Is the ‘sugar rush’ just a myth?

Latest study says consuming sweet does not help boost one’s mood

Do you have a sweet tooth? Do you justify your cravings for by calling it a ‘sugar rush’ or simply rip open an ice-cream cone to make yourself feel better after a bad day at work? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these two question, then this piece is for you. A recent study has revealed that the idea of a sugar rush is a myth and has very little, if any, truth behind it.

According to the research published in the Journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral, sugar does not improve one’s mood at all. In fact, it can make people less alert and more tired after they have consumed it, reported Hindustan Times.

“The idea that sugar can improve moods has been widely influential in popular culture, so much so that people all over the world consume sugary drinks to become more alert or combat fatigue,” said Dr Konstantinos Mantantzis, who led the study.

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The research team set out to examine the myth of the sugar rush and see if can sugar really put you in a better mood. Using data collected from 31 published studies involving almost 1300 adults, Dr Mantantzis, Dr Sandra Sunram-Lea, Dr Friederike Schlaghecken and Professor Elizabeth Maylor from the University of Warwick’s Department of Psychology investigated the effect of sugar on various aspects of one’s mood, including anger, alertness, depression and fatigue. They also considered how factors such as the quantity and the type of sugar eaten might make a difference and whether engaging in demanding mental and physical activities made any difference.



The researchers found that sugar consumption has virtually no effect on mood, regardless of how much of it one ingests or whether people engage in demanding activities after taking it. They completely debunked the theory of a sugar rush saying there is no truth behind it. The findings also revealed that people who had consumed sugar actually, ironically, felt more tired and less alert than those who had not.

PHOTO:FILE

“We hope that our findings will go a long way to dispel the myth of the sugar rush and inform public health policies to decrease sugar consumption,” commented Maylor. Mantantzis added, “Our findings very clearly indicate that such claims are not substantiated. If anything, sugar will probably make you feel worse.”

Explaining further, Dr Sunram-Lea said, “The rise in obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in recent years highlights the need for evidence-based dietary strategies to promote a healthy lifestyle across lifespans. Our findings indicate that sugary drinks or snacks do not provide a quick ‘fuel refill’ to make us feel more alert.”

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