Sugar in and of itself isn’t evil, per say. It’s needed by the body. Health problems only arise when you stop paying attention to two things.
- The majority of your sugar comes from processed junk food.
- Your intake of sugar is well above the recommended dosage.
With that being said, adding excess sugar to your dietary intake simply isn’t necessary. In fact, you’ll notice numerous positive things happen when you decide to quit sugar for life.
Although people living in the Western world have been trained to desire sugary treats, as well as foods that include copious amounts of sugar for flavoring, we certainly don’t need it.
If you stop eating anything but naturally occurring sugars (fruits, veggies), you’ll notice that 5 very distinctive things will happen.
1. Your Energy Levels Will Improve
Ironically, many of us have a tendency to reach for sugar-filled items, including so-called energy drinks and sweet snacks, when we’re tired. However, it’s those same sugary foods that cause your energy levels to fluctuate dramatically during the day. Ever heard of a “sugar crash?”
2. Your Weight Will Stabilize
Sugar makes you crave more sugar, and we’re not just talking about sugar in its raw form. Let’s face it: most sugar comes in high-fat and/or high-carb foods that have been processed or at least contain tons of unwanted ingredients. In the long-run removing sugar will help you lose unwanted weight and stabilize your hunger levels.
3. Your Intestines and Colon Will Function More Efficiently
If your insides could tell you what they wanted on a daily basis, they would say lots of fiber and water. When you remove sugar from your diet, you’re not only helping your digestive system reset but you’re also helping it digest foods better.
4. You’ll Stop Wanting Sugar
It’s a fact: sugar begets sugar. After you rid it from your food regimen, you’ll slowly begin to lose the desire to eat anything with too much sugar in it. Fruits will taste plenty sweet, and if you do take a bite of a cake or pie, you’ll be shocked at how overpowering and overly sweet it seems.
5. Your Skin Will Look Healthier
Have you noticed that you can’t seem to crack the case on why your acne appears and disappears despite all the creams, potions, and ointments you’re using? It may be that sugar is hurting your skin from the inside out. Many people report that their skin feels and looks healthier after they stop giving in to sugar’s pull.
Ready to Start Your Sugar Detox and Quit Sugar for Life?
While a cold turkey approach to your sugar detox isn’t always recommended, especially if you’ve been a sugar-holic for most of your lifetime, it’s definitely a good idea to start cutting back now. The faster you begin, the faster you’ll start to reap the benefits of going sugar-free.
In fact, in light of the countless dangers of consuming too much sugar, the World Health Organization has changed its sugar recommendation—advising no more than 5% of your daily calories should come from the sweet stuff, down from the previously recommended 10 percent. Considering the average American consumes close to 5 grams each day, we have some work to do.
Start small by evaluating everything you’re eating and drinking. If you are addicted to sugar-laced coffee drinks sold at popular coffeehouses, scale back on how many times you drink them. Then, scale back some more. Soon, omit certain sugar-laden products. Over time, you will physiologically adjust to your new habits.
Remember that it takes about three weeks before a new way of doing something becomes a comfortable routine. If you have slight missteps, such as eating a candy bar after a stressful workday, just keep forging ahead. The results of your diligence will definitely be worth it.
sources: WebMd, NN, NYTimes, WHO, Today