Smoothy Slim
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich Pexels Logo Photo: Nataliya Vaitkevich

What will happen if I stop eating sugar for 30 days?

There are no adverse physical health effects associated with reducing your added sugar intake, as long as you do so responsibly and couple it with healthy eating choices for the duration of the 30-day challenge.

How do you know if your body is toxic?
How do you know if your body is toxic?

Some signs that your body has a toxin buildup include: Brain fog. Hair loss. Fatigue. Brittle toenails. Bad breath. Nausea. Weight gain.

Read More »
What are the negative effects of eating oatmeal everyday?
What are the negative effects of eating oatmeal everyday?

Side Effects of Eating Too Much Oatmeal, According to Experts You could significantly increase your sugar intake. You're limiting your nutritional...

Read More »
Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab
Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

There’s no doubt that consuming too much added sugar harms your overall health. Unfortunately, most Americans consume far too much added sugar in the form of soda, candy, sweetened baked goods, sugary breakfast cereals, and more. Cutting back on added sugar is important, as excessive consumption is linked to an increased risk of certain health conditions, including fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ). To reduce their added sugar intake, some people take part in “no sugar” challenges. These challenges typically involve cutting out all forms of added sugar for a set amount of time, often 30 days. This article explains what 30-day no sugar challenges are and whether they’re beneficial for your health. Share on Pinterest Ivan Gener/Stocksy United How do 30-day no sugar challenges work? Many types of 30-day no sugar challenges exist, but most have similar guidelines. The main goal is to cut out all sources of added sugar for 30 days. Instead, you focus on consuming nutrient-dense, whole foods that don’t contain added sugars. Natural sugars, which are found in foods like vegetables, fruits, and dairy products, are OK to eat. The focus is on cutting out added sugars and foods high in added sugars, including sugary breakfast cereals, ice cream, cookies, cakes, candy, soda, and sweetened coffee drinks. Again, there are many variations of the 30-day no sugar challenge, so the rules and recommendations may differ by program. Alternatively, you can easily create your own 30-day no sugar challenge using the information in this article. All you need to do is cut out — or limit — added sugar for 30-days and fuel your body with nutrient-dense foods. Summary 30-day no sugar challenges are 30-day plans focused on cutting out sources of added sugar from the diet and consuming nutrient-dense foods instead. Foods to eat and foods to avoid Although similar foods are typically restricted when participating in a 30-day no sugar challenge, specific rules may vary by the program you choose to follow. Foods to avoid While following a 30-day no sugar challenge, people are encouraged to restrict foods and beverages high in added sugars, including: Sweeteners: table sugar, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, agave, coconut sugar table sugar, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, agave, coconut sugar Sweetened beverages: soda, sweetened smoothies and juices, sweetened coffee drinks, sports drinks soda, sweetened smoothies and juices, sweetened coffee drinks, sports drinks Condiments with added sugar: ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, coffee creamer

Which is better for wrinkles microneedling or microdermabrasion?
Which is better for wrinkles microneedling or microdermabrasion?

Microneedling vs microdermabrasion for fine lines Microneedling creates a longer lasting effect than microdermabrasion as microneedling pens...

Read More »
What has 10g of protein?
What has 10g of protein?

Canned Fish One-quarter of a 6-ounce can of fish, like tuna or salmon, contains 10 grams of protein. Similar to meat and other fish, a little...

Read More »
Weird “juice ritual” removes 65lbs in weeks
Weird “juice ritual” removes 65lbs in weeks

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

ketchup, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, coffee creamer Sweetened dairy products: flavored yogurt, ice cream, chocolate milk flavored yogurt, ice cream, chocolate milk Sugary baked goods: cookies, cakes, donuts, bread with added sugar cookies, cakes, donuts, bread with added sugar Sugary breakfast foods: sugar-sweetened cereals, bars, granola, flavored oatmeal

sugar-sweetened cereals, bars, granola, flavored oatmeal Candy: chocolate, gummy candies, caramels

