OMG! What should I Eat? Should I Quit Sugar to Lose Weight?

You reached for a tub of ice cream late in the night, because you were feeling low or sad and felt a  sense of relief after that, but woke up the next morning feeling bloated with a terrible sense of guilt, coupled with an increase in weight and puffy eyes. Sounds too familiar, isn’t it? Well, you can take solace in the fact that you aren’t the only one who gives in to their sweet cravings and then has to deal with the harmful after-effects.

Sugar Comforts –Yes! It Does

Sugar prompts the human body to release a hormone called Dopamine, which makes us feel happy and euphoric. So there is a good reason why you crave sugar, but you must know the bitter truth -    The comfort is temporary, but the damage that it does is progressive. Sugar is not only making you fat it’s making you sick by damaging body functions at the cellular level.

The After Effect of Sugar

Overconsumption of sugar makes your liver resistant to insulin- the main anabolic hormone responsible for turning glucose into energy. When insulin becomes resistant it just doesn’t let the glucose become energy rather makes it fat. As a result, Triglycerides rise and so is the postprandial sugar in the bloodstream.
Some studies also hint that too much sugar prompts the liver to dump harmful fats in the bloodstream that eventually get deposited as plaque clogging the arteries and increasing your chances of having a stroke or a heart attack.

Sugar Is Addictive 

Eating sugar has a potent impact on the same parts of the brain that are stimulated by addictive drugs like cocaine … 

While our brain is super smart, it is often difficult for it to understand and counter addiction. This is particularly true for sugar addiction. Too much sugar crush the insulin production in the body, which results in more sugar cravings so It’s a sugary vicious cycle.

Quitting Sugar Comes with Greater Health Benefits

Cutting sugar from your diet comes with rich rewards. Not only can you reduce weight, but you will soon find yourself to be more active and alert throughout the day. 

Several types of research claim that low sugar intake slows down the aging process.. so here is your chance to stay younger by saying No to a piece of tiramisu !!

If you are suffering from chronic diseases like high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, quitting sugar will improve the medical parameters considerably.

Sugars FAQs 

Which are the friendly forms of sugar? 

Natural sugars found commonly in fresh and dried fruits in moderation are best to have, Not only do they contain natural sugars, but they are also full of vitamins and anti-oxidants that have a host of health benefits. Including a piece of fruit in the breakfast (the best time for sugar consumption) is good for health. You can also use a variety of fruits and vegetables to make morning smoothies. Dried fruits like figs, apricots, berries, raisins, dates can be used in moderation as snacks or for an instant energy boost. Fruit as a whole is fiber laden hence serves as a sweet snack whereas fruit juice is sugar-laden and spikes the blood sugar level. …just avoid it.

Are sweeteners any good as a substitute? 

In recent years, consumers have been turning towards sugar substitutes to sweeten their foods and drinks. To be honest, medical research is still nascent when it comes to figuring out the exact effects of the new generation of artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes. Researches claim that some sugar substitutes, such as Aspartame (used in abundance in diet colas), are responsible for a range of diseases, from cancer to headaches to clinical depression. While we may take such claims with a pinch of salt, anything that tastes sweet but has zero calories should be used sparingly. In fact, these sugar substitutes often slow down your metabolism and make you eat more. And they can alter your gut flora to promote obesity and type 2 diabetes. So a diet coke or a sugar-free ice-cream comes with its harmful effects.

Of all the sugar substitutes stevia is considered a safer option … as it comes from a leaf. It’s still newer on the horizon to be assessed for its ill effects if any.

Is Brown Sugar good? 

Both white and brown sugars are equally harmful. Brown sugar is plain sugar with added molasses. Don’t get fooled by its appearance. 

What about Honey & Jaggery?

Other natural sugar sources like honey and jaggery are better but should still be consumed in moderation. Jaggery, which is made from palm sugar or sugar cane, can be used to sweeten food items. On the other hand, honey can be used as a substitute for sugar in both drinks and food sparingly. Through a glass of warm water, mixed with a dash of lemon and a teaspoon of honey is good on a liquid detox day !!

Say No to sugar for your health

There is only one long term solution to sugar problem- wean off sugar and learn to be without it. As long as we keep eating sweets or add sugar to our food we would want more. A way of life without sweets is challenging but not impossible. 

Any positive change in life starts with an acceptance that you have a problem that you need to address. Once you’re able to do that, the rest of the journey becomes relatively easy. Accepting that sugar is bad for health is the first step you can take towards a sugar-free life. 

If you are cooking at home and your recipe calls for sugar, you should use as little as possible and stick to one of the healthier choices, which is jaggery, dates, honey and dried or fresh fruits.

The final takeaway 

If you are diabetic or suffering from cancer or heart disease, stay away from sugar and sweeteners altogether.

But for everyone else Eat less sugar, You are sweet enough already!!