7 Surprising Benefits Of Cutting Back On Sugar

“Anything in excess is bad”, is an adage we all are aware of and it normally runs at the back of our mind when we make daily choices about a lot of things in our lives. However, what do you do if you are unable to identify that demarcation between normal & excess. This is what exactly happens in the case of the undisputed ‘most craveable’ ingredient of our food – sugar.

Sugar is quietly sitting inside many foods you would never suspect, like the breakfast cereals, salad dressings, sandwich spreads & sauces. Due to this stealth property, even our seemingly normal sugar intake is much more than the American Heart Association recommendation of 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day for women and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) per day for men.

An article in the Indian Journal of Community Medicine states that the per capita consumption of sugar is approximately 30% higher thus leading to several detrimental health conditions.

Now that we have exposed the rogue, let us look at astonishing benefits that we can gain by taming our sweet tooth. While this list is long, let us focus on seven of them which itself should be more than enough to motivate you on the path of cheeni kum.

1. Younger-looking & cleaner skin

The sugar in your diet directly affects the sugar in your bloodstream and studies suggest that high sugar levels in the blood result in a molecular domino effect called glycation which releases substances that damage the protein fibres (collagen & elastin) helpful in keeping the skin firm and elastic.

So, cut down your sugar content and get ready to get compliments like, “tumhari twacha se tumhari umar ka pata hi nahi chalta”!

2. Lower blood pressure & bad cholesterol

High sugar intake contributes to weight gain which in turn increases the risk of high blood pressure. Also, eating too much sugar lowers your HDL (good) cholesterol and makes your liver pump out extra LDL (bad) cholesterol which together can lead to clogged arteries and heart diseases.

To sum up this point, controlling your sugar intake will help you become the owner of a healthy heart aka sher dil.

3. Energy that lasts long…really long

You might have heard of the term ‘sugar rush’ which apparently is quite a myth since added sugars being simple carbohydrates have a tendency to get digested & metabolized fast and hence do not provide the lasting energy boost except that one little spike.

So, replacing sugar by slow-burning substitutes like proteins would provide you with a constant supply of long enduring energy.

4. Move towards your slimmer self

One of the most visible outcome of a high sugar intake is increased weight through addition of extra pounds all over the body, especially in the tummy area. This happens due to increased release of insulin in the body to cover up for the high sugar composition in the blood.

So, reduction in the sugar intake keeps your insulin levels stable thus improving metabolism which is an essential factor leading to weight loss and speeding up your fat to fit journey.

5. Lower SQ (Sugar Quotient) can lead to higher IQ

Research shows that a diet high in sugar content negatively affects the mental functions. There is a strong link established between blood sugar & dementia which is a general term for loss of memory, problem-solving & other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Hence, maintaining normal blood sugar levels tends to maintain the sharpness of one of the most important organs which is the brain and that is a no-brainer.

6. Reduce the risk for diabetes

Contrary to the popular belief, eating sugar does not cause diabetes. However, it does so indirectly by its fast-digestion property which requires the pancreas to release lots of insulin regularly thus causing the malfunction of the insulin-producing cells eventually leading to diabetes.

As per the 2019 report of International Diabetes Foundation Diabetes Atlas, India has the second-highest number of diabetes patients aged 20-79 years after China which is an alarming statistic.

Hence, keeping your sugar intake low will reduce the risk of contracting this not-so-sweet malady.

7. Reduce the risk for cancer

Although research has not proven direct correlation between sugar and cancer, there are some compelling links between the two. Cancer cells have shown affinity towards utilizing sugar as fuel.

Secondly, as we have seen before that high sugar intake leads to weight gain which is also a high risk factor for cancer.

Conclusion 

After looking at such beneficial perks of a less-sugar life, it makes definite sense to give it your best shot. While it may be impossible to avoid the mouth-watering desserts all the time, little tweaks like water instead of sugar-loaded carbonated soft drinks or fruits instead of frozen yogurts or dry fruits instead of processed snacks can also make a world of difference gradually.

In summary, by cutting down on sugar you will be reducing your junk-food expenses plus have substantial savings on those visits to the doctors & dentists along with keeping your health insurance premium at bay. Now that certainly sounds like a sweet deal!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Aliasger Abbasi