5 Things That Happened After I Quit Sugar

Vogue

5 days ago

My sweet tooth began in elementary school. I'll never forget my first obsession: large chocolate candies stuffed with macadamia nuts. I would devour a box of them every day. By the time I was old enough to care about portions, the amount of sweets I consumed had decreased—but the habit of reaching for sugary treats as a 'reward' or a 'stress reliever' had certainly not. On really bad days, I'd fantasize about squirting whipped cream directly into my mouth.
By the time I got to my thirties, I wasn't in great health. In fact, the days when I felt less-than-vibrant had become the norm; I was constantly plagued with heavy fatigue and emotional ups and downs. My moods were out of control. I felt sluggish, irritable, and dull. Something needed to change.
Around the same time, I started to study molecular nutrition. When I learned about the negative effects of white sugar and other refined carbohydrates, I was floored. I began slowly eliminating them from my diet. It was difficult at first, but as I began to cut back little by little, my health gradually changed as well.
But what exactly does refined sugar do to the body and why is it so hard to quit? Here's what I learned while studying molecular nutrition, and what happened when I finally cut the sweet stuff out for good.
Refined sugar and blood glucose levels
Here's the thing: Most of the fiber, minerals, and vitamins have been removed from white sugar. Because of this, there is almost nothing to inhibit its speed of absorption and, thus, the body's blood sugar level spikes immediately.
This rapid fluctuation in blood glucose levels is the main problem. When blood sugar levels suddenly rise, the body tries to process it by secreting large amounts of insulin; this causes a sudden drop in blood glucose in turn. This up-and-down triggers a variety of issues.
For example, a sudden drop in blood glucose leads the body to become stressed. Even when there is enough energy from other foods, the body shifts into energy-saving mode by suppressing functions other than those necessary to sustain life, such as respiration and circulation. It's like a smartphone with 10% of its battery power remaining. Extreme sleepiness, lethargy, and poor concentration follow.