January is filled with self-assured promises about making healthier choices, and one prevalent theme involves abstaining from alcohol (Dry Janaury) and sugar. That said, it’s not just your colleague who’s hopping on this trend, as GRAMMY award-winner Usher is also joining suit, in preparation for his Super Bowl halftime performance.
Usher Quits Sugar and Alcohol for Superbowl LVIII Halftime Performance
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, a source revealed that in trying to be in the best shape possible for the show, the 45-year-old has given up “all sugar and alcohol.”
“The Super Bowl has always been on Usher’s bucket list, and he wants to be in the best shape to give the performance of his life to the 100 million-plus people watching.
He has quit all sugar and alcohol and is rehearsing endlessly,” the source reportedly said.
Now, while you may not be taking the stage for 15 minutes at the Allegiant Stadium in Nevada, cutting back on both sugar and alcohol in 2024 can ensure a much healthier year.
5 Reasons To Quit Alcohol and Sugar In 2024
1. It’s anti-aging
Being the largest organ in the body, the skin bears a lot when it comes to the excess consumption of both sugar and alcohol. Alcohol triggers inflammation and dehydrates the skin, both of which speed up the aging process.
Sugar damages collagen and elastin, affecting the skin’s youthful appearance, resulting in wrinkles and premature skin aging.
2. Better sleep
If there’s one resolution that you should adopt in 2024, then it’s definitely to get better sleep, especially since the average person gets less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep a night.
Many factors can influence sleep, two of which are sugar and alcohol, with the former impacting sleep quality and the latter increasing the risk of insomnia.
3. Improved mental health
Both alcohol and sugar can be seen as go-to coping mechanisms, and while you may think that they make you feel better, they’re making things worse.
Alcohol influences brain chemistry, acting like a depressant, and increasing the risk for addiction and anxiety. Like alcohol, sugar can also impact brain chemistry by disrupting dopamine levels and increasing the risk of depression.
4. Shed festive pounds
If you’re worried about the weight that you’ve put on over the festive season, then cutting back on sugar and alcohol is a great way to start.
Alcohol not only slows down your metabolism, but it also increases your cravings for salty and processed foods. Sugar has also been found to slow down your metabolism, and it also disrupts leptin, the hormone that lets your brain know that you’re full.
5. Healthier heart
Despite the new year, heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide. As such, it’s important to take preventative measures when it comes to your heart health.
Excess sugar can increase levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, increasing the risk for heart disease, whereas excess alcohol consumption can elevate blood pressure, which can also raise the risk for heart disease.
Want to know more?
Monitoring his intake of alcohol and sugar isn’t the only way that Usher is getting ready for the Super Bowl, and it’s also not the only way you can protect your health. The star has been on top of his fitness, and you can be too.
While many of us are guilty of falling off the wagon when it comes to our fitness resolutions, here are 13 realistic fitness resolutions that will keep you fit in 2024.
References
Zheng, W., Li, H., Go, Y., Huang, Q., & Wu, J. (2022). Research Advances on the Damage Mechanism of Skin Glycation and Related Inhibitors. Nutrients, 14(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14214588
https://wellnessretreatrecovery.com/sugar-and-dopamine-link-sweets-addiction/
