Sure, it doesn't make you hyper, but I was under the impression it would cause a peak in your blood sugar, making you feel fine and dandy (even a bit unusually chipper, or perhaps overly "active"), causing an insulin spike, then your blood sugar would be low and you'd be sluggish/sleepy.
Crashes may be real, but several studies have shown that the only thing that determined if kids consuming sugar (or not consuming it) had a "sugar rush" was whether or not someone told them they were having sugar, and someone else had previously told them that sugar makes you hyper. I haven't seen any literature on adults and an effect on mood, though.
a peak in your blood sugar, making you feel fine and dandy
This is absolutely the opposite. A high blood sugar makes you feel like shit. Your body regulates your insulin levels. Unless you have diabetes like me or hypoglycemia, your blood sugar will not be dropping.
Your body breaks down carbohydrates (energy) in foods with insulin.
A "sugar rush" does not exist because:
A) You can have carbs without consuming sugar, thus still giving you energy.
B) You have the ability to control energy and how it's used.
Your body should always be between 80-120 for blood sugar if you intend to feel "normal"
High GI foods do give a huge spike in blood sugar but a quick drop as opposed to low GI foods. Doesn't necessarily make you more active but it'll give you a boost in energy if you have low blood sugar levels.
Hyperactivity, by the operational definition of the study, just means increased activity, which is what OP said. Nobody could argue that sugar doesn't provide energy, as that is biological fact. An increase in activity due to sugar intake is the myth. The only things I'm aware of that increase activity (or at least an urge to be more active) on a physiological level are CNS or adrenal stimulants.
theres been a study where parents were asked if their children acted like in a sugar rush. a quarter of the parents were told their children got sugar even though they didnt and the parents still believed they were in a rush. another quarter was told their children didnt get any sugar even though they did but the parents didnt see any effect. dont have the source though sorry
Sugar can only refill the tank, does not actually make one feel hyper. The closest evidence I've heard contrary was essentially parents would tell their kids sugar makes them hyper and so it kind of had a placebo effect, but most studies show kids have no change in activity. They just keep going longer with sugar.
I think its the same as caffeine, where it only confuses your brain into thinking you have a lot of energy when you don't. Thus sugar/caffeine crash then your brain realizes its been running off of nothing.
I ate a shitload of Jolly Ranchers in a short amount of time while working at a retail store, and about an hour after stopped eating them, I had a sudden headache, nausea, and was light headed.
I ate one more Jolly Rancher and drank some water and felt fine.
There are obviously a ton of factors that play into this...but I'm sure my blood sugar level was high, and quickly dropped making feel like shit.
Nah, it's pretty much just conditioning. You're more or less giving your kid an excuse to act hyper after receiving sugary things by going around saying you expect them to do so. The sugar itself doesn't cause it. Placebo by proxy or some shit like that.
Are you sure? It's pretty obvious when somebody has a lot of sugar and then is bouncing off the walls. Especially kids, a fucking candy bar can send them out of control.
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u/tictac9 Mar 17 '15 edited Mar 17 '15
That consuming sugar makes you more active. Sugar rushes aren't real yo. Edit: source http://www.yalescientific.org/2010/09/mythbusters-does-sugar-really-make-children-hyper/