You won’t just notice a difference on the scales when you quit added sugars – you’ll notice a whole-body change, inside and out. Here are 3 benefits you might not expect to come along with your quitting sugar journey. 

Your bowel and digestive health improves

Been feeling a little lighter lately? Going sugar-free will do that. Added sugars are one of the biggest causes of constipation and bloating as a result of the nutrients and fibre sugary foods lack, along with inflammation in the gut, stool ends up hanging around a bit longer. The result? Pain, bloating and constipation. But after quitting sugar, your bowels will start to run better – pun intended. Research shows fructose is one of the main causes of chronic diarrhoea, this is because the sugar that our bodies can’t break down will end up sitting in the bowels, fuelling bad bacteria and causing a gas build-up. This can lead to:

• Trapped wind
• Excessive flatulence – of the foul-smelling variety! We’re talking SBDs here.
• Cramping
• Pain
• Diarrhoea and constipation

 So, you’ll quite literally take a load off when you quit sugar.

Your mood lightens

If you’ve recently quit sugar, you might notice that sense of impending doom and constant state of stress has faded. The sweet stuff is anything but sweet to our brain – it messes with our hormones and leaves us feeling up and down. Studies have shown the incidence of depression is higher in those who consume more sugar. Another issue is that those who are depressed are more likely to get locked in a vicious cycle of seeking the dopamine hit that comes with sugar, and as a result, worsening their mental health symptoms. Another study shows anxiety is increasingly reported in people over 60 with high sugar intakes and this is no coincidence – further research draws the link between anxiety and sugar, as it found that those who drank 2 soft drinks a day had cortisol levels 22% higher than those who didn’t. One of the first things you may notice is that the fog of low mood is lifted after quitting sugar, and your risk for developing mood disorders like depression is drastically reduced. Initially, you may notice your mood is unstable due to withdrawal symptoms, but once you’re past that stage, you’re in for a clearer mind.

Your risk for chronic disease decreases

Many of us quit sugar because of the effect it has on our energy – 3pm slump, anyone? – but others are looking to avoid the development of obesity and liver disease. Sugar has many consequences, and that’s why the benefits of quitting the stuff are so broad. We’ve got everything from fewer headaches to weight loss to a lower risk of disease. Studies found a link between obesity and excessive sugar consumption, and one of the main reasons for this is that the fructose in sugar leads to the development of visceral fat. This is the kind of fat that which wraps around the abdominal organs, making it more dangerous than subcutaneous fat, which is found between the skin and the external abdominal wall. This also raises the risk for conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, with sugar shown to cause insulin resistance.

Need a little help taking the first step to quit sugar? Or need a little support in figuring out just how to quit sugar? That’s what we’re here for! It’s no secret that a sugar habit is a tough one to beat – wherever you go, sugar is there. Unlike with ditching alcohol, there are few places where sugar is unwelcome. From birthday parties and functions 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 it can help to join a program like ours – 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 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!Top of Form