Stressed? Having a Soda Slashes Stress Levels

Sugary beverages are regularly blamed for medical conditions like diabetes and obesity. However a recent study has revealed that the same sugary drinks may help reduce stress levels in people.

One of the study's authors Kevin Laugero from the University of California, Davis said, "Although it may be tempting to suppress feelings of stress, a normal reaction to stress is important to good health."

The findings have revealed that sugary drinks reduce stress levels by supressing stress responses and hormonal cortisol levels in the brain.

Meanwhile beverages that contain artificial sweeteners do not produce the same kind of effect on users.

"This is the first evidence that high sugar - but not aspartame - consumption may relieve stress in humans. The concern is psychological or emotional stress could trigger the habitual overconsumption of sugar and amplify sugar's detrimental health effects, including obesity," said Laugero.

The team gathered data from 19 women participants between the ages of 18 to 40 for the study. 8 of these women were given beverages with artificial sweeteners while the rest were given sugar based beverages.

 At the end of 12 days, the participants were subjected to functional MRI tests where they were required to solve maths questions to see and determine how they respond to stress.

Results revealed that women had sugary beverages showed a reduced cortisol response than those compared to aspartame sweetened drinks.

Laugero concludes, "The results suggest differences in dietary habits may explain why some people under-react to stressful situations and others overreact. Although it may be tempting to suppress feelings of stress, a normal reaction to stress is important to good health. Research has linked over- and under-reactivity in neural and endocrine stress systems to poor mental and physical health."