One of the most insidious ways the food industry poisons us is by dousing all sorts of foods with “added sugar.” By “added sugar,” I’m talking about any sweetener that doesn’t occur naturally in a food. It may seem innocent, but what added sugar does to the body is scandalous.

Added sugar is one of the biggest perpetrators of our current health crisis, and can be implicated in many cases of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer – but its detrimental effects can take years to surface. It’s the hidden link to so much pain and suffering.

You are probably eating WAY more added sugar than you think you are.

The food industry knows that sugar is addicting and that sugar makes heavily processed foods taste good, so that’s why they have added it to so many foods that you’d never imagine that it would be in – salad dressings, crackers, soups, pasta sauces… the list goes on. Sugar is in practically every packaged food in the store and at restaurants. 

It’s so bad now that the average American consumes about THREE POUNDS of sugar every single week in their regular diet. This is one food additive that we all should be paying more attention to when reading ingredient lists. 

For decades the food industry paid scientists to hide the dangers of sugar consumption, but the truth is coming out.  

Most recently, an industry front group funded by Coca-Cola, General Mills, Hershey’s, Kellogg’s, Kraft Foods and Monsanto was exposed for commissioning a scientific review that attacked health advice to eat less sugar. Perpetuating false nutrition and health information for the sole purpose of profits is absolutely appalling! These very companies are all big offenders of adding sugar to their products. Should we all just keep eating sugar-laden foods because the junk food industry says it’s okay? Of course not, and it’s time we all see right through this shady paid-for “science”.

We need to be our own health advocates by limiting the amount of added sugar in our diets for optimal health. Here is what can happen to your body when you finally rid added sugar from your life…

1. You’ll shed some weight – and maybe a lot of it.

Sugar makes you gain weight by adding empty calories to your diet and jacking up your blood sugar – two processes that form excess body fat. It also screws with your appetite. According to Dr. Mark Hyman, sugar is different from other calories, “It scrambles all your normal appetite controls…driving your metabolism to convert it into lethal belly fat.” Ditching sugar is one of the fastest and most effective ways to lose weight!

2. You’ll look years younger.

Sugar destroys your skin and makes your skin wrinkle. In a process called glycation, sugar molecules attach to collagen and elastin, two proteins that keep skin looking young, and create Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs). AGEs weaken your skin’s support structure and lead to lines and wrinkles.

3. You’ll stop harmful inflammation in your body.

An influx of sugar in the diet increases levels of inflammatory messengers called cytokines. Refined sugars processed from cane, corn, or beets, such as table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup are the baddest of the bad. These sugars have been chemically stripped of their minerals, so when you indulge in these sugars, you get no nutrition and your body becomes more acidic. As these sugars are devoid of minerals, they are acid-forming causing more inflammation. When your body stays in a state of inflammation, you are at a greater risk of developing various chronic diseases ranging from cancer, to heart disease, to digestive disorders.

4. You’ll protect your liver from disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease now affects approximately 90 million Americans (17% are children!) and sugar is to blame. Excessive sugar intake causes the liver to produce fat in a process called lipogenesis. This can lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (in which your liver fills with fat), putting you at risk for chronic diseases.

5. You’ll spend less time in the dentist chair.

Continually exposing your teeth to sugary foods and drinks erodes away your teeth. The bacteria that is naturally in your mouth feeds off of sugars in your diet, producing acids that attack the enamel on your teeth and demineralizes them, eventually leading to cavities and tooth loss.

6. Your energy will soar.

After you break the cycle of endless sugar consumption, you will no longer feel like you are living on an energy-sucking rollercoaster. Added sugar makes your blood sugar go sky-high – a reaction followed immediately by plummeting blood sugar. That crash and burn triggers feelings of irritability, depression, and leaves you exhausted until you get your next sugar fix. 

7. You’ll protect your brain power.

A study conducted by the University of New South Wales concluded chronic sugar intake triggers changes to hippocampus the area of the brain, which is important for both memory and stress. Another UCLA study found a high sugar diet sabotages learning and memory ability. A 2012 Mayo Clinic study found that people who eat a lot of sugar have a much higher chance of cognitive decline as they age.

8. You’ll get sick less often.

Sugar intake weakens your immune system, so you’re at a greater risk of coming down with something. Increased insulin levels from consuming sugar also tells the body to release cortisol – a hormone that further weakens your immunity.

