Posted on October 24, 2023 |

At this point, you’re likely aware that sugar isn’t good for you. Despite being a staple of the American diet at this point, sugar has been linked to countless issues. It can seriously impact both your mind and body (not in a good way). If you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, this post is for you. We’re going to look at the effects of sugar on your mind and body in this post and how you may be able to reduce its effects.

Sugar’s Effect on Your Mind

First, let’s explore sugar’s effects on your brain. Experts have tied sugar to:

Impaired Cognition: Consuming too much sugar can affect how your brain receives and processes information. High sugar intake can lead to poor attention, memory, and processing power. Eating high amounts of sugar can even cause inflammation in your brain, which researchers have linked to serious memory issues (more on sugar and inflammation later).
Rewired Reward Centers: In perhaps the most sinister of sugar’s mental effects, experts have hypothesized that sugary foods can have similar effects to addictive drugs. This can cause negative effects on your brain, leading to poor self-control and overeating. This creates a feedback loop, triggering the eater to consume more sugary foods, ramping up the entire process. Salty and fatty foods appear to have the same effect on your brain.

However, these aren’t the only ways sugar can impact your overall wellness. Sugar also has a serious impact on your physical well-being and does that by triggering one main response: inflammation.

Sugar and Inflammation

Another big way sugar can impact your overall wellness is by increasing inflammation. A study conducted by North Dakota State in 2014 showed that people who reduced their sugar intake had fewer inflammatory markers in their bloodstream.

Scientists believe that sugar triggers inflammation by causing your liver to produce molecules known as free fatty acids. Your body can’t produce these molecules by itself. When it tries to digest them, it triggers your inflammatory response.

The study ran for 11 years, so its results are fairly comprehensive. It determined that consuming sugar will boost inflammation, regardless of other demographic or lifestyle factors. In other words, if you’re consuming sugar, no amount of exercise will avert the effects it has on your wellness. However, there may be ways to reduce the number of inflammatory agents percolating your body.

Sugar Detox

Fortunately, you don’t need to sit back and let the effects of sugar ravage your body and mind. By reducing the amount of sugar you consume, you can actively improve your overall wellness.

One of the most effective ways to reduce sugar is cold turkey. It won’t be pleasant for the first two weeks, but will help reset your body’s sugar dependence. Here’s how it works.

Only eat protein, veggies, and healthy fats for the first three days of your detox. Avoid starchy veggies like corn, peas, sweet potatoes, etc.). If you need an energy boost, drink black coffee. Cut out all alcoholic drinks, too! By the end of the first three days, you’ll notice your taste buds resetting, and apples taste like candy.
On days four through seven, you can introduce one apple daily and dairy like yogurt and cheese. Make sure any dairy is full-fat and unsweetened. You can also add high-sugar veggies like carrots.
For the second week, you can begin adding more fruits and veggies back into your diet. Add one serving of antioxidant-rich berries and starchy veggies like sweet potatoes. You can also add in an extra serving of dairy.
By week 3, your sugar detox will be getting a lot more pleasant. You can add in some grains, along with more fruit. You can even have dark chocolate!
By week four, you can add in even more starches. This is when bread and rice can make their reappearance in your diet. This is essentially what your diet will look like from now on, with a few indulgences. After week four, it’s open season on veggies, and you can even have a sandwich again if you want to!

This month-long sugar detox plan can help you break out of sugar’s addicting clutches. By the end of it, you can even begin enjoying treats like birthday cake and the occasional ice cream cone for dessert!

Using CBD to Fight Inflammation

Looking for instant relief from the inflammatory effects of sugar without waiting a month? You’re in luck – CBD may offer a solution!

According to some research, CBD may reduce the number of inflammatory triggers in your bloodstream. That could be a way to counteract some of the effects of sugar, which causes your body to release these very same markers.

Are you thinking about using CBD to dampen swelling in your body? At Relive Everyday, we can connect you with premium CBD products made from 100% US-grown hemp. Moreover, all our products – including our tasty, infused gummies – are flavored with sweeteners like tapioca and stevia, with 0 added sugars. Discover the ideal CBD product for your specific needs in our online store.