3 Months Without Sugar

Consuming sugar produces more insulin. Insulin is a hormone from the pancreas, which lowers blood sugar levels, and directly or indirectly affects many metabolic reactions. Since sugar is a carbohydrate, it’s also considered as an energy supplier. Maybe you know that, when you get really tired during daytime, right? Again, sugar is the reason for it.

Advantages and disadvantages of sugar:

• + preservative (for example: jams) and so, bacteria have no chance to grow
• + provides energy
• + "Sugar makes you happy"
• + you feel more focused and more efficient
• - makes you limp
• - you feel tired
• - many calories (promotes being overweight)
• - promotes diabetes

But how do you feel without sugar?

As mentioned earlier, a lot of foods contain sugar. It was for the experiment that I do not consume any sugar at all. So, it was time to study the back of the packaging! Because sugar is not only in sweets, but also in bread, canned beans, and so on.

The first days without sugar were pretty horrible to be honest. I felt totally tired, unmotivated, and my hands were shaking uncontrollably. That’s because sugar makes us addicted, and we’re not noticing anything about it in our daily life. This lousy and really awkward feeling lasted a week, and from then on it just got better day by day. I felt fitter, more motivated, and also more efficient. I didn’t even wanted to take a midday nap, and I really love those good naps. After a week, my brain and my body understood, that there won’t be any sugar at all. At this point, when my brain finally understood this, I felt amazing. When you get to the point of really understanding the way you can trick your brain, and understand your body, you recognize what power lives in you. I had such a great self-discipline (and I’m still shocked when I look back to this experiment), and that changes the way you think, and the way you see the world quite a lot. You will definitely benefit from this experiment, and you will get stronger—mentally and physically.

Alternatives / Sugar Substitutes

You do not have to give up all sugar to be more conscious and healthy. I want to introduce some sugar alternatives.

1. Birch sugar:

• + has about 40 percent less calories than sugar
• + does not increase blood sugar so much

2. Honey:

• + pure natural product
• + valuable ingredients
• + is considered as a cure

3. Stevia:

Sweetener from the plant sweet herb

+ no calories

+ does not attack the teeth

- No valuable ingredients

- Bitter taste

4. Agave syrup:

• + contains phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals
• + well soluble in cooking
• + vegan
• - a lot of fructose (so in the long term it’s harmful to health when consumed regularly)

5. Coconut blossom syrup:

• + many vitamins and minerals (magnesium, iron, zinc)
• - As with "normal" sugar, there is a risk of diabetes

6. Maple syrup:

• + natural product
• + more than 50 beneficial substances
• - Much less sweet than sugar
• - You should look closely in the shop, because often the maple syrup is mixed with sugar water

I tried agave syrup, and coconut blossom syrup, and sugar, and I have to say, that all of them are good (especially for baking cakes and cookies haha). You’ll get used to the taste of each, and after a short time, you’ll even like it, and you’ll love eating healthy. We need to take good care of our bodies and our health. Never forget that.

And of course, each alternative brings some advantages and disadvantages, and what you finally decide on is up to you. But it is best to try through all the things, and stay with what tastes the best for you!