Signs That You Need to Lower Your Sugar Intake

When it comes to staying healthy, the best thing you can do is to listen to your own body. It actually sends you signals when you’re having too much of a good thing.

These are the signs you need to look out for if you need to cut back on your sugar intake:

Your skin doesn’t look as supple as it should. Excess sugar in the body breaks down collagen and elastin, two substances that play an important role in the plumpness of your skin. 

Your cholesterol levels are off the charts. A diet that’s high in sugar raises your cholesterol levels and even contributes to the inflammation of your heart’s arterial walls.

You don’t sleep well. Research suggests that those who ate plenty of sugar during the day are more prone to sleep disturbances.

You constantly need to drink water and you pee a lot. Your kidneys actually produce more urine when there’s excess sugar in your body so you pee more than usual. Excess urination makes your hydration drop so you tend to drink more water which continues the cycle. 

You’re always peckish. The body digests simple sugars easily which results in quick spikes and drops in your blood sugar. This makes you hungry easily so you tend to eat and eat to satisfy your urge to snack.

You often get the sniffles. Excess sugar may have an effect on your body’s immunity according to studies.

You can’t seem to remember things easily. Sugar spikes can deprive your brain of energy. Moreover, there are studies that suggest long-term high sugar intake affects the part of the brain that regulates memory.

Moderation is Key

Don’t get me wrong, the problem isn’t really sugar. Rather, it’s the amount of sugar we eat every day that’s driving up the numbers of unhealthy people today. Putting a teaspoon of sugar in your coffee isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Quitting sugar cold turkey just isn’t sustainable in the long run. You’ll just feel deprived and end up eating more sugar. Instead, gradually reduce the added sugar you eat every day until it becomes a habit.

If you want to make a positive impact on your body, it's best to start with small and consistent changes instead of going all out all at once.