Blunting of the Stress Response. Headline: “Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages can suppress the hormone cortisol and stress responses in the brain.” Initially, the news that added sugar can relieve stress seems to be positive and really not too surprising. Many people “treat themselves” with something sweet after a stressful day. The concern is that under-reacting (or numbing yourself) to stress is not healthy and may lead to a habit of overeating sweets with all the negative consequences that brings. It’s better to learn healthy mechanisms to manage stress.
