Sugar allergy

Question
Hi there...
My whole life I would eat fairly sugary foods (mainly from really sugary cereals rather than outright junk to be honest) and when I was 18 - nearly a year ago now - I decided to drop sugar from my diet in an effort to lose an extra 10-20 pounds or so that I was carrying that I was unhappy with. I succeeded and soon felt great in terms of energy and health problems and digestive problems I had had the whole time just disappeared. I had never realised you could feel this great! Then this semester at college I started eating a bit junkily again - a bit of sugar, and I find that I'm really sensitive to it and I get quite a sugar rush and then a huge energy crash if I have more than about 8g in one go. The other thing is though, that once I've had some I really can't stop, I get extreme cravings for it despite the adverse reactions to it.
Is it likely I have a sugar allergy/intolerance/ sensitivity? If so what is the best way to cure this? I am thinking I should cut sugar and artificial sweeteners out of my diet completely, if possible. I would just rely on dairy and fruit for natural sugars. What are your thoughts on this and do you recommend seeing a doctor or is it not that bad? Thanks so much for your advice!

Answer
You probably do not have an allergy to sugar, which is very different from a food intolerance.  I cannot help with diagnosing you with any type of food intolerance.  Even though you take sugar out of your diet it could be something else in those foods other than sugar that are causing the symptoms.  If you can eat natural sugars than I don't see this being an intolerance since the body cannot tell the difference between added sugar and natural sugars.  There could be a specific ingredient within added sugars that you are sensitive to but again that is only a guess.  Craving the sugar probably comes from depriving yourself.  What you need to do is see your doctor and/or a specialist to work with you.  It could be something unrelated to food intolerances such as blood sugar problems.  
In any case I would see your doctor if the symptoms are bothersome.  It never hurts to talk to someone who can better help you with this matter.  Like I said it could be something that has nothing to do with intolerances.
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net-

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