blood sugar. You could maybe do that with your food (believe lentils are carbs+protein,recall Chana dahl as listed low glycemic). Am sure if you crave any meat, and try organic might be fine in balance with vegies. Planning helps also, if notice when/why binge (if didnt eat enough, certain foods, events…) then have ready a snack or meal that is good. I would carry pumpkin seeds…with me,but was overdoing the almonds (high oxalates and raisens high histamines),so back to balance . If you felt good on the Hoffman’s plan, might be good to put some into your diet again. Maybe work on just 1 or 2 things at a time, as noticed that letting stress get to me can really crank up stuff.
Thanks, Lynn. Good suggestions. Today I had split pea soup for breakfast with just one rice cake. (Hoffman diet.) I usually ate a banana and almond butter – bananas not allowed – too high in sugar. For lunch, some fresh escarole, cauliflower and a small piece of wild salmon. Now my husband wants to order Chinese food!! I’ll just get steamed veggies and ‘maybe’ an egg roll – scoop out the insides and toss the crust. It has minimal meat in it, I pick most of it out. LOL! Yep. I too was overdoing almonds. Drinking almond milk in home made lattes and smoothies. .After watching Forks Over Knives DVD, it is hard to dismiss their no-meat advice. They allow whole grain carbs, all fruits, bit no oil at all or any animal product. esp. dairy. YES. Stress can really do a number on the body, no matter how well we eat. Thanks for you input. 🙂
Hi Dr. Appleton,
I attended one of your seminars when I was in LA in 2003. You totally convinced me. You were wonderful. For the last few years I have been craving sugar at night — candy bars, popsicles, cake, etc…. What can I get that can satisfy the cravings that is not sugar. I used to not eat sweets much but now I crave sugar all the time. I think at your seminar you had a desert that could be made but did not have sugar. Please help. Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks, Gloria
The doctor thanks you for your patronage over the years.
Her first suggestion would be to eat whole fruit when a craving hits. Fruit has two kinds of sugar, the naturally occurring fructose-glucose blend with the proper bonds we can digest and edible cellulose. For people who are otherwise healthy, whole fruit is your friend. The cellulose slows down the sugar, so the natural version can be good for you, but the refined versions of fructose, glucose, sucrose or what have you are very bad for you. Depending on how you handle lactose and dairy you may lightly top the bowl of fruit with cream (not milk). Cream (and sour cream and butter in other dishes) are mostly milk fats with light hints of lactose (another naturally occurring mix where the fat slows down the lactose). It may take a week or two to train your body, but fruit or fruit and cream should deal with the cravings.
Other than that the doctor gives Stevia a limited approval. It’s not a perfect solution as Stevia can feed an addiction. It also doesn’t remove all sugar from baked goods because sugar serves a purpose in the chemistry of baking. But, the idea is if your recipe says two cups of sugar for the apple pie then Stevia can replace at least a cup of that sugar. Less sugar is an improvement.
As for the dessert you remember, the doctor’s knowledge and beliefs about sugar and sweet foods has evolved over time. It’s possible she would repudiate the dish now, 12 years later.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
Dr. Appleton, Found your book stopping inflammation In the library of all places, and what a Gem. Have a question about the body monitoring test I ordered. I have have been battling RA for 10-12 years now,been off gluten, milk,any white starches and sugar for 1-2 years, with out a lot of progress in my flare ups. I know when I eat certain foods how they react with pain and swelling, and stay away from them as much as possible. After reading your book I did not realize how fruits and honey can cause such impact. I Am trying to leave fruits and honey of the list. Thanks for the insight. But, my question is this, I have been on Humaria for 8-9 years also, so when I use the body monitoring test will this medication skew my test results for inflammation?
Possibly…
Hi Nancy Just wanted to say I have used sugar all my life and I don’t see any harmful effects on my body. What can I do to lengthen my life?
