Quitting refined sugar is one of the best decisions you will ever make for your overall well-being. It will not only help you lose weight and manage blood sugar, but also keep a range of lifestyle illnesses at bay. Beginning from better energy levels, the benefits of removing added sugar from the diet may be visible in your skin health and appearance.
As you go sugar-free, your cravings reduce and a positive change in mood and emotion control is noticed. In the long run, cutting refined sugar can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Here are all the benefits of removing this 'silent killer' from your diet:
Weight loss
Saying goodbye to sugar can help you shed pounds in a sustainable way. If you can continue to restrict sugar intake, you can maintain the weight loss lifelong and become your fittest best. Cutting refined sugar from your diet means you are no longer noshing on foods that have empty calories or low fibre like cookies, bread, pasta etc. Sugar can be addictive and it may cause you to over-indulge. Quitting refined sugar also means you are taking less snack breaks or cutting on calories, which can lead to weight loss.
Shedding belly fat
High-sugar foods could be adding to the dangerous visceral fat deposits around heart and the abdomen which could raise risk of many chronic diseases, as per a study published in European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
As you go sugar-free, your stubborn and deep belly fat around liver, heart, pancreas, will slowly melt away.
Experts say sugar can trigger an inflammatory response which puts the body in a stressed state due to which it starts storing fat in and around the belly. Sugar and other refined products raise insulin levels in the body, which leads the body to store fat. Quitting sugar is one of the best things you can do to get rid of the pesky belly fat.
Skin ageing slows down
Cutting sugar from your diet may bring unexpected benefits for your skin appearance. Research says reducing sugar intake is associated with a more youthful skin as it delays skin-ageing. A high-sugar diet leads to the production of AGEs (advanced glycation end products), which are linked with faster skin ageing.
You will feel more energetic
One of the first few changes you will experience post quitting added sugar or reducing sugar intake drastically is a surge in energy levels. When you minimize refined sugar and snacks, your sugar levels are more balanced, which can help you maintain a more consistent mood and energy levels during the day. You will feel less sleepy, experience clarity of mind, and feel emotionally charged.
No afternoon slump
If you feel sleepy after having meals, especially post lunch, going off sugar could make this a thing of the past. Eating a diet low on sugar and high on fibre and protein will make sure you stay alert even after having lunch as your blood glucose levels are more balanced. Eating low GI foods are associated with a consistent energy level and mood throughout the day.
Better focus
When you are feeling less sleepy and more energetic, your focus and productivity increase, which could lead to better management of your day, and more quality time for you and your family.
Cuts fatty liver risk
Not indulging in sugary treats can significantly improve your liver health and reduce the risk of fatty liver disease. Going sugar-free can help reduce liver fat and improve the internal organ's function.
Fewer hunger pangs
Refined sugar is broken down quickly in the body which can cause blood sugar spikes. Eating foods rich in sugar can make you feel frequently hungry as it gets digested quickly. The more calories you eat the more weight you gain. By removing refined sugar from the diet, your calorie intake is restricted.
Reduced risk of heart attack
Eating less sugar can also reduce your diabetes risk. Diabetes can raise the risk of high blood pressure or high cholesterol, which can increase chances of having a heart attack or a stroke, as per NIH.
Moods are better
A well-balanced blood glucose level means your moods and emotions too remain stable. This helps you feel more in control throughout the day.
How to reduce your sugar intake without feeling deprived: 9 foods for managing diabetes