chocolate, gummy candies, caramels Sugary alcoholic beverages: mixed drinks, sweetened liquor, sweetened canned alcoholic drinks Additionally, most no sugar challenges recommend forgoing artificial and naturally derived low or no-calorie sweeteners such as Splenda, Equal, stevia, and monk fruit. It’s commonly recommended that refined grains, including white bread, white pasta, and white rice, are kept to a minimum and replaced with whole grain products without added sugars. Foods to eat During 30-day no sugar challenges, participants are encouraged to fill up on whole, nutrient-dense foods, including: Vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, asparagus, zucchini, sweet potatoes, etc. broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, asparagus, zucchini, sweet potatoes, etc. Fruits: apples, oranges, berries, grapes, cherries, grapefruit, etc. apples, oranges, berries, grapes, cherries, grapefruit, etc. Proteins: chicken, fish, beef, tofu, eggs, etc. chicken, fish, beef, tofu, eggs, etc. Healthy fat sources: egg yolks, avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, unsweetened yogurt, etc. egg yolks, avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil, unsweetened yogurt, etc. Complex carb sources: beans, quinoa, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, brown rice, etc. beans, quinoa, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, brown rice, etc. Unsweetened beverages: water, sparkling water, unsweetened coffee, and tea Overall, most no added sugar challenges encourage whole, nutrient-dense foods like the ones listed above. Summary 30-day no sugar challenges involve cutting out sources of added sugar and increasing your intake of nutrient-dense foods that are free of added sugars. Are there downsides? There are no adverse physical health effects associated with reducing your added sugar intake, as long as you do so responsibly and couple it with healthy eating choices for the duration of the 30-day challenge. However, like any restrictive dietary pattern, no added sugar challenges may lead to unhealthy eating behaviors in some people. For example, some people may find that they develop an unhealthy preoccupation with healthy food or harmful food rules around foods they used to enjoy after participating in this type of challenge. People with disordered eating tendencies may be more likely to experience this ( 30 , 31 , 32 ). Additionally, the emphasis on short-term restriction is problematic because long-term, sustainable dietary and lifestyle modifications are most important for overall health. If you cut out added sugar for 30 days only to return to a high sugar diet, the health benefits of added sugar reduction will be canceled out. Summary Like any restrictive diet, participating in a 30-day no sugar challenge may lead to an unhealthy fixation on sugary foods. The short-term restriction may also be problematic, as long-term modifications are needed to optimize your health. Sustainable ways to lower sugar intake If you decide to partake in a 30-day no sugar challenge, use it as a time to discover which foods or beverages are contributing most to your total added sugar intake. This can help you cut back on those sources when the 30-day challenge is over. After the challenge, try not to focus on giving up all sources of added sugar for good, as this is unrealistic for most people. Instead, attempt to transition to a diet low in added sugars and high in healthy foods that you can follow long term. Keep in mind that you can create your own challenge that focuses on reducing — not completely restricting — added sugar. This may be a better choice for people who currently consume a high amount of added sugar. For example, if you currently consume four cans of soda per day, try reducing your soda intake by one can every week for 1 month. This can help you slowly cut back on your added sugar consumption in a realistic way. Lastly, it’s important to understand that your focus should always be on your long-term health. Instead of focusing on completely cutting out certain foods or beverages, try adopting a way of eating that nourishes your body while allowing you to enjoy your favorite foods occasionally. This is much more powerful when it comes to overall health than any 30-day challenge could ever be. Summary A 30-day no sugar challenge can be used to discover which foods or beverages contribute most to your added sugar intake. Instead of participating in short-term challenges, try to develop a healthy eating pattern that you can follow long term.

What is the riskiest food?
What is the riskiest food?

1. Fugu. Fugu is the Japanese word for pufferfish and the dish prepared from it can be lethally poisonous. The ovaries, intestines and liver of...

Read More »
What emotions get stored in the liver?
What emotions get stored in the liver?

ANGER/FRUSTRATION + DEPRESSION (MANIC) Anger is the emotion of the liver and the gallbladder, organs associated with the wood element. Emotions...

Read More »
Purple weed obliterates 72lbs of flab
Purple weed obliterates 72lbs of flab

The main ingredient for a potent powdered supplement, based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

What dries out pimples the fastest?
What dries out pimples the fastest?

The best way to make a zit go away fast is to apply a dab of benzoyl peroxide, which you can buy at a drug store in cream, gel or patch form, says...

Read More »
Is fried egg better than boiled egg?
Is fried egg better than boiled egg?

Overall, shorter and lower-heat cooking methods cause less cholesterol oxidation and help retain most of the egg's nutrients. For this reason,...

Read More »
Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab
Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »
How many shots of coffee is a Red Bull?
How many shots of coffee is a Red Bull?

Red Bull - 250ml can Red Bull may give you wings but it might also give you a sugar rush too. Even in a smaller 250ml can, the drink still contains...

Read More »
Strange purple cocktail removes 2.7lbs every 4 days
Strange purple cocktail removes 2.7lbs every 4 days

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »
Is popcorn good for diabetics?
Is popcorn good for diabetics?

Popcorn is a very popular and healthy whole-grain snack food. It has been deemed a suitable snack food for people with diabetes, partly because of...

Read More »