How one small shift changed my skin, mood, and energy
Sugar has always been a normal part of life in my family. My parents still can’t imagine their daily routine without it, and my father-in-law — who is very particular about food — has, more than once, politely declined my freshly cooked dinner in favor of a cup of coffee with eight(!) spoonfuls of sugar.
And although I always drank tea and coffee without sugar, I loved sweets — especially chocolate and sweetened condensed milk. Half a can with some cookie sticks? Easy. I had mild guilt about it, but since I never struggled with weight, I didn’t consider it a real problem.
Still, the “give up sugar for beauty and youth” movement hit me differently than the anti-dairy trend — instead of resistance, I felt curiosity. Maybe… I should give it a try?
The Results
Confectionery stopped being so irresistible. It feels like I broke a real addiction.
Sweetened condensed milk? Out completely — now it tastes overwhelmingly sugary. I can enjoy a piece of cake or ice cream occasionally, but the sense of pleasure has shifted: my taste buds now sort sweets into “worth it” and “not worth it at all.”
I still love chocolate, but only dark — and in small amounts. Go slightly over the limit, and I instantly feel like I “sinned” for nothing.
But the biggest changes were surprising:
✔ I believe quitting sugar helped reduce facial puffiness, which definitely took a few years off my appearance.
✔ I forgot what recurrent yeast infections are — something that used to bother me almost monthly.
✔ I finally connected the dots between bloating and sugar.
✔ Depressive moods show up far less often, and my overall energy level is noticeably higher.
And no, I didn’t go to extremes — I still eat fruit, cherry tomatoes, and dairy. I didn’t start demonizing natural sugars.
Is that enough reason to think twice? Or do you want harder evidence?
If you’re wondering whether sugar really has that much influence, I highly recommend the documentary “That Sugar Film” by Australian filmmaker Damon Gameau.
The idea is simple and brilliant:
After three sugar-free years, Gameau spent two months consuming as much sugar as the average Australian. Without touching candy or ice cream. Only “healthy,” “natural,” “wholesome” packaged foods.
The results were dramatic:
— non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
— +8.5 kg (19 lbs)
— +10 cm (4 in) around the waist
— a sharp rise in “bad” cholesterol
…all without exceeding his usual daily calorie intake.
You’ll also learn:
— why sugar addiction is stronger than cocaine addiction
— who pays for the “trusted experts” claiming sugar is harmless
— how many supermarket products disappear if you remove everything containing added sugar
— and much more.
Even my husband and daughter — both devoted sweet-lovers — watched the film with interest. They haven’t quit sugar yet, but the seed was definitely planted.
And here is the most upvoted YouTube comment under the Russian-dubbed version of the film:
“I started noticing mood swings after eating sweets. It’s awful! I tried cutting sugar from tea and desserts — and the mood drops disappeared. For me the reason was obvious. I had so many conflicts with people close to me because of these sugar-driven spikes… Why did no one tell us this? Everyone deserves to know what sugar does to your mental stability. Otherwise you spend your whole life wondering why certain parts of it just won’t fall into place.”
I truly hope I’ve convinced you to at least watch That Sugar Film. It’s eye-opening in the best possible way.
Conclusion
Giving up sugar wasn’t about discipline or beauty trends — it was about finally listening to my body. And once it stopped fighting constant spikes, drops, and hidden inflammation, everything quietly fell into place: my skin, my energy, my mood.
If breaking the habit feels impossible, start with curiosity. Sometimes one documentary — or one honest comment — is enough to tip the scale.
The original Russian version of this article was published on March 19, 2019.
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