Douse that anger with spoonful of sugar

LONDON - High sugar levels seem to help control aggression and prevent loss of temper, so indicates a study.

Ohio State University researchers in the US compared the behaviour of sugar-starved volunteers with those who had been given a sweet drink, and concluded the latter were less inclined to snap.

Researchers believe the effect is caused by glucose, a simple sugar found in the bloodstream that provides energy for the brain, reports the journal Aggressive Behaviour.

Study co-author Brad Bushman from Ohio State University said: “Avoiding aggressive impulses takes self control, and self control takes a lot of energy. Glucose provides that energy in the brain, according to the Daily Mail.

“Drinking sweetened lemonade helped provide the short-term energy needed to avoid lashing out at others,” Bushman added.

In two published papers, Bushman and colleagues conducted several studies showing that people who have trouble metabolising, or using glucose in their bodies show more evidence of aggression and less willingness to forgive others.

The problem is that the number of people who have trouble metabolising glucose - mainly those with diabetes - is rising rapidly.

“Diabetes may not only harm your - it is bad for society. The healthy metabolism of glucose may contribute to a more peaceful society by providing people with a higher level of energy for self-control,” said Bushman.