The average American consumes around 270 calories of added sugars each day, which equals 17 teaspoons of sugar daily. This amount of sugar is too much for an average diet of 2000 calories, yet sugar is extremely hard to avoid.
Whether it’s white sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, maltose, or evaporated cane juice, refined sugar is in almost every food on supermarket shelves. It’s in sodas, juices, condiments, cereals, breads, canned food, and even baby food.
Here are 5 compelling reasons to avoid refined sugars and find healthier, more nutrient-rich alternatives.
1. More Energy and Focus
The white sugar nutrition value is zero, which means you’re consuming empty calories. Chocolate bars and snacks will give you an instant boost of energy, but this doesn’t last long and you’ll be hungry and crashing again in half an hour. By avoiding sugar, you’ll be more energized, feel lighter, and able to focus on your tasks better.
2. Radiant and Vibrant Skin
Refined sugar is one of the main culprits of dull, lifeless, and problematic skin. It can also cause adult acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. Sugar is an inflammatory food, so if you’re suffering from a health condition, too much of it can actually make it worse.
Excess sugar can also cause premature aging and saggy skin, so it’s best to avoid it altogether or replace it with natural sugars.
3. Healthier Teeth and Oral Cavity
Refined sugar is among the leading causes of cavities and tooth decay in both children and adults. It may even cause your teeth to fall out, lead to plaque buildup, gum disease, and bleeding.
When you avoid processed sugar, your teeth will be stronger and less prone to cavities, you won’t have bad breath, and you’ll have less plaque. Consult with a dentist or an orthodontist if the damage by sugar is too big that you can’t chew properly.
4. Weight Loss and Improved Fitness Level
One of the most harmful side effects of refined sugar is weight gain. It’s quick energy that your body digests instantly, but there are no nutrients to use. Your body then stores all the unused energy (i.e. calories) as fat cells.
As soon as you start avoiding sugar and replace it with nutrient-rich foods, your body will start using its energy reserves and you’ll notice a drop in weight and size. It’s important to know the difference between fruit sugar vs processed sugar. Balance is key, so be careful with consuming other types of sugar as well.
5. Improved Overall Health
Sugar is responsible for a wide variety of health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, weak immune system, premature aging, tooth decay, and obesity. Because it’s addictive, the more you consume it, the harder it’ll be to eliminate it.
Replace it with healthier alternatives such as complex carbs and you’ll notice a boost of energy, improved mood, better focus, and improved fitness levels.
Replace Refined Sugars With Healthier Alternatives
Refined sugars are everywhere and it’s hard to avoid them, but by reading food labels and eating a balanced diet, you can give up sugar completely.
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