"The sugar rush is a myth": feasting on treats does not improve our mood

Whether it is ice cream to repair a broken heart or soft drink for a treat, many are turning to sugar when we are feeling depressed or lacking energy.

But scientists have now claimed that the resulting "sugar rush" was nothing but a "myth".

They argue that there is no evidence that indulging in sweet treats has an effect on the mood or sends the kids into a frenzy.

A study of 31 research studies revealed that nibbling caramel, butterscotch or fudge even left people feeling exhausted and less alert an hour later.

The researchers urged people not to use sweet snacks as a "quick recharge", the leniency only "making us feel worse".

The research was conducted by the Humboldt University of Berlin, with the help of academics from Warwick and Lancaster Universities.

The effect of sugar – and carbohydrates in general – on the mood has been widely debated.

People struggling with depression or seasonal affective disorder are known to "heal" themselves by increasing their sugar intake.

This may be due to studies suggesting that sugar encourages the release of beneficial neurotransmitters – chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells.

However, research also involves excessive consumption of carbohydrates "having adverse effects on psychological well-being".

With sugar consumption on the rise, understanding the connection between consumption and mood is "very important," the authors wrote.

To test this, 31 studies on the subject, with a total of 1,259 participants, were reviewed.

The results of the study, led by Dr. Konstantinos Mantantzis, revealed that carbohydrate consumption had no effect on mood.

This is true no matter how much sugar is consumed or what activities people do afterwards.

Professor Elizabeth Maylor, of the University of Warwick, and author of the study, said: "We hope that our findings will go a long way toward dispelling the myth of the" sugar rush "."

"The idea that sugar can improve mood has largely influenced popular culture," said Dr. Mantantzis.

She added that because of this myth, "all over the world, people are consuming sugary drinks to become more alert or combat fatigue."

"Our results are very clear that such claims are not justified – sugar will probably make you feel even worse," said Dr. Mantantzis.

The researchers believe that these results are important given the ever-increasing waistline, caused by overconsumption of sugar.

The author of the study, Dr. Sandra Sünram-Lea, a senior lecturer in psychology at Lancaster University, added: "The increase in the number of students in the field of psychology" Obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in recent years underscore the need for evidence-based food strategies to promote a healthy lifestyle throughout life.

"Our results indicate that sugary drinks or snacks do not provide a quick" fuel refill "to make us feel more alert."

The study was published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews.

The researchers wrote that the consumption of soft drinks alone increased by 135% in the United States between the early 1970s and the 2000s.

Soft drinks now account for 7% of the daily energy intake of an average person and are the largest source of calories in our diet.

Scientists believe that marketing sodas promoting soft drinks is a way to "fight fatigue, increase energy and promote a feeling of euphoria".