Detoxing from sugar can help you lose weight quickly. “We had over 80 testers from all over the country, and they lost anywhere between 5 to 20 pounds during the 31 days, depending on their weight or sugar addiction,” Alpert said. “Many also noticed that a lot of the weight was lost from their midsection.
Another study suggests this can mean a 14% decrease in total calories, which may mean you consume 280 fewer calories when based on a 2,000-calorie day. Keep this up for a month, and you may lose 2 to 3 pounds just by cutting added sugars.
If you stop eating sugar for 30 days, your body will undergo some changes. Some of these changes include improved health, increased energy levels, decreased inflammation, weight loss, improved blood sugar levels, and improved blood lipids.
Drop your sugar intake at once. The Ohio University Medical Center determined that a sugar detox will take between 3-10 days. The more sugar you are normally taking in, the longer the detox will take. The good thing is, unlike other addictions, the intensity of the symptoms will decrease as you go on.
Reducing sugar intake has clear health benefits, including reduced calorie intake, which can help with weight loss, and improved dental health. But people sometimes report experiencing negative side effects when they try to eat less sugar. Headaches, fatigue or mood changes, which are , are among the symptoms.
Cut added sugar and you could lower calories and body weight, which could improve your cholesterol. But it's not just the weight loss. Even at the same weight as others, people who got less than 20% of their calories from added sugars tended to have lower triglycerides.
"When you reduce or eliminate sugar, storage of fat will decline slowly, and you will lose some weight. However, this takes time, with the effect typically beginning at one to two weeks," Glatter told INSIDER.
There are massive health benefits from cutting back on your sugar intake, one of which is losing stubborn belly fat, says Brenda Rea, MD, DrPH, PT, RD, a family and preventive medicine physician at Loma Linda University Health.
Reducing your sugar intake may support a healthy weight, decrease your risk of depression, and reduce your risk of heart disease, among other health benefits. The good news is that you don't necessarily have to quit sugar completely. A limited amount of added sugar each day is fine.
Eating too much sugar is associated with larger fat deposits around the heart and in the abdomen, which are risky for health.
After giving up sugar for two weeks, I lost a small, but noticeable amount of weight. Considering I didn't change any other aspect of my diet I was really surprised by this. What's more, the weight loss made me feel healthier and that is always a good thing as it can help to improve your health in other ways.
Don't Go Cold Turkey
Because our bodies are so used to sweet stuff, going sugar-free very abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, and mood swings, said Kohn.
Spoiler alert: The first couple of days are the hardest
Because sugar is so addictive—studies show that it's as addictive as cocaine3 —you might even experience some withdrawal symptoms in addition to cravings.
Nigma Talib, a naturopath who works with celebrities, has popularized the term “Sugar Face” to describe the effects that excess sugar has on the skin. Supposedly, she can look at someone's face and determine if they have a sweet tooth by the appearance and the location of their blemishes and wrinkles.
The safest way to go on a refined sugar “detox” is to increase your intake of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. Once you eliminate refined sugar, you'll likely find that your taste buds become more sensitive to – and appreciative of – the natural sweetness of fruits.
The American Academy of Dermatology emphasizes that a diet high in sugar can accelerate aging; although quitting sugar may not reverse signs of aging that have already manifested, it can slow their progression.
Reducing sugar intake can sometimes lead to temporary detox or withdrawal symptoms, such as cravings, headaches, bloating, and irritability. Less than 10% of a person's daily caloric intake should come from added sugars, according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines .
Stop eating sugar and you'll lower your risk of heart disease dramatically because too much sugar in your diet heightens your risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes — three primary risk factors for heart disease and cardiovascular decline.
Table sugar or processed sugar is additional sugar consumption and can trigger serious health issues such as obesity or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and fruits are good for health.
Punctured Tired Belly Fat: This type of belly is round around the waist, and bulges out. It is a result of too much sugar, an unhealthy diet, and of course leading a sedentary lifestyle. Here's what you should do: Avoid sugar-based products, junk food, transfat, alcohol, and calorie-dense food.