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They Haven’t Eaten Sugar For A Whole Year And They Experienced Shocking Things

A family proved how giving up sugary snacks could bring about life-changing benefits when they completely REMOVED sugar from their diet for one whole year. Mother of the family Eve O’Schaub – who shared her experiences with Everyday Health – revealed that although she believed her family were already healthy, giving up sugar improved their concentration and fought off minor illnesses.

 

Did you know that people around the world consume on average 500 more calories than they should? And that most of these excess calories are derived from sugar? Although most people know that sugar is bad for you, they still believe that it’s better to consume sugar than eat fatty or salty foods. Eve O’Schaub has acknowledged the disadvantages of a sugar-heavy diet in her book Year of No Sugar: A Memoir, published by Sourcebooks earlier this year. Here are ten shocking side-effects of too much sugar in your diet, and the surprising findings of one family who eliminated all sugar from their diet for one whole year…

1. Too much sugar damages the heart

We all know that too much sugar is bad for the heart, but do you know to what extent? Well, research from the American Heart Association suggests that sugar can do damage to the heart’s ability to pump blood around the body, as well as increasing the chances of getting heart disease.

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2. Sugar increases obesity 

Obesity rates worldwide have increased considerably over the last few decades, and sugary diets are part of the problem. Excessive fructose intake can increase the amount of visceral fat around the body’s organs. 

3. Sugar is the silent killer

Research from 2008 suggests that excess fructose intake can cause lepton resistance, whereby the brain doesn’t inform the rest of the body that we have had enough food. 

4. Sugar can cause cancer

Studies show that a high blood sugar level and low insulin can lead to the development of cancerous lesions in the body. Although some researchers disagree with this finding, it’s important to control the amount of sugar that you are consuming in your diet.




5. Your genetics control your cravings

Research has shown that mutation of a hormone called ghrelin can cause someone to become addicted to sugar. This mutation is inherited, which means subsequent family members can become addicted as well.

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6. Sugar is bad for the liver

We all know that alcohol is bad for the liver, but what about sugar? Studies have found that sugar could be just as toxic, leading some to suggest that products that contain sugar should be subjects to tighter regulations.

7. Sugar can cause ageing

Science tells us that the ageing process is sped up in the cells of those who consume excess sugar. This can also happen in the brain, causing the brain to age more rapidly over time.

8. Is sugar-free food really sugar-free?

Did you know that some low-fat dressings, pickle, and even bread contain sugar – despite what the label might say? Many companies use sugar in their food products to make them taste better.



9. Sugar can cause death

Too much sugar can lead to a number of chronic diseases, some of which can cause an early death. This can include heart disease and stroke. 

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10. Sugar makes us put on weight

Many people are able to exceed their recommended daily calorie intake just by consuming sugar-based foods. Sugar can lead to an increase in body fat, which can worsen over time and effect someone’s confidence and wellbeing.

According to experts, sugar is the largest contributing factor for obesity in the United States, and can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Eve O’Schaub decided to remove all foods that contained sugar from her family’s diet for a year. At first she was shocked to find that the bacon, mayonnaise, meat products, and even salad that her family had eaten in the past contained sugar.

What were the results of Eve’s experiment? Well, her family not only felt healthier, but they had a lot more energy. In fact, after only a few months their sugar cravings disappeared. Now the experiment has finished, Eve’s family only eat sugar on special occasions – and even then, only in moderation. It seems that their bodies quickly adapted to a sugar-free lifestyle. Shortly after the family gave up sugar for a year, a new initiative was launched – April 9th is now Sugar-free Day.