In recent years, awareness campaigns and warnings about the dangers of consuming sugar in all its forms, or following diets based on sugars, have begun, especially after studies revealed the great harms of "white poison" to humans.
What happens when you stop eating sugar?
Prevents energy drops
Eating more sugar can lead to a drop in energy, leaving you exhausted and irritable. Consuming large amounts of any type of sugar seems to raise energy levels in proportion to the amount consumed. But it quickly leads to a sharp drop in energy levels.
Sugar breaks down very quickly and causes a sudden spike in blood sugar levels. During this time, the brain stops producing orexin, the neuropeptide responsible for feelings of alertness.
Excess sugar in food affects the brain, nerves, digestive system, and muscles. If the body does not receive proper nutrition, it leads to tiredness and exhaustion.
Instead of sipping on a sweet drink or sugary dessert, choose a protein-packed snack to keep you alert and full of energy.
Helps lose weight
Sugar is just empty calories that you eat and causes weight gain. When you eat more sugar, your body converts as much as it needs for energy and stores the rest as body fat. Eventually, this fat begins to appear on the waist, hips, thighs, and face.
Cutting out sugar can eventually help you lose some extra pounds and prevent the health problems that come with being overweight. You may crave more sugar at first but over a period of time, you will feel fewer cravings for sugar.
Reduces the risk of diabetes
Excess sugar intake causes fatty deposits to build up around the liver, which over time contributes to insulin resistance by affecting the functioning of the pancreas.
Since consuming sugar is likely to be a major cause of diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes in the coming years can benefit greatly from avoiding sugar altogether.
Improves oral health
High sugar intake and poor oral health go hand in hand. When high sugar intake is combined with poor oral hygiene, the results can be disastrous.
There are hundreds of bacteria inside the mouth, many of which are beneficial. However, some bacteria feed on sugars and produce acids.
Acids can destroy tooth enamel, which is the outer, protective layer of the tooth. This, in turn, can lead to tooth decay, which if not treated in time can cause severe dental pain and possible tooth loss.
Keep your sugar intake low if you don't want to suffer from cavities, tooth loss, or other poor oral health issues.
Promotes sound sleep
Reducing sugar can help maintain blood sugar levels and also increase the level of serotonin within the brain, which promotes a healthy and consistent sleep pattern.
Eating sugary foods causes your blood sugar to spike, which stresses your adrenal glands. This affects sleep quality. Sugar also inhibits the activity of orexin, a neurotransmitter produced in the brain that helps regulate wakefulness, alertness, and appetite. High sugar leads to large amounts of glucose in the bloodstream, which depresses the activity of orexin neurons in the brain.
Try to cut out sugar from your diet, or at least limit your sugar intake, to enjoy better sleep. You might be surprised at how much better you sleep!
Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol level
Giving up sugar means a healthy heart. It can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol level. Eating large amounts of sugar raises insulin levels, which in turn activates the sympathetic nervous system. This leads to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.
High blood pressure makes the heart and arteries work harder, gradually damaging the entire circulatory system. Ultimately, this increases the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and other serious coronary artery conditions.
After you give up sugar, you may notice a significant decrease in low-density lipoproteins (LDL or bad cholesterol) as well as triglycerides. Moreover, your blood pressure level may get back on track.