Giving up artificial and natural sugars to get rid of all sugar cravings

About half way into my adrenal fatigue and giving up sugar, even from fruits (with the exception of wild blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and goji berries) I found these SO dairy free, sugar free popsicles, I thought well coconut is supposed to be good for the adrenals yet after having one I wanted another feeling as though it was my addictive personality craving what seemed to be sugar but there was only Erythritol, Stevia Leaf Extract, and Monk Fruit Extract, so I did some research on how this affects not just adrenal fatigue but the body in general.

Sugar substitutes — even the “natural” ones — can be problematic for adrenal fatigue because they still trigger the body’s stress and insulin response, disrupt gut health, and keep you on the blood sugar roller coaster that exhausts the adrenals.

Here’s the breakdown from a functional medicine and Eastern medicine perspective:

🧬 Functional Medicine Reasons

1. They Still Signal “Sweet” to the Brain

•Even zero-calorie sweeteners (stevia, monk fruit, erythritol, allulose) activate sweet taste receptors.

•The brain anticipates sugar, so the pancreas releases insulin — but there’s no actual glucose.

•This mismatch can cause blood sugar dips → adrenals release cortisol and adrenaline to correct it.

2. Keep Sugar Cravings Alive

•Adrenal fatigue recovery needs blood sugar stability.

•Artificial and natural sugar substitutes keep your palate and dopamine reward system hooked on sweetness, making it harder to retrain your body to prefer balanced, whole flavors.

3. Gut Microbiome Disruption

•Studies show sugar alcohols (erythritol, xylitol) and artificial sweeteners (sucralose, aspartame) can alter gut bacteria and increase gut permeability (“leaky gut”).

•A stressed gut means more inflammation → more cortisol demand.

4. Possible Insulin Resistance Over Time

•Frequent sweet taste without calories can blunt insulin sensitivity, keeping the body in a stressed, energy-unstable state — the opposite of what adrenals need.

🌿 Eastern Medicine Perspective

•Adrenal fatigue in TCM is often Kidney Yin + Spleen Qi deficiency.

•Overstimulating the sweet flavor (even without real sugar) weakens Spleen Qi, causing fatigue, bloating, and dampness.

•It also prevents the mind-body from settling into calm nourishment — sweet taste in excess is seen as scattering and draining.

❌ Most Problematic for Adrenals

•Artificial: aspartame, sucralose, saccharin

•Sugar alcohols: erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol (can cause bloating, diarrhea, gut inflammation)

•High-glycemic naturals: agave, honey, maple syrup — when used in large amounts

✅ If You Use Sweeteners in Recovery

•Choose occasional, small amounts of:

•Raw local honey

•Pure maple syrup

•Coconut sugar (lower glycemic)

•Always pair with protein + fat to slow absorption and prevent a cortisol spike.

💡 Adrenal Healing Approach:

The goal is to reset your taste buds to enjoy less-sweet foods so blood sugar stays steady and cortisol can rest. Most people in adrenal fatigue improve faster when all sweeteners — natural or artificial — are minimized for 4–8 weeks. I have noticed that after giving up all sugars for a period of just 3 days, I no longer had any sugar cravings. Having healthy fats (avocado, EV olive oil, coconut oil, walnuts etc) fiber and protein have really helped me minimize any sugar craving. The main reason for wanting sugar recently is when I feel completely zapped of any and all energy. This is after a good nights sleep, and a 50 minute nap, which I feel has been more of habitual. Instead of resting I would go to sugar or caffeine and have to recalibrate my body by giving it the rest and gentle movement needed.