Reasons Why Giving Up Sugar is a Good idea

The UAE has one of highest rates of obesity in the Middle East. The obesity rate here is double the world average. More than 66 per cent of men and 60 per cent of the women in the UAE are in the “obese” or “overweight” category. One of the first things people advise you to do when you are struggling with weight issues is to cut down on sugar intake. Sugar is considered by many to be a “white poison” that totally throws our metabolism out of whack. Even those who eat what they think is an apparently healthy diet are unaware that sugar can sneak into stuff that they consider to be “healthy” in the form of high fructose corn syrup. This is common in processed foods like salad dressings, pasta sauce and even yoghurt which you consume to make your gut “healthy”. Though giving up or cutting down sugar can lead to pretty strong cravings for a late night chocolate snack, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.

Here are a few of the benefits:

1. Giving up sugar will reduce the risk of heart of heart disease: Taking in more sugar raises blood insulin levels and this acts on the sympathetic nervous system to increase the blood pressure and heart rate. Cutting sugar intake eases the load on your heart, reducing the risk of heart disease threefold.
2. Giving up sugar makes your skin clearer: A high sugar intake translates into more fat deposits around the liver. This kind of systemic inflammation leads to duller skin and acne. Giving up sugary drinks and chocolate can make you more goodlooking as the days go by.
3. Reducing sugar reduces your risk of diabetes: Having added sugar as has been mentioned before leads to more fatty deposits around the liver. These ramp up your insulin resistance and increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Swapping cornflakes for a fistful of protein packed nuts suddenly sounds like a very good idea.
4. Cutting down on Sugar will Make You Happier: In the short term, cutting down on sugar might give you withdrawal symptoms. However, a study conducted by Columbia University found that in the long term those who eat a diet high in sugar and refined carbs experience greater anxiety, mood swings and irritability.
5. You will Develop Better Sleep Patterns: Coming down from a sugar fix makes people more sluggish though it might temporarily give them a shot of energy. Giving up added sugar can make you more alert and awake during the day while giving you better sleep at night.
6. Giving up Sugar Boosts Memory and Concentration: Over time, taking in high levels of sugar can hinder memory and learning. Giving up sugar can make you sharper.
7. Cutting out sugar can Help You Lose Weight: One of the first things to do when you go on a diet is to ditch the canned drinks. Cutting down sugar cuts your calorie intake by about 200 calories a day and this can translate into the loss of a whopping 5 kilos in 5 to 6 months.
8. Reducing Sugar cuts your Risk of Certain Cancers: Research studies have been conducted which indicate that a high level of dietary sugar is correlated with higher levels of some kinds of cancer like stomach cancer.