We've all felt some kind of sugar rush at some point or the other. And we feel this instant need of eating something sweet and once we have it, we immediately feel much more relaxed and happy. Well, we're going to burst your bubble right there and tell you that sugar rush is a myth. According to a new study, it is suggested that sugar has absolutely no benefit on our mood. Says the researchers at the University of Warwick, umboldt University of Berlin, and Lancaster University that they analyzed around 31 studies just to find out if consuming sugar can improve the mood.
In fact, it'll surprise you to know that sugar actually worsens the mood instead of fixing it. It lowers your alertness and increases fatigue just in an hour of consumption.
A team at the Humboldt University of Berlin concluded that sugar rush is nothing but a myth with no scientific basis. They even said that no amount of sugar which is consumed can have a virtual effect on mood even if the person engages himself in any kind of physical activity after they consume sugar.
It is Prof. Elizabeth Maylor from the University of Warwick who wants to completely eliminate people's belief about having sugar rush and rather encourage them to decrease sugar consumption. She says that sugar consumption has influenced so many cultures. There are people in many parts of the world who think drinking a beverage that contains sugar will make them feel fresh and alert, where it actually does just the opposite.
Co-author and senior lecturer, Sandra Sünram-Lea, at the department of psychology in Lancaster University in Lancashire, England says, “The rise in obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in recent years highlights the need for evidence-based dietary strategies to promote healthy lifestyle across the lifespan.” She continued to say, “Our findings indicate that sugary drinks or snacks do not provide a quick ‘fuel refill’ to make us feel more alert.”
Here's what the stats of worldwide increase in sugar intake looks like:
From the late 1970s to early 2000s, consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks increased by 135 percent as compared to the consumption of milk which happened to be 38 percent only. A report in the study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine says that it would really be an effective way to decrease obesity in the United States if the consumption of soft and fruit drinks is reduced.
A study made by Mantantzis and his colleagues says that people who have mood disorders are more likely be highly sensitive to carbohydrates. There can even be future studies that will look into the interaction of sugar to other nutrients which can affect a person's emotions or mood.
