“One month in, I noticed I could ‘cheat’ more at mealtime and still lose weight. And other research, published August 2015 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, identified an association between higher consumption of added sugars and greater risk of depression for women. Copyright Policy The damage a super sugar-laden diet can cause over time is even bleaker. See? "When you eat foods high in protein and healthy fat instead, such as a handful of almonds, they'll supply you with a steadier stream of energy that lasts longer," says Diane Sanfilippo, a nutrition consultant and author of The 21-Day Sugar Detox Daily Guide. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. Less belly fat? Stepping away from soda and replacing it with water will protect and clean your teeth. Long-term consumption of large, sugary, fatty sodas will ultimately contribute to, and directly cause, Type 2 diabetes. But what you may not realize are the potential risks associated with abdominal fat. By Melissa Matthews. , Research suggests added sugar can take a real toll on the cardiovascular system. "Aside from the serious dangers of drinking too much, there are also a number of other not-so-pleasant effects," adds Champion, "including lousy moods, crazy sugar cravings , excess calories, liver fat, poor sleep habits, dry skin, and foggy concentration." "Eliminating processed sugar stabilizes levels of the hormone cortisol, which positively impacts sleep," Aveena says. In some cases, NAFLD can develop into a more serious condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which can lead to inflammation, scarring or even cirrhosis. Good heart health helps you power through everything from intense spin classes to late-night work deadlines. Abstaining from soda will also improve your bone health and decrease your risk of osteoporosis. If you've decided to stop drinking, whether for personal reasons ("I need to stop being so tired all. "Those neurochemical changes make it easier for you to ignore the urge when you see someone eating a delicious treat, or smell something from your favorite bakery," Aveena says. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? In one study, healthy women who drank 10 or more drinks a week decreased their odds of conceiving to 34% . So you may want to toss the sugary snacks in your cabinet and avoid the junk food aisle at the grocery store. As it turns out, yes: Cutting back on added sugar (the kind found in sugary drinks and baked goods) has a positive effect on virtually every part of your body, from your heart to your mental health to your physique. "The undeniable fact is that alcohol consumption does not promote better health but rather has many negative impacts upon oneâs health," Dr. Sansom says. This is a question I've asked myself more than once. Most former soda drinkers promise that after six months of no soda, the taste will be too sweet to enjoy. Also okay: the sugar found in whole foods like fruits and veggies, says Kimber Stanhope, PhD, a nutritional biologist at the University of California, Davis. Plus, you won't wake up with a hangover so, winning. Monk Fruit Sweetener All Natural Sugar Substitute, here's what happens when you eat nothing but fruit for a week. See, research has found that sugar tricks your brain into wanting more and more of it. Your pancreas also monitors the amount of glucose in your blood; if the levels are too low, it sends your brain a message that it's time to eat. Read more: If You're Trying to Cut Sugar, This May Be the Most Important Place to Start. So stay away from it and your kidneys will thank you. In fact, the perks of the less-sugar life are so good, they may help motivate you to try to cut it (mostly) out. Alcohol messes with your hippocampus â that part of your brain which creates memories â thereby essentially rendering yourself incapable of or much less capable of learning and storing new information. Quite a bit, it turns out. ", "Eliminating processed sugar stabilizes levels of the hormone cortisol, which positively impacts sleep.". Your liver can handle modest amounts of fructose, but the vast quantity in refined sugars overloads your system, which transforms the excess into fat globules around your belly and internal organs.