Sugar questions????

How do you know what foods have to much sugar - I know you can read labels and stuff like that but I mean what are the sugar limits.........How much is too much> Also Like certain fresh fruits and stuff - what has too much sugar - there is no labels!!!!!

Summer, It will depend on the type of surgery you've had, I think. It's my understanding that the more of the small intestine that is bypassed then there will be more of a reaction when sugar is dumped into it. I have heard many say to try to stay under a certain amount of grams. If you're looking at labels the total carbs includes sugars. I try to stay under 20 grams for any one serving of anything and I think that's probably more than some. Many times a bite of something will only contain a gram or two - depending on what it is. You have to realize also if the whole package is a serving and you're only eating half or a quarter then you're only getting half or a quarter of the sugar also. You can pick up paperback books in your local bookstore that will list what sugars are in whole foods also such as fruits - like a diabetic handbook. I have found that I don't dump much. (GREAT, Huh?!) So I really have to be watchful of what I put in my mouth. Protein first then vegies then something else GOOD FOR ME if I have room. I was never one to stand there in the kitchen and eat a whole box of cookies so to have my one or two after supper OCCASIONALLY will be okay. I just need to remember NOT EVERY DAY!! Good luck to you Summer! Take Care. -- Deb W.

Deb" Principal Health. denied me too. Shine

Hi Sunny, I think that it really depends on how you, as an individual, handle the sugars and especially what type of sugars they are. I really have to watch what type of sugars I have, including a combination of foods. One individual food might not have too many sugars, but combine it with something else, and I'm dumping (ie...homemade chicken noodle soup and homemade yeast rolls....no no!). I also really tried to watch the lables right after surgery and something that had 8 grams of sugar might send me over when a different type of food with 12 grams didn't. So......I personally think it varies for each person and how well their body absorbs the sugars. Also, remember that your starchey foods are high in sugar also, I "learned" that one the hard way! Hope the info helps! Kris

When ya find out...let me know!!! I dumped on Thousand Island dressing...I didn't even think about it containing sugar.....I haven't tryed anything with real sugar content, so I am not sure if I ever will after the one experience! Fruits don't cause problems (So I hear...I haven't tried any yet) It is good natural sugar and with canned fruit...just make sure you get the kinds that are in light syrup or in pear juice...rather than heavy or sweetened syrups! Good Luck Jesi

i personally cannot eat any sugar. i think everyones different. mary jo

Here is what I was told when I had surgery at the Bariatric Treatment Center. They told me that as a new post-op not to eat anything with more than 2 grams of sugar. (yes it is very low) Now that I am further out I can increase it, however I still try to limit myself to no more than 4 grams of sugar. It also depends on the type of sugar. The BTC provided me with a list of sugars to limit and sugars that post-op patients tend to tolerate. (I have listed them below.) Remember that everyone is different there may be something on the "tolerate" list that you can't tolerate. Sugars to Limit: * Brown Sugar * Corn Syrup * High Fructose Corn Syrup * Dextrose * Glucose * Honey * Invert Sugar * Maple Sugar * Maltose * Molasses * Raw Sugar * Sucrose * Sugar * Sorghum Sugars and Sweetners Tolerated: * Fructose (naturally occuring in fruits and fruit juices) * Lactose (naturally ocurring in milk and dairy products) * Sugars naturally occuring in vegetables * Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal) * Acesulfame K (Sunnett) * Sucralose (Splenda) * Isomalt * Stevia * Saccharin (Sweet-n-Low, Sugar Twin) * Sugar Alcohols (Sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol) these may cause gas or diarrhea is consumed in large quanities) Again this is what the BTC recommends for their patients based ont he type of surgery we have had. Hopefully this list will help. Janine

Hey Sunny In talking with people it's very individual about what is tolerated and not. I myself don't do will with unprocessed sugar (fresh fruit and fruit juices esp Orange Juice) I would ask your dietician for specific guidelines. I know I avoided sugar totally for the first 8 months. Then I added specific in small amounts....VERY GRADUALLY. Now I tend to ignore my own advice and pay the price every once and awhile. The body is an amazing and unique thing, and I guess everyone reacts differently. Paula

Thank you so much everyone!!! I guess I will just have to see how my new stomach will react to different things - but I must say all of your posts have gotten me a little nervous about ever eating sugar!!! BooHoo!