With that question in mind, I decided to cut out added sugar for an entire month.
No packets of jelly beans, no sweetened boba teas, and no honey in my morning oats.
Lets just say it wasnt what I expected.
Verywell Mind / Michela Buttignol
Why I Decided to Cut Out Sugar
I dont eat added sugar every day.
Instead, I tend to indulge in a (very) sweet treat twice a week or so.
Theres nothing wrong with treating yourself.
Sugar crashes arent just for toddlers.
In fact, plenty of research suggests thatsugar negatively impacts the brain.
Over time, frequent blood sugar fluctuations can contribute to increased anxiety.
These ups and downs make it harder to manage emotions, making mood swings more frequent.
According to Kelly and Nolan Cohn, not all sugars affect mental health in the same way.
Week 1: The Oh Wow, Does That Really Contain Sugar?
This experiment required me to pick up a new habit: reading nutritional labels and ingredient lists.
Although giving up sugar was easy for the first few days, this habit was pretty hard.
I was surprised to learn that sugar is in a lot of things.
Most of my favorite savory treats contained sugar.
Even my usual healthy post-gym treata protein barwas off-limits.
Sugar withdrawal symptoms often include headaches, fatigue, and mood swings.
Talking myself out of this was harder than Id like to admit.
The biggest challenge for week one?
Choosing what to eat in a restaurant.
By the end of week one, I felt like giving up.
Food is a go-to source of comfort for me, often to my detriment.
My mindset is often along the lines of, Oh, who cares?
Its just a treat.
Its a special occasion!
Because I wanted to stick to the experiment, I had to pause my treat yoself mindset.
More importantly, I had to actually engage with my feelings instead of eating them away.
I also noticed some changes in my moodfinally!
This meant that my mood also felt more stable.
I also noticed the following changes:
Another win?
I realized that sugar-free treats could be just as good as sugary ones.
Overall, though, my longing for sugar had decreased rapidlya huge win in my books.
By the end of week four, I found that:
The best part?
I felt more in control of my choices.
Heres what I learned:
1.
Without my twice-weekly sugar binge, I felt more emotionally balanced and less reactive.
Sugar Is in Everything
Seriouslycheck the labels.
Breaking that habit was a game-changer, not just for my diet but for my emotional well-being.
I didnt expect to feel this much better just by removing sugar.
I Can Do Hard Things
Self-trust is a constant struggle for me.
I often assume Ill bail whenever the going gets tough.
By sticking with this experiment, I proved to myself that I could do it.
Mindful Moment
Need a breather?
Should You Cut Out Sugar Too?
A hyper-focus on avoiding sugar can lead to stress, anxiety, anddisordered eatingpatterns.
Its important to note that eating some sugar is OK, especially when part of a balanced overall diet!
Its important to note that eating some sugar is OK, especially when part of a balanced overall diet!
Thinking of Cutting Out Sugar?
Gradually reducing your intake might be a more sustainable idea.
Will I Stay Sugar-Free?
I wont strictly avoid sugar forever, but I will be more mindful of it.
Ill still enjoy dessert, but I wont rely on sugar as astress-coping mechanism.
So, would I recommend trying it?
Even if you dont cut sugar completely, reducing it might help you feel more mentally and emotionally balanced.
And trust meyour future, non-hangryself will thank you.
2023;31(3):635-641.
