This common myth is believed by many, but from personal experience I always knew it wasn’t true! (I learned the hard way).
There’s a common assumption that if you suddenly tuck into a sugary packet of sweets, or drink a load of sugary drinks, you’ll feel on top of the world and get this wonderful rush of energy.
In reality, the opposite happens, according to a new study. The scientists of the research, published in the journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, pored over dozens of different studies on sugar consumption and its effect on people’s mood. They found that sugar does not improve any aspect of mood and, if anything, it can actually leave you feeling glum.
“The idea that sugar can improve mood 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 lead author Dr Konstantinos Mantantzis of Humboldt University of Berlin. Our findings very clearly indicate that such claims are not substantiated, if anything, sugar will probably make you feel worse,” Mantantzis added.
Not only is the idea of a sugar rush a myth, the researchers argue, it could also be a factor in the rise of obesity and diabetes.
“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 co-author Professor Elizabeth Maylor.
Another co-author also commented: “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 the lifespan. Our findings indicate that sugary drinks or snacks do not provide a quick ‘fuel refill’ to make us feel more alert.”
