Sugar is delicious; there’s no denying that. Eating it triggers opioid receptors in the brain, releasing tons of feel-good chemicals. So, it’s only normal to struggle with completely cutting sugar from your meal. But then the question that begs an answer is, do you really need to cut sugar from your foods completely? Read on to find out the answer and to understand how completely eliminating sugar can affect the human body.

The difference between natural sugars and processed sugars

So, do you really need to remove sugar from your meals? The answer to this question is a resounding no. This is because health experts suggest cutting out processed sugars from your meals. Processed or refined sugars are made from sugarcane and sugar beets. They are high in sucrose and provide no nutritional value. Instead, you do have the option to choose healthier natural sugars. Natural sugars are found in fruits, honey, and milk. They contain tons of natural vitamins and minerals.

If you were to cut out sugar completely from your meals for health or other purposes, here are some things that would happen to your body

Mood swings

Consuming sugar can lead to the release of many feel-good chemicals in the brain. These chemicals include dopamine and serotonin responsible for a happy mood. If you were to suddenly cut off sugar from your meals, it could affect the body’s reward system. You could experience withdrawal and start to feel cranky or irritable. You may experience cravings and want to eat sugar, especially during the first couple of days. Other symptoms of sugar withdrawal include depression, headaches, and fatigue.

Better skin health

Processed sugars can be responsible for poor skin and acne as they can lead to insulin spikes and inflammation of the skin. But, if you were to cut out processed sugars, you would notice a dramatic change in your skin. Your skin would become more plump, elastic, and clear. You would also notice a change in your overall complexion.

Better sleep patterns and sleep quality

Foods that contain high amounts of sugar can affect your complete sleep cycle. It can reduce the degree of slow-wave sleep and restorative sleep and even have an adverse effect on the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep. Note that sugar can also affect the number of times you wake up at night. Eliminating sugar can improve overall sleep quality.