Can a zero sugar diet help you lose weight?

There are many foods that have earned a bad reputation among weight watchers, but sugar remains to be the undisputed king of all. So whenever someone begins their weight loss journey, the first thing they fully try to eliminate from their diet is sugar - not only the sugary treats or the teaspoon of sugar in the tea but also all the hidden forms in packaged food etc. No sugar means none at all! But let's deep dive and understand whether eliminating sugar from the diet actually helps in weight loss or is it just another myth. Here we tell you

01/ ​Sugar and weight loss

While a teaspoon of sugar contains only 16 calories, but our daily intake increases as sugar is present in many foods and drinks that we consume daily. Even the small amounts of sugar present in fruits, biscuits, veggies, pasta and many more foods add up to a lot and increases your total calorie count.

And as well know, to lose weight we need to create a calorie deficit, which can be difficult if you are consuming too much sugar (added sugar). Now picture this - If you cut back on 16 teaspoons of sugar every day, you are cutting back on 1120 calories every week. Imagine the results when you do this for a month along with regular physical activity. You will surely be losing some extra kilos.

02/ ​Harms of having too much sugar

Excessive sugar intake can lead to obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chronic inflammation, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cavities and dental problems. Thus, reducing the amount of sugar you eat daily can help reduce the risk of various diseases.

03/ ​How to find out sneaky sources of sugar

It's easy to skip adding sugar in your daily tea or coffee but what about the hidden sources? To find our hidden sources of sugar, start reading the food labels thoroughly before you buy anything.

Ketchup, salad dressings, processed foods, sauces and colas are some of the common sources of added sugar. If you have to choose from foods that have added sugar, choose the ones that have the least amount of it. This will help you reach your weight loss goal easily and stabilize your blood sugar levels.

04/ ​Remember

You do not need to avoid all types of sugar as not all types are bad for you. It's the added sugar, table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup that should be avoided as often as possible.

Eating sugar in its natural forms like that present in fruits and vegetables is completely okay and should be a part of your diet.

from LifeStyle