While it might be time for sweet beginnings, sugar is one thing that’s not part of the plan! As we usher in the New Year, it’s time to consider a resolution that goes beyond the usual suspects. Amidst the promises of hitting the gym or learning a new skill, here’s a compelling idea: make ditching sugar your primary goal for the year ahead. From health benefits to renewed energy, this one might just form the bottom of the pyramid.
What Is Sugar Becoming The Bad Guy
Reducing or eliminating sugar is a wise choice for everyone, no matter their age or health. Sugar comes in different forms, like natural sugars, the white or brown sugar you know, or fancier-sounding ones like honey and maple syrup.
The natural sugars in fruits, some dairy, and certain veggies bring along good stuff like fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These natural sugars are actually important for a healthy diet when eaten in the right amounts. In fact, if you eliminate certain foods, your body might wind up lacking its main source of energy that you get from natural sugars present in carbohydrates which facilitate clear thinking and help you accomplish your daily tasks. Without that energy, you might become agitated, anxious, and experience headaches.
The other ones that are tossed into food during cooking or processing, the artificial and fancy ones are the ones you need to watch out for. Added sugars add calories without giving us many nutrients, which isn’t great when we consume too much of it. It adds no nutritional value and dramatically raises the calorie content of foods and beverages. These foods are quickly absorbed by the body, and are not a reliable source of energy. Other than leading to unhealthy weight gain, they can become the root cause of a variety of health issues in the long run, including, fatty liver, diabetes and heart problems.
So, What Changes In Our Body When We Quit Sugar
The effects go way beyond improvements to weight and blood glucose.
Slows Down The Skin’s Ageing Process
Overindulging in sugar may be hampering your efforts to achieve the desired radiant complexion. An increase in blood sugar levels can lead to a number of inflammatory skin conditions, including acne and sagging skin, by inducing an inflammatory response both internally and externally.
Lowered Risk of Heart Disease
According to research, sugar-filled beverages may raise your triglycerides, an unhealthy fat, and decrease your HDL (good) cholesterol, both of which are factors contributing in heart disease.
Fall In Appetite and Hunger
One important hormone that controls hunger is leptin. It provides instructions to the brain about when to eat, when to stop eating, and how to adjust metabolism. However, the body becomes more resistant to the signal that you are full when you have both obesity and insulin resistance. Restoring leptin activity in the body requires better glucose regulation, which can only be achieved by eliminating added sugars.
Weight Loss
Overindulgence in added sugars is a contributing factor to obesity and overweight. Added sugars have no unique effect on body weight, and it all boils down to too many calories. You may save hundreds of calories without consuming less food by substituting items like yogurt, breakfast cereal, and beverages that have added sugar for those that have little to no added sugar.
Decreased Risk of Diabetes
Reducing added sugars lowers your risk of diabetes by making it easier to control your weight and maintain blood glucose levels within safe ranges. If left unchecked, high blood sugar can potentially even raise your risk of kidney, nerve, and eye damage.
While entirely quitting sugar might sound like a tough one, you can slowly begin cutting down or replacing your favourite desserts with healthier versions or alternatives. One of the most important parts of the process is to plan your meals in advance so as to keep impulsive indulgences at bay. If you are ready to commit to this resolution for 2024, make sure to do it in a healthy manner, without depriving yourself of the necessary bits.
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