6 Amazing Benefits of Giving Up Sugar
Believe it or not – sugar is the devil. I’m not joking when I say it’s the worst thing you can put in your body. The benefits of giving up sugar are truly monumental both short and long term. Of course kicking your sugar habit is no walk in the park but if you consider giving it a try here are some amazing benefits of giving up sugar that will change your life.
You should all know how long term sugar addiction affects the body. The American Heart Association recommends having no more than 6 teaspoons of added sugar a day for women; men you can have no more than 9 added teaspoons of sugar. Unsure of how much that is? A 12-ounce can has roughly 8 teaspoons. Thankfully you can continue nomming on natural sugar foods. Added sugar strips your body of the minerals, vitamins and fibers you need. However, on average women are eating up to 30 teaspoons of sugar per day!
Health Benefits of Giving Up Sugar
I’m sure you didn’t know heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. While there are several risk factors for heart disease, the leading causes are: diabetes (sugar), overweight, poor diet (sugar), physical inactivity and excessive alcohol use; that’s specifically tailored towards women and heart disease. So I’m sure you won’t be surprised at the benefits of giving up sugar below:
1. Younger Skin
Believe it or not this is one of the benefits of giving up sugar. Studies have shown the amount of sugar in your blood alters the elasticity of your skin. Giving up sugar will tighten your skin and make it significantly firmer. Cutting your sugar intake reduces the visible signs of aging.
2. Less Belly Fat
Deep fat builds around your vital organs, pancreas and intestines. It’s also incredibly difficult to get rid of and highly dangerous. Visceral fat is a direct risk factor for heart disease and diabetes; in case you’re not comprehending, those two things are promoted by sugar intake and kill you – literally. Those who consume sugar-sweetened beverages have a higher level of visceral fat. The most important benefit of giving up sugar is saving your life!
3. More Energy
Think of the sugar crashes that occur after eating a candy bar. Same concept. Added sugars are simple carbs. They are quickly digested and enter the bloodstream rapidly. You may have a jump-start to your energy but it will quickly turn into a crash.
4. Lowered Risk of Obesity
Giving up sugar lowers your risk for obesity which again, is one of the leading cause of death in the United States.
5. Heart Health
Your heart will be in significantly better shape if you cut out sugar. Ultimately, this is the overarching benefit of cutting out sugar. The more added sugar to your diet, the higher your risk of heart disease is regardless of if your weight is in a healthy range.
6. Cut Odds of Type 2 Diabetes
This is a crucial health benefit to cutting out sugar since again, it saves your life! Diets high in sugar, even if not high in calories, can store visceral fat and up your insulin resistance. The result? A diabetes diagnosis.
It goes without saying but the benefits of giving up sugar universally outweigh the pro of a sweet treat. I’d much rather give up added sugar and live a longer healthier life. You’ll start feeling as good as you look and scientifically, will sleep better at night.
Let us know what you think about the benefits of giving up sugar in the comments below!
Featured Image Source: weheartit.com
Hi, I'm Leah, a Los Angelino living in Boston! I'm a grad from Northeastern University with a Bachelors from the College of Arts, Media and Design. I'm obsessed with going on adventures, photography, writing, being a Taurus and finding hidden gem restaurants, musicians and places to travel. I live for tacos and you can't keep me away from a cute farm stand. I also live for Instagram ... oops!