A new myth about sugar has just been debunked by new research

If you were eating a bag of candy and drinking a large soda, you could expect to feel a "sugar surge" followed by a warm glow of satisfaction with saccharin. In reality, the opposite happens, according to a new study.

Research scientists, published in the journal Neuroscience and biobehavioral exams, bent over dozens of different studies on sugar consumption and its effect on people's mood. They discovered that sugar did not improve any aspect of the mood and that it could even make you sad.

"The idea that sugar can improve the mood has greatly influenced popular culture, to the point that consumers around the world are consuming sugary drinks to become more alert or combat fatigue," said the Dr. Konstantinos Mantantzis, lead author, of the Humboldt University of Berlin.

"Our results are very clear that such claims are not justified – sugar is likely to make you feel worse," Mantantzis added. declaration.

The meta-analysis looked at 31 different studies, representing more than 1,250 participants, who looked at the effects of soluble carbohydrates, including sugars and starchy foods, on various aspects of mood, including anger, alertness. , depression and fatigue.

Half an hour after consuming sugar, most people began to feel tired and tired compared to those who took a placebo. An hour after the sugar, the majority of people start to feel a decrease of vigilance. It seems that all the neurological triggers that are stimulated in our brain's reward system after eating sugar have a very short lifespan and do not result in any substantial degree of increased satisfaction or feeling of well-being.

The researchers argue that the idea of ​​a sugar rush is not just a myth, it could also contribute to the rise of obesity and diabetes.

"We hope that our results will go a long way towards dispelling the myth of the" sugar rush "and informing public health policies to reduce sugar consumption," said co-author Elizabeth Maylor of Canada. University of Warwick.

Dr. Sandra Sünram-Lea, co-author, added, "The recent increase in obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome underscores the need for evidence-based food strategies to promote a healthy lifestyle throughout the life of the family. life. Our results indicate that sugary drinks or snacks do not provide a quick "fuel refill" to make us feel more alert. "