This is What Happens to Your Body When You Give Up Sugar

11 Jan This is What Happens to Your Body When You Give Up Sugar

What Happens to Your Body When You Give Up Sugar?

Pretty darn much, depending on how long you go without it. 

The Effects of Cutting Sugar Out of Your Diet will usually alter your eating habits drastically.

People who have successfully forgone sugar from their diet notice mood stability, hunger control, and less anxiety.

Quitting Sugar Gets Hard at First!!

You know, the thing is, sugar is addictive and once you indulge, you’re going to stay there for a long long time.

Well, that is, until you decide to quit it, which will take a lot of determination on your part.

Do you know why?

Because sugar addiction changes your brain chemistry. 

The dopamine rush you get from sugar is similar to the one you get from drugs. Both are addictions, by the way. 

Sugar activates the opioid receptors in your brain, triggering the neurological reward system. This is what keeps you hooked to it day after day without fail. 

Quitting sugar has its own rewards, and the effects are visible with time. 

What Happens When You Give Up Sugar?

The kind of results you get with your No Sugar Diet will depend on how addicted you were before quitting it.

Remember, there’s a difference between processed sugar and natural sugar!

Natural sugars you get from food are technically a much healthier source. It comes with minerals and vitamins as compared to the empty calories you get from a can of soda. 

Start cutting out processed sugar now, and here are the results you’ll notice over a month.

#1. A Day After Quitting Sugar

After you’ve gone a day without reaching for sugar-laden snacks and drinks, your willpower will have strengthened.

Early Sugar Withdrawal Symptoms will involve feeling tired and out of focus. Even feeling depressed!

If you were on a heavily sugar-dependent diet, you might also notice cravings.

All that matters is that 5-minute window where you’ll likely feel an overpowering urge. 

Let go of that, and you’ll see that it becomes easier to clear your mind. One effective way to achieve that is to drink water whenever you feel that same urge rearing its head again. 

#2. What Happens When You Give Up Sugar for a Week?

A lot! 

This is the time when you’ll have a greater sense of independence from your sugar addiction.

Within the first week, you should start seeking more nutrient-dense foods to curb your hunger. 

These Diet Changes Will Include:

• Vegetables
• Fruits (yes, accept it, you’ll most likely substitute processed sugars with natural ones) 
• Lean proteins
• Nuts and healthy fats
• Fiber (as they’re more filling and help you fight hunger pangs)

As you fill up on more healthy foods, you’ll notice more energy, focus, and your blood sugar will stabilize. 

Those who were used to sweets and cakes may feel a desire to go back. Though, this should subside with patience. 

#3. No Sugar for Two Weeks

This is the time when you’re out of the danger zone. Now, you’re much more likely to binge on healthy snacks than going back to previous eating habits.

Your sugar addiction will have come under control for the most part. As you’ve also built some strength of determination during this time, you might feel more comfortable with the idea of meal planning and exercise. 

By this time, you’ll notice physical and mental agility and fewer energy crashes as well. And who knows, with more fuel, you might also find it easy to give up caffeine.

However, the kick is when you reach a month’s mark.

So, what happens when you give up sugar for a full month?

#4. What Happens When You Give Up Sugar for 30 Days?

Well, after an entire month’s time, three things are likely to happen:

• You will have better skin
• The desire to cook home-made meals will come naturally to you
• You might notice a gradual reduction in your waist size

Incorporate exercise into your routine, and the results will be even more pronounced. So, if you eat no sugar in combination with exercising, what happens is you’ll definitely experience some fat loss.

How Much Weight Can I Lose by Cutting Out Sugar for a Month?

Some people have reported losing up to 3-4kgs while others only notice more muscle definition.

Ultimately, “No Sugar for a Month Weight Loss” depends on an individual’s overall lifestyle.

If you adhered to an active lifestyle along with cutting back on sugar, the results will obviously be better. 

However, for most, the effects are not that noticeable.

The reason?

People heavily addicted to sugar feel sluggish to exercise or be more active. In a month’s time, your body is still detoxifying itself.

So, weight loss benefits might come a bit later for you. Nonetheless, it’ll come if you continue to stick to an added Sugar-Free Diet. 

How Long Does It Take to Detox from Sugar?

We often come across questions phrased as “How Long It Takes to Get Sugar Out of Your System?”

Though the truth is, there’s not a universal answer to this question. It really depends on the individual and their current diet and lifestyle.

Accordingly, to what extent added sugar was present in your diet prior to eliminating it will also determine how difficult it will be to achieve a complete body detox.

Depending on your current health condition, the body’s natural healing ability may get rid of much of the damage added sugar did within 4-5 weeks.

Here are some of the tips for doing a sugar detox

#1. The first step should be to quit soda and replace all artificially sweetened drinks with water. In times when you feel like sipping on any beverage, go for unsweetened teas.

It might surprise you to know how much sugar you can cut from your diet just by eliminating sodas. Notably, a regular soda has 20-48 grams of sugar per 8 ounces of serving; and a soda can is more than eight ounces.

#2. The next step would be to control the sugar cravings by adding healthy fats to your meal. Including only 1-2 tablespoons of healthy fats in every meal will do the needful.

For this, you can consider including avocados, nuts, dark chocolate, fatty fish, and whole eggs.

#3. May More room for fresh fruits. It is the best way to pacify your sugar cravings without worrying about its effects. Not only do fruits have natural sugars, but they also have fibers and nutrients making them one of the best replacements for your desserts.

Notably, everyone should have at least 1-2 servings of fresh fruit for a balanced diet. If you want complete sugar detoxification you can pause the fruit consumption for a limited period.

#4. Include protein and complex carbs as well. While protein keeps you full for a longer period, complex carbs stabilize the blood sugar level.

While many will disagree with complex carbs inclusion, here’s an explanation of the above suggestion. Consumption of complex carbs is not harmful unless the source is more natural than refined. Try to include complex carbs via sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and quinoa.

#5. Last but not least, cut your sugar consumption gradually, or else you might end up with a sugar crash. There is no harm in adding 1 teaspoon of sugar once in a while before you eliminate it.

Consider these steps before you plan your sugar detox.

Are You Planning on Cutting Out Sugar from Your Diet Anytime Soon?

If yes, go right ahead. It obviously has benefits for your mental and physical well-being.

Cutting out sugar doesn’t have to be the death penalty as well. Remember everything is OK as long as it’s in moderation. 

Don’t worry!

You’ll not lose your desire to eat sugar ever again. However, you’ll be more mindful of the amount you eat after this experience. 

Accordingly, you can decide to cut sugar out of your diet bit by bit. 

For instance, eat healthy meals 6 days a week and only allow a little bit of sugar on the seventh day. This is just until you get into the “mental space of self-control“.

Once you gain full control over your eating habits, you can also work back some sugar into your diet.

In fact, the per day recommended limit is 25 grams for females and about 36 grams for males.

As long as you can stay within these limits, you’ll be fine. The aim is not to stay sugar-free!

Rather get yourself out of the “addiction phase” and into a healthy eating pattern devoid of processed sugar.