Sweetened Drinks Reduce Stress, Impulsive Behavior

Drinking sweetened beverages may help individuals reduce stress and avoid impulsive aggression, according to a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

In two experiments undergraduates completed a measure of trait aggression and consumed a glucose or placebo beverage before being given the chance to administer a blast of white noise to a fictitious participant. In Experiment 1, all participants were provoked and mentally depleted or not. Glucose was most effective in reducing aggression for those high in trait aggression even when depleted. In Experiment 2, participants were provoked or not. When provoked, glucose reduced aggression among those high in trait aggression. However, when not provoked, glucose increased aggression among those high in trait aggression.

Researchers at the University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales concluded that acute administration of glucose can be beneficial in reducing aggression in response to provocation among those high in trait aggression.

Sources:

* Journal of Experimental Social Psychology: Glucose consumption decreases impulsive aggression in response to provocation in aggressive individuals

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