Ditching sugar for just two weeks could have surprising effect on your skin
While we're all clued in on the downsides of too much sugar, quitting the sweet stuff isn't a walk in the park either. It has been highlighted that sugar consumption is on the decline across the UK, possibly thanks to increased awareness of its health impacts. But cutting out sugar can trigger some pretty nasty withdrawal symptoms. James Brown, an associate professor in biology and biomedical science at Aston University, Birmingham, said: "It's obvious that sugar can have a powerful effect on us. So that's why it's not surprising to see negative effects when we eat less sugar or remove it from our diet completely." Detailing the tough early days of sugar detox, he continued: "It's during this early 'sugar withdrawal' stage that both mental and physical symptoms have been reported – including depression, anxiety, brain fog and cravings, alongside headaches, fatigue and dizziness. This means giving up sugar can feel unpleasant, both mentally and physically, which may make it difficult for some to stick with the diet change." Despite these initial hurdles, pushing past the first few challenging weeks is key to beating the withdrawal blues. Dr Naheed Ali chimed in on the conversation, highlighting the upsides of ditching sugar for a fortnight. He claimed that just two weeks without sugar could lead to visibly clearer skin. When quizzed about the reason, he revealed: "Excess sugar speeds up glycation, a process that breaks down collagen and leads to wrinkles and puffiness," reports Surrey Live. People who have undertaken the diet change have admitted to skin complexion improving. Lauren Blum once went seven whole days without eating any processed sugar to see if she could improve her skin, something she had often struggled with. Sharing her experience in Marie Claire, she revealed: "I woke up pleasantly surprised. Sure, my skin wasn't 100 per cent perfect – I'll always have scarring and dark spots from past breakouts, but my skin looked renewed. "The overall redness of had gone away and there was a brightness that hadn't been there before. I felt like I was glowing from the inside out. My body felt better and less sluggish from the ups and downs of sugar crashes and my breakouts were gone." Dr Ali from Vera Clinic backs this up, saying cutting down on sugar not only "reduce bloating and make it easier to maintain a steady weight" due to better eating habits but also boosts heart health by reducing inflammation. He points out that for those at risk, keeping blood sugar levels stable is crucial to avoid complications like kidney disease and retinopathy. So, even though the initial withdrawal symptoms might be tough, it could be worth sticking it out. But remember, if you're dealing with severe side effects, always seek advice from a healthcare professional. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
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