Added sugar: it’s a whole lot of stuff you just really don’t need in your life. Sure, chowing down on a candy bar or a piece of birthday cake every once in a while won’t kill you, but we’re willing to bet that you have plenty of added sugar in your diet!

How do we know this? Well, considering the average adult hits more than double of their recommended added sugar day in and day out, we have good reason to make the inference.

Now, we’re not trying to make you feel bad here–avoiding added sugar can be a tough thing, especially considering it has the tendency to hide out in foods that are often regarded as being healthy. For instance, did you know that most varieties of low-fat yogurt, granola, ketchup, spaghetti sauce, and even pre-made soups contain high amounts of added sugar?

Yikes, right? Even if you were convinced that your daily diet was relatively free of added sugar, you probably unknowingly sabotaged your plan by dining on a canned meal or by seasoning your meat with a condiment.

Look on the bright side, though, at least tomorrow is a new day! Tomorrow, you can start on your sugar-free week, a special diet that should “reset” your metabolism. Here are some of the ways you’ll benefit from ditching added sugar for a week…

1. Your heart will thank you

   According to studies compiled by Harvard Health, diets containing too much added sugar can now officially be blamed for causing heart disease deaths. The good news is that when you eliminate the added sugar, even for a short period of time, you are taking the first step to re-training your body. Perhaps the elimination will inspire you to cut down on the added sugar for good. Your heart deserves it!

2. The look of your skin will improve

   Consuming too much sugar can cause glycation, a detrimental process that can cause the body to slow down its collagen production. When you eliminate sugar, the body has the opposite response, producing more collagen, a protein that helps maintain smooth, supple skin.

3. Your energy levels will surge

   Sugar might provide you with short bursts of hyperactivity, but it’s rarely a sustainable high. To better maintain energy throughout the day, it’s best to cut down on added sugar. When you do this, you are eliminating the potential for the dreaded crashes that come after sugar highs. This can also give you more sustained energy during your workouts, too. Added bonus!

Now that you know more about the great things that happen when you eliminate sugar from your diet for a week, it’s time for you to learn more about how to pull it off! Watch the video below to get helpful tips for your forthcoming sugar-free week. Believe us, when you take the time to study these tricks, going sans sugar will be a simple goal to achieve!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this one-week sugar elimination diet! Have you tried this before? If so, did you notice any of the benefits outlined above? Do you have any tips for anyone who may be struggling to keep added sugar out of their diet?