Sugary foods and drinks are tasty and even comforting, yes, but they’re also detrimental to your waistline, mind and overall wellbeing. While everyone experiences different symptoms and benefits during the sugar-quitting process, you will probably undergo some of these changes:
1. Clearer skin
Too much sugar can cause breakouts and other skin conditions, such as psoriasis. And because sugar tends to latch onto the collagen in our bodies, it can limit the productiveness of both collagen and elastin – the protein that helps keep skin looking youthful. So sugar can age us too – eek! Luckily all these issues can be cleared up by cutting out sugary and processed foods.
2. Weight loss
Unfortunately, many ‘low-fat’ and ‘fat-free’ processed foods contain a lot of hidden sugars. Once you start eating more ‘real’ (raw, unprocessed) foods, you may be able to shed weight that’s been clinging on for years. And because your hormones are more balanced without the interference of sugar, you should be able to control your cravings better.
3. More energy
What do you do when that afternoon slump hits? You reach for a sweet snack or a sugary drink, right? Sure, it’ll give you a quick energy boost, but it will just as quickly leave you feeling drained and tired again. When you think about it, it makes sense that a sudden rise in blood-sugar levels must lead to a sudden drop – it becomes a vicious cycle.
4. Better sleep
As mentioned above, sugar causes drastic highs and lows in blood-sugar levels. If you have some sugar close to bedtime, you’ll be too hyped up to get a proper night’s rest. Waking up feeling tired will only lead to more sugar cravings for yet another (short-lived) energy boost. See, we told you it’s a vicious cycle! Sugar also causes the body to release cortisol, which can interrupt your natural sleep cycle.
5. Improved mood
Because sugary foods are usually the ones we rely on for comfort, it’s normal to feel a little cranky at first when you cut them out of your diet, but once you’ve passed the withdrawal phase, you’ll feel better than ever. It’s been proven that women who eat a lot of sugar are more prone to anxiety and irritability.
This article is a guideline only. Please consult your GP before starting any diet and/or exercise plan.
Photo: iStock/winn2rkyj
