7 Reasons To Cut Out Sugar Aside From Weight Loss!

It’s no secret that sugar is bad for you and you shouldn’t eat too much of it. If you have a very high-sugar diet, you are likely to gain a lot of weight, and it can be difficult to lose that weight again unless you cut back on the sugar. But weight gain isn’t the only problem caused by sugar, and even if you are happy with your weight, that doesn’t mean that you should be eating a lot of it. People tend to think that they don’t need to worry about their sugar intake unless they are overweight but that isn’t the case at all. In reality, there are all sorts of health problems that are caused by eating too much sugar. These are some of the reasons to cut sugar out of your diet aside from weight loss. 

Improved Dental Health 

If you want to look after your dental health properly, eating lots of sugar is the worst thing that you can do. Excess sugar in your diet, even if you brush properly, can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. In the worst cases, you may need an implant using a material made of titanium to replace lost teeth, so if you don’t want to lose our smile, you should consider cutting out the sugar. Dental hygiene isn’t just about the way that you look either, it can have a big knock on effect on your overall health. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to gut health issues, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and lung infections. Sugar isn’t the only thing that causes oral health problems but it is a big contributing factor, so make sure to limit your intake. 

Lower Blood Pressure  

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Managing your blood pressure is important if you want to reduce your chance of heart disease later in life. There are a lot of different things that cause blood pressure increases, including weight gain. If you gain weight from eating too much sugar then you are likely to have high blood pressure. However, even if the sugar doesn’t cause you to gain weight, eating sugar can still lead to high blood pressure. Studies show that sugar could be worse than salt for blood pressure, and that’s a big problem if you eat a lot of it.  

Reduced Cancer Risk 

It seems like the list of things that increase your risk of cancer is always getting longer. New research is always being released and most of your favorite foods are probably a risk. You can’t avoid all of the foods that increase your cancer risk, but you can cut back on sugar and that will make a big difference. Weight gain increases your risk of cancer, but sugar on its own can also be a problem. There is some evidence to suggest that people with a diet that is high in refined sugars have a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. Cutting out sugar won’t prevent cancer, but it can reduce your risk of developing certain types. 

Increased Energy Levels 

A lot of people reach for a sugary snack in the middle of the afternoon when energy levels are running low and they are struggling to concentrate on their work, but that may not be as effective as you think. There is evidence to suggest that the ‘sugar rush’ you experience is actually a myth and you will not get an energy boost after eating sugar. Even if you do experience an increase in energy, it will only be short lived and you will experience a crash afterwards. Overall, eating sugary foods will actually reduce energy levels and make you feel lethargic, and if you are eating a lot of sugar throughout the day you will struggle to stay awake. You would be much better off going for slow release carbs or high protein snacks like nuts instead of a sugary drink or some chocolate. After you cut out sugar, you should notice an overall increase in your energy levels. 

Improved Mental Health 

If you struggle with your mental health, you should avoid sugar as much as possible because it can make mental health problems worse. Consuming large amounts of sugar can increase feelings of anxiety, and if you already have the symptoms, it will make them a lot worse. Sugar is also very addictive and you may feel withdrawal symptoms after eating a large amount and then abstaining. This is a particular problem for people that use comfort eating as a coping mechanism because, even though it might boost your mood in the short term, it will actually make you feel a lot worse later on. Sugar intake has also been linked to depression as it upsets the balance of chemicals in your brain and impacts your mood. If you have experienced mental health issues in the past, sugar can be very risky so it’s best to cut it out completely. 

Breaking The Addiction 

If somebody is addicted to cigarettes, you would advise them to quit, so why should sugar be any different? Sugar is addictive because your brain releases dopamine when you eat it. You get addicted to this psychological high, which makes it tough to stop. That means that you will steadily increase your sugar intake and if you don’t eat sugar, you will feel awful. Breaking this addiction can be hard, but you’ll be glad that you did it afterwards. 

Setting A Good Example

If you’re a parent, you know how hard it is to convince your kids to take the healthy option instead of the sugary snack. Often, kids don’t want to listen because you are not setting a good example. Why should they give up the sugary snacks if they see you eating them all the time? Setting a good example is one of the best possible reasons to give up sugar. If your kids see that you are making the effort then they will be more likely to do the same. 

Even if you are a perfectly healthy weight, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to watch your sugar intake. These are just some of the reasons why you should cut it out of your diet entirely.