What exactly is processed sugar? In this context, it means white or brown sugar found in cakes, candy, sweet pastries and sugary drinks.
What does not count? Fruit and complex carbohydrates.
So what happens to your body if you decide to take a 30-day break from processed sugar, sometimes dubbed the ‘white poison’?
First, you may go through a short adjustment period. During the first few days, some people experience temporary symptoms such as stronger cravings, headaches or mild fatigue as the body adapts to the dietary change.
Losing weight may become easier. Sugar can encourage a cycle in which eating something sweet leaves you wanting more, making it harder to control overall calorie intake.
You may also regain better control over hunger and fullness signals. High sugar consumption can interfere with the body’s natural sense of satiety.
Insulin sensitivity may improve as well. Reducing sugar intake can help lower the risk of insulin resistance, a condition associated with metabolic disease, and may make it easier for the body to use stored fat for energy.
Sugar consumption disrupts the feeling of fullness
(Photo: Shutterstock)
Cutting back on sugar may also reduce the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular conditions, including type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver disease.
The immune system may benefit from a healthier overall diet, while teeth and gums can also improve because less sugar means a lower risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Reducing excess sugar intake may also help protect long-term brain health and cognitive function.
The skin will clear up and breakouts and acne will improve
(Photo: Shutterstock)
Mood and energy levels can become more stable. Large swings in sugar intake may be followed by sharp changes in energy, and reducing processed sugar can help prevent the sudden fatigue and crashes some people experience.
Skin may change too. A diet lower in added sugar may help reduce puffiness and, for some people, improve acne and other skin issues. Limiting excess sugar may also reduce processes that damage elastin, one of the proteins that helps skin retain its flexibility.
The writer is a clinical dietitian and herbal medicine practitioner.