A 30-day no-sugar challenge – How does it sound? Impossible? Exciting or unnecessary?
If cakes, doughnuts, rasgulla, chocolates, gulab jamun, and barfi, are a sweet haven for you, you got a sweet tooth. Understandably, cutting them off from your diet might be a big challenge for you. Not a physical challenge, but a mental challenge instead. You would think about sweets all day long, tempted to visit the fridge a gazillion times a day, it would be one of the hardest battles you’d have to fight.
But why go through all this pain? Your life will certainly be a misery if you don’t have sugar for a few days. What good will it do? Well, what if we tell you that the gains will be worth the sacrifice?
Yes. You can turn your health, life and personality around if you just cut sugar for a few days. In this blog, we will be talking about the things that will happen if you cut sugar for a while.
What do you need to cut out?
Well, starting with the no-brainer, all sorts of sweets need to be cut off. This includes chocolates, mithai and soft beverages.
If you drink coffee or tea with sugar, you need to cut that sugar too.
In case you are wondering if you are also required to cut out fruits, you’re mistaken. Fruits are not to be boycotted. The sugar in fruits is good sugar. What you need to cut out is processed sugar.
The changes you will observe once you cut sugar from your diet
You’ll maintain your weight
In case you are hitting the gym or following a new diet plan, cutting down on sugar will speed up the progress you’ll make. It won’t help you burn extra calories, but it will prevent you from having extra calories. How? Firstly, foods with sugar are rich in calories. If you avoid them, you will be burning more calories. Secondly, cutting out sugar will reduce your cravings for sugar. This won’t happen in the first few days. In the first few days, you’ll instead be desperate to have sugar-rich food. This is when you have to control. Once you follow self-control for a few days, you will see that your cravings get weaker by the day.
You’ll have steady energy levels
If you find yourself drained all the time, sugar may be the culprit. Overconsumption of sugar causes fatigue. You may get an initial energy boost after having sugar, but just so you know it lasts between 30 and 60 minutes before it wears off. Consequently, you may feel ‘a crash’. All the reasons why all forms of sugars are addictive enough that we resort to sugary treats easily and frequently.
Better dental health
You may have been told in childhood that chocolates are bad for your teeth. You may or may have not believed it back then, but it is true. Cutting sugar from your diet for a month can improve your dental health. Consequently, you will be reducing the risk of gum disease and cavities.
Clear skin free of pimples
Struggling with acne and pimples? If no cosmetic is working, cutting sugar may be the quick fix you need. A diet rich in sugar and oil and pollution are the most common reasons for acne and pimples. Hence, cutting sugar may help replenish your skin and give it a clean and clear look.
Improved mood
Some people may not agree. Especially those who feel better after having sweets. But just so you know, sugar may provide an instant boost in mood, but it can also be the reason for mood swings in the long run. High-sugar diets can cause rapid blood sugar spikes and crashes, leading to fluctuating hormone levels and mood changes.
Stable health metrics
Have high blood pressure and cholesterol? Boycotting sugar for 30 days can help. A diet rich in sugar is also a diet rich in oils and cholesterol. Boycotting sugar may help the body process nutrients better, hence you may also witness reduced levels of cholesterol and blood pressure.
Closing thoughts: How should people with diabetes proceed with the 30-day no-sugar challenge?
Yes, you can proceed with no-sugar challenge if you are diabetic. You will just do fine if you consume natural sugar, those present in fruits, instead of processed sugar. Nevertheless, it’s best to consult your doctor beforehand to prevent medical issues.
