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What I learned after giving up sugar for 6 weeks

2026-04-26 20:36:20Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
What I learned after giving up sugar for 6 weeks
Melissa Hogenboom

Giving up added sugar for a few weeks can bring about noticeable changes in energy, appetite and mental well-being. That's the conclusion of a personal experiment by BBC health journalist Melissa Hogenboom, who decided to not consume any form of sugar for six weeks.

She admits that, although she ate relatively healthily, she consumed sweets every day.

"Overconsumption of sugar is extremely common in modern diets and is often found in products that also contain numerous additives," she writes in her BBC article.

Sugar is more widespread than you think

During the experiment, the journalist discovered that avoiding sugar was harder than expected. It is also found in unexpected foods like sandwiches, ready meals, and regular bread.

Dietary guidelines in the US recommend less than 50 grams of sugar per day, while in the UK it is around 30 grams. However, actual consumption often exceeds these limits.

"We come out of the womb liking sweet tastes, it's part of your mother's milk in those early days when you're supposed to gain a lot of weight. The problem is we've become very good at providing sweetness at a very low price," said Ashley Gearhardt, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan.

Effects on the body and brain

Research shows that frequent sugar consumption quickly increases blood glucose levels and, if it occurs consistently, can lead to insulin resistance and risk for type 2 diabetes. Diets high in sugar are also linked to obesity, inflammation, and mental health problems.

“Diet-related diseases, like diabetes, are now killing people beyond alcohol, and unhealthy food is competing with tobacco to become the deadliest substance in the world,” says Gearhardt.

According to expert on the harms of sugar consumption, Robert Lustig, fructose damages mitochondria and reduces energy, causing fatigue and irritability.

While dietitian and associate professor of health and wellness at Binghamton University in the US, Lina Begdache emphasizes that sugar can affect the brain in a similar way to addictive substances.

"When we eat sugar, the reward system in the brain is activated and dopamine increases," she explained.

The first days: strong desires

At first, giving up sugar wasn't easy. The journalist experienced strong cravings, especially at social events. This, according to experts, is related to the "addictive" effect that sugar can create.

However, after a few days, the body begins to adjust. “The taste buds readjust and become more sensitive to natural sweetness,” explains Gearhardt.

After a few weeks: less cravings and more energy

Around the third week, her cravings for sweets began to fade. Snacks were replaced with healthier alternatives like fruit, nuts, and olives.

"The threshold for feeling sweetness is significantly lowered, so you no longer need as much sugar," claims dietitian Dalia Perelman.

What happens when sugar returns?

After six weeks, returning to eating a dessert wasn't as enjoyable as before.

"When I finally started using a little sugar again in the form of a three-chip chocolate chip cookie, I had no desire to eat it at all. I forced myself for the purposes of this article to see how my body would react. It tasted very sweet and I tasted more sugar than chocolate. I also felt a drop in energy, and immediately after that I took a nap in the middle of the afternoon. That dessert I regularly ate was no longer a dessert. I stopped after a few bites," the journalist declared after her experiment.

She decided not to return to daily consumption, but to limit it to weekends only.


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