Family cuts added sugars from diet for entire year, discovers remarkable health benefits

Sunday, April 20, 2014 by: Antonia
Tags: added sugars, health benefits, balanced diet

(NaturalNews) When Eve O. Schaub could hardly get through one day before running out of energy, she chalked it up as normal, nodding her head in agreement over all the television commercials that constantly sell energy-boosting products. But after looking beyond the so-called promises of energy drinks, Schaub discovered the real culprit: added sugars.

To get her family on the fast-track to better heath, they decided to omit added sugars from their diet for an entire year. "Unless the sweetness was attached to its original source," she explains, "we didn't eat it."

The health dangers of added sugar

Studies have shown that people who eat over 21 percent of daily calories from added sugar may be doubling their heart-disease-related death risk compared to individuals who get less than 10 percent of their calories from added sugars. Senior scientist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Quanhe Yang said, "The risk of cardiovascular disease death increases exponentially as you increase your consumption of added sugar."

It's also a contributor to the obesity epidemic, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and stroke and can lead to high blood pressure.

Furthermore, too much sugar can wreak havoc on teeth. The American Dental Association warns that, in addition to causing cavities, there's a link between diabetes and periodontal disease, since diabetes causes an increase in the glucose content of saliva, which creates a breeding ground for oral bacteria.

The health benefits of not eating added sugars for one year

So, what did the Schaub family experience during their one year without added sugars?

1) Increased energy. Only eat foods with naturally occurring sugars. Schaub said that "the longer I went on eating without added sugar, the better and more energetic I felt."

2) Improved sense of taste. Part of the family's agreement during this year-long "test" was the allowance of one sugar dessert each month. Schaub explains that, when her husband's birthday came along, she not only didn't enjoy her pie but couldn't even finish it.

3) Fewer sick days. Schaub observed that her daughter was in school more often. She only missed two days in the year that they cut added sugars from their diet, compared to having missed 15 days in one year back when they were consuming added sugars.

"My body seems to be thanking me for it," said Schaub of the change. "We get sick less and get well faster."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.everydayhealth.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

About the author:
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. >>> Click here to see more by Antonia