You already know that cutting back on sugar can aid your weight loss efforts, but you might be surprised to learn that sugar has been linked to many health problems other than obesity. When you reduce or eliminate sugar in your diet, you might find that…

Your blood pressure is lower. Dietary sugars have been linked to higher blood pressure, which causes your heart to work harder. Over time, chronic high blood pressure can increase your risk of serious heart problems, kidney disease, and stroke. As you reduce or eliminate sugar in your diet, you will probably notice that your blood pressure becomes more stable.

Your “bad” cholesterol levels are lower. If your doctor has warned you that your LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, levels are too high, reducing your sugar intake is a great way to get your blood fats under control.

Your mood improves. A diet high in sugar can increase your risk of depression and anxiety. Some people don’t even know how badly sugar is affecting their moods until they cut it out of their diets! Suddenly you might feel calmer, happier, and more peaceful.

You feel sharper and more alert. Eating too much sugar can impair memory and cognitive functions. As you eliminate sugar from your diet, you might find that the perpetual fog lifts, and you’re more productive at work.

Your skin looks better than it has in years. Sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form advanced glycation end products, which damage the collagen and elastin in your skin. This damage leads to more wrinkles and sagging of the skin, and can leave you more vulnerable to sun damage.

Reducing your sugar intake can also lower your odds for developing diseases such as diabetes, heart attack, fatty liver disease, and even cancer. Of course, you won’t see these results right away, but in the future you will be glad that you adopted a healthier diet and lifestyle.