Aside from the doctor’s standard refrain of less sugar for everyone even the apparently immune, the specific answers to the question of living longer are something neither the doctor nor I can answer without taking a full medical history…something we don’t do since the doctor retired from her private nutrition consulting practice.
As for your apparent immunity to the sugar in your life, assuming truthful statements and not a mean attempt to bait us, then the higher powers/random chance in the universe have blessed you with a robust package of genetic and epigenetic factors that has done very well by you. You have no incentive to change and should go about enjoying your life, because feeling sad about the regrets and failures of life might be another way how life can be cut short.
The doctor’s work and her writings will still be here should you decide that your sugar intake has finally caught up with you.
G.N. Jacobs for Nancy Appleton
Nancy & G.N.Jacobs,
Hello! Thank you so much for all of your books and for continuing to dedicate yourself to helping the health of society!!!! I wish I had discovered you many years ago. I’m sitting here with your book ‘Sugar by Suicide’. I picked it up at my local YMCA this evening — there is a free library area where members can leave & pick up books.. I actually thought it was a current 2015-2017 book. My shock when I saw 2009… ! Filled with awe that you have been researching & educating going back so many years. It must have been such an uphill battle trying to convince people! I’ve only known for maybe 5 years or so just how evil sugar is, & it’s been so difficult to have family & friends listen. I think I’ll order your other books as well! I’m sure they are just as relevant (unfortunately?). Huge gratitude to you… thank you. — Juliana Schmitt
How do I order a test kit, thank you!
We have discontinued selling test kits and all other goods. We appreciate your sense of inconvenience. You can buy the pH strips from the supplier(s) on the web. Doctor Appleton privately admitted at the end that using the strips either dipping it in urine or saliva was a test of equal usefulness to the main test that mixes drops of urine with a reagent. We suggest doing just the pH test instead. Thank you for your readership.
That is good to know that just getting the pH of uring %/or saliva is useful. Is there a best time of day , such as first urine? What if that is at 3am and go back to bed… ? What does pH of 7 or 6 show ? and what help bring back to health? Thank you
Testing your urine or saliva can happen anytime during the day. First in the morning (when the sun’s up, testing at 3am seems silly and won’t telling much more than the second test later) will tell you your overall rest state. Testing at other times will tell you about the most recent meal.
Using the strip, like the discontinued reagent test, kind of acts like an allergy test because foods to which you react will change the body’s chemistry. Other forms of stress will show up too. Healing is all about stopping the things that make you sick. If you eat too much sugar you’ll react on the pH test until you cut back to your body’s individual equilibrium level (a tiny amount for most people). Emotional stress also shows up until you practice wellness (whether that’s pray, meditate, see a shrink, confront the people that made you feel bad and/or exercised an appropriate amount). Physical stresses are also part of the equation, so if you fell on a bike that can show up too. Some of what heals you is medical and the rest is about you doing things differently in your life so you heal yourself. Thus there isn’t any do this program that I can tell you beyond do what you can about sugar and your other reactive foods and take care of yourself mentally, spiritually and physically. Your body will tell you what to do.
pH of 6 or 7 lands pretty much in the middle of the Acid-Base scale and is likely either a sign of homeostasis or being near homeostasis. Textbooks say the body should come in at a tiny amount higher than 7, but the numbers in textbooks are averages and you occupy your own spot on the relevant bell curve. Depending on how you feel, results in that range either mean next to nothing in the short term or that you’re just a little ways off from homeostasis requiring some intervention, but not drastic. What we cared about selling this test ourselves was how far from norm your result came in. People when doing things that made them sick would test either below 6 or in the high 7s. Both should tell you to change. Also I forgot to tell you that when you go looking for pH strips on the web, you don’t need anything more than products rated for a pH range of 5-8, they are cheaper and will tell you what you need to know. Strips rated for the full 1-14 range are for industrial uses…like “have we cleaned up the sulphuric acid spill with lye?” There is a point where the pH will be too high or too low and the observer would rightly ask “how long will it take somebody to die?”
Hope this helps.