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When you stop eating sugar, a lot of good things happen to your body at the same time. Speaking to SheFinds in March 2022, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman, M.D., professed that consuming processed sugar could have adverse effects on the skin. “Processed sugars glycate the collagen which stiffens and ages the skin,” she said, before adding that it could also trigger acne breakouts. Meanwhile, skincare expert Dr. Simran Sethi, MD, MBA, confirmed that the damage to collagen and elastin could make the skin look drier and increase the signs of aging.
So, restricting processed sugar intake could give way to fewer acne breakouts, make skin look youthful, and leave it with a dewy glow. Of course, cutting out sugar might also go a long way for weight loss. By cutting out sugar and replacing sugar-rich foods with their no-sugar counterparts, you could potentially eat the same volume of food with fewer calories. The weight loss from the elimination of added sugar could, in turn, help lower blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of diabetes.
If all of that wasn’t good enough already, cutting processed sugar could also promote heart and brain health, aid immune system functioning, lower the risk of depression and cognitive diseases, increase energy levels, and improve dental hygiene. To better understand the potential positive effects of eliminating or restricting sugar from a diet, you have to look no further than photos of celebrities in their 50s who have done the same.
Gwyneth Paltrow
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Gwyneth Paltrow’s daily diet has repeatedly caused controversy throughout the years and has been labeled overly restrictive. During an April 2025 episode of the “Goop” podcast, the entrepreneur confirmed that she had eliminated dairy and sugar from her meals due to her commitment to the paleo diet.
Paltrow confirmed that the diet had worked wonders for her and completely reshaped her perspective on food. However, after years of strict dieting, she was itching for a change. So, she had decided to reincorporate pasta, sourdough bread, and cheese back into her meals. Still, she was a huge proponent of consuming fresh, whole foods.
Halle Berry
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Speaking to Women’s Health Magazine in May 2020, Halle Berry shared that she had been following the keto diet ever since she had been diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 22. Since those days, Berry hadn’t eaten processed carbs and sugar.
“For more than 15 years, eating this way has helped me manage my diabetes — but it’s also given me a ton of energy and helped me maintain my weight and stay in shape,” the Oscar winner said of her diet. Notably, in a February 2023 chat with Forbes, Berry revealed that she had also stopped eating some fruits to keep her sugar levels in check.
Salma Hayek
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During a March 2025 Marie Claire interview, Salma Hayek confirmed that she had limited her sugar intake on account of her family history of diabetes. The “Frida” star notably developed gestational diabetes while pregnant with her daughter in 2007.
Speaking to Parents Magazine in 2007, Hayek shared that she wished she had limited her fruit intake during her pregnancy, saying, “I didn’t know that eating fruit that is high in sugar is not recommended when you have gestational diabetes” (via Us Weekly). Healthline notes that people with gestational diabetes can enjoy fruits in moderation, provided they don’t put them over their recommended carb intake levels.
Lea DeLaria
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In an April 2025 Allure interview, Lea DeLaria revealed that she had cut out all starches and sugar from her diet after being diagnosed with diabetes. Thanks to lifestyle changes and diabetes medication, the “Orange is the New Black” alum had managed to shed 50 pounds.
In a March 2020 Yahoo! Life interview, DeLaria said that cutting out sugar had greatly reduced her mental fogginess and helped her clearly differentiate between her diabetes symptoms and her menopause symptoms. As a whole, DeLaria couldn’t be happier about how her lifestyle changes and weight loss have changed her life, as she said, “I feel a thousand times better than I did before.”
Debra Messing
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Chatting with Page Six in October 2018, Debra Messing admitted that she found it hypocritical to tell her son to lay off the candy while she was indulging in sugar herself. So, when she turned 40, she decided to not only cut out sugar but also alcohol, coffee, dairy, gluten, and grains.
Although it was admittedly challenging at first, the “Will & Grace” alum’s body quickly adjusted to the major dietary changes. In an October 2018 Business Insider interview, Messing gushed about the positive impact of her diet, saying, “I have so much more energy and my skin is better, my hair is better, and I just feel like my body heals more quickly.”
Eva Longoria
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During an April 2013 episode of “The Dr. Oz Show,” Eva Longoria shared that she had temporarily eliminated sugar from her diet. “For about three months, I did a really strict no sugar diet, and I had more energy than I’ve ever had,” the “Desperate Housewives” alum said (via NBC Los Angeles). “My palate was different. Things tasted better.”
Then, in an April 2019 Us Weekly interview, Longoria confirmed that sugar and carbs were nowhere to be found on her plate after she had welcomed her son. She stressed that she had undertaken the diet to feel her best for her little one.
Sherri Shepherd
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In a May 2019 Instagram post, Sherri Shepherd proudly shared that quitting sugar had done wonders for her diabetes. During a March 2019 appearance on “The Karen Hunter Show,” the talk show host revealed that she had even gone so far as to ask for salads without dressing at restaurants to ensure sugar wouldn’t sneak into her system.
Notably, in an October 2023 Essence interview, Shepherd shared that she had slightly loosened her restrictions to have a small taste of dessert when she was out and about. By Shepherd’s own admission, excessive consumption of sugar made her “foggy and irritable.”
Jennifer Aniston
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Speaking to Yahoo! Life in January 2016, Jennifer Aniston shared that she didn’t like to overcomplicate nutrition, saying, “It’s pretty clear: eat as much organic fruits and veggies as you can, keep sugar [intake] low, drink tons and tons of water, and get good sleep.” Generally, Aniston steered clear of “white food.”
During an interview with InStyle, the “Friends” alum hinted she was pretty serious about limiting her sugar intake by sharing that she took her margaritas without sugar. Still, she told Yahoo! Life that she gave herself full permission to enjoy her favorite foods every now and then.
Alec Baldwin
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Speaking on an April 2025 episode of “The Baldwins” podcast, Alec Baldwin shared that he had lost around 25 pounds in 2013 by eliminating carbs and sugar from his diet. Additionally, in Hillaria Baldwin’s 2016 book “The Living Clearly Method,” she revealed that her husband’s tendency to eat a carb-heavy diet had brought his blood sugar to pre-diabetic levels.
After learning the truth about his sugar levels, Alec decided to swear off all refined carbohydrates. During that time, the “30 Rock” star had also started prioritizing exercise and eating a nutrient-rich diet. With all his efforts, Alec was able to quickly lower his blood sugar levels.