You start each morning off with a spinach-avocado-and-apple smoothie. You eat a salad for lunch every day. And you actually like kale. Unironically. You’re now ready for the ultimate challenge: Giving up the spoonful of sugar in your coffee, the Oreo (or four) after lunch and that bowl of ice cream for dessert. Here are six things that might happen when you give up refined sugar. May the force be with you.
The 6 Things That Might Happen If You Give Up Sugar
Bye, headaches
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Published Apr 28, 2016
It Will Be Really Hard At First
We’re not gonna lie--the first 48 hours will be tough. Every time you walk by the snack cabinet, those Swedish Fish you bought last week will be calling your name. When your co-worker offers you a peanut butter cup, you’ll probably have to fight back tears. But trust us. It gets easier.
Food Might Taste Better
Once you’ve cut out sugar for a few days, you might realize that foods like fruit, yogurt and even nuts have a natural sweetness you’ve never noticed before. (OK, it’s still not the same as a Snickers, but it’s something.)
You Might Actually Like Black Coffee
If you think unsweetened coffee tastes like dirt, try it again after abstaining from sugar for a few days. After drinking it au naturel a couple times, you’ll get used to the bitterness—and if it’s still too gross, add some unsweetened coconut milk to lighten things up.
Your Headaches Might Go Away
Eating foods with lots of sugar, like candy or cookies, causes your blood sugar to spike rapidly, then shoot back down again. For some people, this can cause headaches. After cutting out refined sugar, your blood sugar will stay relatively stable all day long, preventing that 2 p.m. pounding head.
Your Energy Levels Might Be More Consistent
The sugar rush you get after eating a handful of gummy worms might help you stay productive for a few minutes, but a drop in energy will quickly follow. Stick with natural sources of energy, like fruits and veggies, instead. Your levels will stay consistent, so you can finish that jog and still have enough energy to make dinner.
When You Eat It Again, You'll Really Appreciate It
After giving up sugar for a week, we rewarded ourselves with a big pat on the back. Just kidding—we rewarded ourselves with frozen yogurt. Usually we’d gobble up the entire thing in five minutes and then head over to the bakery next door, but this time, we savored every bite. Moderation is key, people.
