New publications
9 days without sugar can help improve your health
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
In San Francisco, a group of scientists found out how sugar actually affects the human body. The results were somewhat unexpected - giving up sugar will help normalize the functioning of internal organs and improve health, and such changes will take a little more than a week. Changing your diet helps reduce cholesterol levels, normalize the functioning of the liver, cardiovascular system, etc.
The experiment by American experts involved children and teenagers from 9 to 18 years old who suffered from obesity (43 people in total).
For 9 days, all participants had to follow a special diet in which the total amount of daily calories was maintained, but the amount of sugar and fructose was reduced several times. It is worth noting that the children could also eat unhealthy foods such as chips, pizza, hot dogs, etc.
One of the authors of the research project noted that during his work he had never encountered such results - in just 9 days, the children's bodies showed noticeable improvements.
During the study, the scientists intended to understand how reducing sugar consumption affects metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity.
After the diet, the scientists noted a decrease in blood pressure, triglyceride levels in the blood, cholesterol, glucose, and insulin in the study participants. The children also experienced a significant improvement in the functioning of their internal organs, in particular the liver. According to experts, this study clearly indicates that sugar consumption is directly related to the development of metabolic syndrome.
The scientists also noted that, despite the reduction in sugar levels in the daily diet of the young participants in the experiment, its caloric content remained the same, but the children complained that they were overeating, and some of the volunteers even complained that they were simply tormented by constant feedings.
As the study showed, not all calories can be useful for the body, their impact on the body directly depends on the source of calories. Calories that come with sugar are the worst option of all, since they are processed into fats in the liver, and this, in turn, increases sensitivity to insulin, increases the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease.
The experts believe that their research could have important implications for the food industry, and that changing attitudes toward sugar in the future could help significantly reduce the cost of treating diseases associated with metabolic syndrome.
Experts emphasize that it is necessary to reconsider the attitude towards sugar. Previously, when creating a diet, calories were taken into account regardless of the source, but in the end, this approach can significantly worsen overall health. In their new study, experts showed that not all calories are harmful to health, but sugar calories are the most dangerous.
Previously, scientists had already studied the effect of sugar on the human body and came to the conclusion that high blood sugar levels are one of the causes of premature death in women.
[