We all know that cutting down on your sugar intake can help you lose weight. But there are many other reasons to give up sugar in addition to simply shedding pounds. You may have heard of some of them, but there are more surprising and amazing things that can happen if we begin to reduce, if not totally eliminate, refined sugar from our diet.
- Sparkling pearly whites
There’s been so much emphasis on staying away from sugar to lose weight that we’ve forgotten what our moms always told us when we were kids – sugar will ruin your teeth. A beautiful set of teeth is always eye-catching and attractive. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul – but the teeth reflect a person’s health and hygiene. - Younger-looking, blemish-free skin
That donut and can of soda you just gulped down may be why your skin is flaring up again. Research has established that sugar aggravates acne. It also causes wrinkles by damaging the collagen and elastin in your skin. So cutting sugar from your diet just might be what you need to regain that youthful complexion!
- Reduced risk of diabetes
High sugar intake is one of the main causes of Type 2 diabetes. Even people who are at their ideal weight can be at risk. If you drink at least two glasses of any sugary drink per day, you are 26% more likely to get type 2 diabetes. Cut out most of that sugar and you cut your risk of getting diabetes. - More Brain Power
Boost your brain power by getting rid of sugar in your diet! If you regularly eat foods that are high in sugar, your brain may be losing its ability to convert sugar to energy. It’s scary to think that sugar can impair the brain’s function, cause nerve inflammation, and contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. In fact, some medical professionals have begun referring to Alzheimer’s as “Type 3 diabetes”. - Healthier heart and liver
Hypertension, cardiomyopathy, artherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, fatty liver disease, and heart failure. If you want to avoid these diseases, cut down on sugar. Medical research shows sugar as a contributor to these diseases. If sugar is a major part of your diet, you are at risk of heart disease, even if your weight is ideal. Excess sugar (especially fructose) can damage the liver the same way alcohol does. Your heart and liver will thank you if you reduce your sugar intake. - Reduced cancer risk
A diet high in sugar has been found to contribute to the possible development of breast and lung cancers as well as cancers of the digestive tract. Fructose in sugar and high-fructose corn syrup causes the body to express proteins and fatty acids which encourage cancer to develop. - A longer, healthier life
Of course, if cutting back on your sugar intake can help reduce your chances of contracting cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, you will probably live longer – and better! The Harvard School of Public Health has determined that each year 25,000 people in America die because of sweetened beverages! - A happier you
Less sugar will actually make you less prone to depression. Don’t be fooled by the high that you get after consuming your favorite dessert. Sugar reacts in your brain in similar fashion as narcotic drugs. It gives you a quick lift (from dopamine and serotonin) and then brings you crashing down. People actually experience withdrawal symptoms after a sugar boost. A study of 70,000 postmenopausal women in 2015 showed that those who consumed a diet low in sugar and refined carbohydrates had a much lower likelihood of becoming depressed.The US Department of Agriculture has determined that the average American consumes 150 pounds of sugar a year. It’s about time we eat less sugar and enjoy the benefits of a longer, healthier, and happier life.
