There are a number of impressive health benefits that come with the 8-Week Program, from reeling in a sugar addiction to improving digestion. We’ll be unpacking 5 science-backed ways quitting sugar can transform your life.

Nourishing food to fight cravings

The research shows that there are a number of nutrients that not only nourish our bodies, but that suppress appetite hormones and reduce our cravings for sugary foods. These include healthy fats, antioxidants and protein – and our meal plans are packed with these essentials, along with all the essential vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function properly. Protein has been found to support weight loss and regulate our satiety hormones, meaning we’re less likely to be craving sugar all day. This is particularly beneficial for those of you struggling with addictive behaviours around sugar. Healthy fats have studies showing they help balance blood-sugar levels and keep us feeling fuller for longer, along with having been found to decrease appetite and sugar cravings. Sugar, however, does not satiate our cravings, instead leaving us wanting more soon after. That’s why you’ll find delicious foods like avocado, eggs, yoghurt, hemp seeds and olive oil on the program, but there’s nothing boring about the IQS meals! We’ve got pizza, pasta, sushi and even all your favourite desserts – and they make up for tenfold in taste what they lack in sugar.  

Regaining energy

Many 8-Week Programmers notice they have more energy after ditching sugar, and it all comes down to healthier blood sugar levels and improved sleep. The foods we eat have a major impact on these elements, with high-protein foods particularly beneficial to keeping our blood sugars regular and reducing the cravings for those sweet foods that send our hormones into havoc. You may also notice afternoon slumps are a daily occurrence, and this too has to do with diet – if you’re eating sugary cereals for breakfast and snacking on chips or soft drinks at work, you’re setting yourself up for a sleepy afternoon once those blood sugar levels drop. You might also notice mood swings and restlessness, neither of which are conducive to high performance and concentration. If your social or work life is taking a hit from these effects, you may want to try a program like the 8-Week Program to alter those patterns and learn how to maximise nutrition to keep your energy levels stable during the day – and for the whole day! High-sugar foods and fast-release carbs like white bread and rice are digested quicker than whole foods, so if we eat too much of this stuff, we’re likely to throw our blood sugars out of whack. Learning how to quit sugar also involves relearning how to eat well and provide our body with the nutrients it needs to thrive – and that’s where we come in. We’ve carefully crafted our meal plans to include a balance of vitamins and minerals and ingredients that are scientifically proven to keep us feeling satiated and prevent blood sugar spikes. 

Improved digestion

You’ll also notice our meal plans are loaded with fibre – this stuff is key to a healthy digestive system and regular bowel movements. It helps to soften your stool and increases the bulk of it, making it easier to pass. With only 5% of us getting enough fibre, it’s worth upping your dose and cutting out sugar, a known gut disruptor. 19 to 38 grams per day is the current daily intake recommendation – to put that into perspective, one cup of quinoa packs 5 grams of fibre – that’s nearly 25% of your needs – so it’s not that hard to get there on the 8-Week Program where whole foods are abundant. High-sugar foods are usually are low in fibre, resulting in loose and hard-to-pass stools and conditions like constipation and bloating. Some doctors have even recommended avoiding sugary processed goods to reduce or prevent constipation and other gut issues.

Breaking the cycle of sugar addiction

If a sugar addiction is keeping you trapped in bad health, it may be time to break the cycle. Sometimes going cold turkey on the stuff alone leaves you falling off the wagon and binging on highly-palatable foods more often than before – that’s why it helps to gradually make changes with us on the 8-Week Program where you’ll have the support of your fellow members, inspiration from our experts and delicious meals that will have you recalibrating your tastebuds. You may find you enjoy whole foods more than highly-processed foods after changing your patterns, and the time away from those sugary foods can often be what you need to reset those addictive behaviours and address the emotions lying underneath these behaviours – often, the sugar consumption is a mask for other issues like stress and anxiety.

Reducing visceral fat

Visceral fat is one of the big consequences of excess fructose consumption, leading to a range of dangerous diseases like obesity and heart disease. Since fructose can’t be further broken down by the body and requires the liver to metabolise it, we can end up with a build-up of fat around our organs. Studies prove a direct link between obesity and excessive fructose consumption, along with researchers finding it causes development of visceral fat. But that’s not all,  researchers have found excess fructose can cause leptin resistance. Leptin is the hormone that signals to the brain that we’re full – simply put, without it we may still feel hungry even when we’ve already polished off a plate. Leptin resistance is connected to weight gain and obesity due to the resulting issues with feeling full. So, if you have a problem with visceral fat or are struggling to maintain your weight, quitting sugar is one of the best steps to take to prevent the build-up of visceral fat, and therefore also reducing your risk for a number of deadly diseases.

So, if you’ve been struggling to manage a sugar habit, know that you’re not alone. This stuff is addictive and keeps us coming back even though we know the consequences. Unlike ditching alcohol, there are few places where sugar is unwelcome. From birthday parties to the office pantry, Sunday markets and the supermarket. Is it any wonder that so many of us find it hard to quit the stuff? That’s why joining a program like ours is so beneficial – our 8-Week Program is based on accountability, support and providing the essential resources to set you up for success. We’ll help you change the way you look at food – and that doesn’t mean you have to follow restrictive diets or miss out on your favourite foods; we believe you can still enjoy delicious food without jeopardising your health. With celebrity chef Sarah Glover on our panel of experts, you’ll have an array of fun recipes at your fingertips, along with our own exclusive armoury of simple, tasty and healthy recipes for everything from daily meals to impressive entertaining. We’ve also got nutritionists, personal trainers and naturopaths in our team of experts, and they understand what our bodies need and how to best arm ourselves against those cravings. So, if you’ve been having a little trouble keeping that sugar addiction at bay, we’re here to help. We know it can be hard to stick to your health goals – especially when you’re trying to manage it alone. When you sign up with us, you’ll have access to clear-cut meal plans, community support and exclusive access to our sugar-free content. Here’s what’s on offer:

1. 8 weeks of meal plans and shopping lists.
2. 90+ member-only recipes.
3. Community forums to share your journey.
4. Support and guidance from the I Quit Sugar team.
5. Exclusive content from our panel of experts.

So, if you’re ready to ditch sugar and the host of maladies that come with it, it’s not too late to join. We’d love to help you get started on your health journey. Sign up HERE today!