What Happens When You Cut Out Sugar for 30 Days

No dairy. No caffeine. Remove sugar. Cut out fat. Sounds like a coffee-ordering nightmare! Although these restrictive diet tips may seem like the easy way to drop some weight, they are more likely to dip into your reserves of willpower. This causes you to crave whatever you're restricting yourself from even more than usual.

Of all the health tips to remove from your diet, why do we recommend cutting out sugar more than anything else?

Because the way sugar affects your body is pretty scary. For example, reducing your sugar intake helps minimize your risk of developing diabetes, among other things.

Could you cut out added sugar entirely for one week? How about a whole month?

Natalie Rizzo, a dietitian for Greatist, actually gave it a try. While skeptical at first, she was willing to see how being diligent about restricting her sugar intake would change her health and her life. Here are a few things she learned while cutting out sugar for 30-days.

Realizations from Cutting Out Sugar for A Month

• There are A LOT of things that contain sugar you don't expect.
  Cookies? Duh. Crackers? Wait - what!? You'd be appalled at the number of foods you eat on a regular basis that contain added sugars. Check those labels.
• A product may not explicitly say it contains sugar.
  There are about 56 different terms that mean the exact same thing as sugar on your nutrition label. Be aware, and don't be fooled!
• Naturally sweet foods are a great replacement for sugar cravings.
  Topping your oatmeal with fresh fruit will satisfy that sweet tooth with vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber.
• Foods that don't even taste sweet can contain sugar.
  Have we hammered it home yet? Read your labels!
• Cooking at home makes sugar amounts easier to control.
  Since you're a pro at reading labels now, you can better control how much sugar goes into the food you make at home.
• Eating at restaurants can be challenging.
  With a lack of access to nutrition information, it is hard to know how much sugar is in your food when dining out. There are ways to make educated choices though!
• Removing sugar creates room for healthier foods.
  When you aren't filling up on the sugary processed stuff, your only other option is to eat more fresh and nutrient-dense foods.
• Beverages are a big place where sugar likes to hide.
  True Citrus has a perfect solution for this one.
• Everything in moderation.
  Our bodies are always trying to find balance. You may find more success by first cutting back on sugar, then gradually removing it completely after that.

The takeaway is this: making small changes is the best way to sustain a healthy diet in the long-term. Completely removing sugar from your diet and going cold-turkey will make you crave it even more, and doing poorly one day will make you less motivated to continue the next. Although a 30-day cleanse is a great way to jump-start your body with a good foundation of nutrition, it's important to take gradual small steps towards big changes in the long run.

For more information about sugar, tips for good health, and more, check out True Citrus's recipes and substitution ideas and kick those cravings to the curb. Next up: did you know that True Citrus is also a great way to reduce your salt intake?

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[Credit: Rizzo, Natalie. A Month Without Sugar: One Dietitians Day-by-Day Tell-All. Greatist.]