9. You’ll be less likely to have a heart attack.

A 2015 scientific review in Mayo Clinic Proceedings warns that refined sugar in the diet is a principal driver of heart disease. It’s been shown that those who eat high sugar diets are up to 400% more likely to have a heart attack! It’s now come to light that back in the 1960’s the sugar industry paid leading scientists to discredit claims about sugar and heart disease and to paint fat as the enemy instead. That is when the low-fat craze began, causing most people to correlate heart disease with excessive fat consumption. This belief perpetuated on for decades and unfortunately continues today. These dirty tactics played by the industry have literally destroyed the health of millions, and I’m so thankful that the truth about sugar and its role in heart disease is getting out! 

10. You’ll develop a distaste for sugar – making cravings disappear. 

If you develop this habit to stay away from added sugar and practice it on a regular basis, you’ll be less likely to go overboard when presented and tempted with refined sugar desserts. Even more, you’ll naturally eat less sugar in the long run because your body is getting real nutrition from food that hasn’t been chemically altered. Eventually, you’ll develop a distaste for refined sugar and your desire for ultimate nutrition will become instinctive. What a wonderful habit to develop and keep for life!

It has become clear that sugar is an enemy that prevents us from achieving optimal health and the fit bodies we want. Isn’t it time to get added sugar out of your diet NOW? 

A sugar detox is the best way to finally stop sugar cravings dead in their tracks and kick refined sugar from your life for good! That’s why I worked with my team to create an impactful and effective program – The Food Babe 7-Day Sugar Detox 

What people are saying after their detox…

“I have lost almost 5 pounds. I have eaten more delicious food this week than I have in my entire life. I have found the recipes so very delicious.” ~ Glenna

“I thought it would be impossible but it wasn’t and we succeeded! We feel so much better after doing the detox and now know that we have self control and that sugar does not run our lives.” ~ Lia

“I am a firefighter. My wife has been trying to get me to reduce my sugar intake, but it has had such a hold on me for so long; I didn’t know where to start. I’m happy to say, I just completed the 7-Day Sugar Detox. It was a great experience! I think my relationship with food is taking a much needed positive turn. For me it is less about the weight loss and more about good health for me and my family. (I lost 14 lbs and I feel great).” -Matt

“I completed the 7-Day Sugar Detox and the sugar cravings actually got better after day 4….The best part of it all is I lost 5 pounds!” ~ JaNette

“My husband and I are absolutely loving it! We never feel hungry and the sugar cravings have virtually vanished! The recipes are amazing and the plan is so easy to follow! We are going to continue eating this way forever!” ~ Lori

This program will provide you with the plan, the support, and the community you need to ditch refined sugar in a way that makes it practically impossible to fail!

Get instantly when you join the Food Babe 7-Day Sugar Detox:

Quick Start Guide – Know how to avoid sugar pitfalls and get the keys to success to create a healthy relationship with your body and food cravings.

7-Day Sugar Detox Plan – This will break down exactly how you are going to be eating, where to find strategies to reduce your sugar cravings, and where to spot all the hidden sugars that might be lurking in your pantry and life.

7-Day Sugar Detox Recipe Guides – Two sets of Sugar Detox recipes for 7 days. Whether you are a vegan, gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian or a meat eater, I’ve got you covered. Delicious real-food breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack recipes that are free of grains and refined sugar, along with shopping lists. These recipes are simple, straightforward, and will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time!

Exclusive Member-Only Sugar Detox Group – Interact with other people on the 7 Day Detox plan just like you. This is a place where we can support and cheer each other on! When you surround yourself with people who share the same goals and help to keep you accountable, you will be successful! I also love that this is a place where we can privately share our experiences without judgment – since a lot of us are all facing the same type of struggles!

Success Journal – The ultimate tool to measure your progress and keep yourself on track.

Exclusive Instructional Videos – I personally walk you through the program, give you advice for when nighttime sugar cravings hit, and provide info on healthier sugar swaps to make your detox a piece of cake.

Maintaining Your Success After The Detox Guide – A detailed game plan for long-term success following your detox.

I invite you to join us here now.

If you have any friends or family members that struggle with sugar, please share this post with them. Perhaps they will do the detox with you and you can support each other! 

Xo, 

Vani