No Sugar for Two Weeks: What To Expect
Sugar can be seriously addictive, which is why cutting it out of your diet is so hard. But once you do, you’ll experience tons of benefits. So much so that you won’t ever want to return to eating the sweet stuff.
The even better news is that you can begin to see the benefits of a sugar-free diet almost immediately. Within two weeks, you’ll feel like a new person.
Ready to find out more? In this guide from Sweetkick, we’ll go over how to detox from sugar and what you can expect after quitting it.
How Does Sugar Affect Your Body?
Sugar is everywhere, and your sugar intake could be way too high if you're not extra careful. On average, Americans consume about 300 calories of added sugar per day. To put it into perspective, this amounts to about 17 teaspoons of sugar.
The maximum recommended amount is only six teaspoons per day. But for optimal health, the closer you get that number to zero, the better.
Refined carbohydrates offer you no benefits at all. It has no vitamins, minerals, or other compounds that can better your health. These simple carbs may offer you a quick burst of energy, but because it’s processed so quickly by the body, it’s quickly followed by a huge crash.
If you eat too much sugar, you put yourself at risk for all kinds of health problems. Sugar drives inflammation, which is at the root of many diseases and disorders, including issues with blood pressure and cholesterol.
We get that quitting sugar is seriously tough. Sugary snacks, cereals, and junk foods are addictive, causing dependence, cravings, and withdrawal symptoms. But quitting sugar may just be the best thing you ever do — for reasons beyond healthy eating. We feel super passionate about this and have created a whole line of products to help you do just that.
Curious about the benefits of changing your eating habits and quitting sugar? Keep reading to discover what you can expect when kicking sugar to the curb.
What Should I Expect When Quitting Sugar?
1. It May Be Hard At First
We’re not going to lie: The first few days of quitting sugar can be seriously tough, especially if you are used to eating a large amount of sugar.
If you developed a dependence on the stuff, you might experience sugar withdrawal symptoms in the first week. This can include a low mood, difficulty concentrating, fatigue and lethargy, and headaches.
But hang in there because clear skies lie ahead!
After the first several days, you’ll start to feel much better. And as soon as a week into quitting sugar, you might actually start feeling amazing. But in the meanwhile — to help ease sugar withdrawal symptoms — we recommend supplementing with our Body Balance Powder.
2. You May Feel Happier
Once your withdrawal symptoms begin to ease, you might notice your spirits lift up. It might seem counterintuitive because it feels like sugar makes you feel happier. But in reality, high sugar consumption is linked to issues with emotional wellness.
Sugar can increase inflammation in the brain, which can lead to brain fog. This can make you feel seriously down. Plus, sugar can lead to rapid spikes and drops in blood glucose levels, which can leave you with a serious crash in energy levels.
When you quit sugar, you may notice that within a week, your energy levels become more steady and may even increase. You may also feel mentally sharper. Last, nasty symptoms like mood swings, nervousness, and irritability may dissipate after quitting sugar.
3. You May Drop a Few Pounds
Sugar is addictive, so it’s super hard to have just a little. In reality, many of us consume way more than we should when given the option, making us eat more calories overall.
You may feel more satiated when you quit sugar (AKA, processed foods and ice cream) and eat nourishing whole foods. Your brain will receive signals that you should stop eating, which can decrease how many calories you eat in a day. As a result, you might find that you’re losing weight without trying.
4. You May Look Younger
Sugar = Wrinkles.
When you eat refined sugar, you set off a process called glycation. This makes sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin in the skin, causing it to degrade. Since collagen and elastin give skin a youthful appearance, you want to preserve them as much as possible.
If it helps you eat less sugar, imagine that you subtract collagen and elastin from your skin every time you have a cookie (or any other treat). On the other hand, by reducing how much sugar you eat, you can let your body produce collagen and elastin the way it's meant to, helping you maintain a youthful appearance.
Giving up sugar can also reduce glucose spikes in the bloodstream, decreasing inflammation — a major driver of aging. After just two weeks, you may see that your skin looks more glowy. If you have acne breakouts, you may even see them go away after quitting sugar.
5. You May Catch Fewer Colds
Because sugar leads to inflammation, it can make it difficult for your body to fight off infections (like the common cold), heal wounds, and fend off allergens. But after you quit sugar, you may give a significant boost to your immune system, improving its many, many functions.
6. You May Improve Your Smile
Your sweet tooth can actually mess with the health of your teeth.
Sugar interacts with the bacteria in your mouth and increases acidity, which can eat through the enamel of your teeth. This is how cavities form. However, by taking away sugar, you’ll take away the stuff that feeds bacteria. And your breath may improve, too.
7. You May Sleep Better
It’s possible to experience a blood sugar drop during sleep, which can make you have nightmares, toss and turn in your bed, and even get night sweats. Hardly a way to wake up feeling refreshed.
After you quit sugar, your blood sugar levels may begin to stabilize. As soon as three days after quitting, you might begin to notice a difference in how you sleep, waking up rested and ready to take on your day.
What Are Tips for Quitting Sugar?
We hope we have convinced you of the health benefits of quitting sugar.
Ready to start? Here are some tips to make your sugar-free journey as simple as can be:
- Eat nourishing whole foods that provide crucial vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats. Whole grains like brown rice, lean protein sources, and fresh fruit smoothies are great options.
- Check ingredient labels for added sugars, as these can appear in unexpected places.
- Try supplements, such as Gymnema sylvestre, to curb sugar cravings.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners, as these can spike blood sugar, increasing sugar cravings.
- If cravings strike, try a non-food-related activity, such as a quick meditation session.
Beat Sugar Cravings With Sweetkick
Quitting sugar isn’t easy, but it is so worth it.
Within two weeks of quitting sugar, you may experience a better mood, have higher energy levels, and even speed up your weight loss.
We believe in the benefits of a sugar-free life. To help you quit — for good — we’ve created various products clinically proven to curb sugar cravings. With Sweetkick, you’ll be ready to embark on a sugar detox and stick to it for good!
Sources:
The Dose Makes the Poison: Sugar and Obesity in the United States – a Review | PMC
The relationship of diet and acne | PMC
Food, Mood, and Brain Health: Implications for the Modern Clinician | PM
