It’s not too far to say that we all grew up with multiple stories and sayings our parents used to tell us to keep us away from things. Sayings like “kids shouldn’t drink coffee because it will stunt your growth,” or “if you don’t go to sleep, the boogeyman will come out and get you.” And the most common saying of them all is truly, “If you eat too much candy, you’ll get a sugar high.” But as we grow up, we come to find that extra piece of cake didn’t cause us to bounce off the walls, but instead crash out on the couch even harder. And with that, it starts to make us wonder; is a “sugar high” even real? Even if it’s just a way for parents to keep kids away from another piece of chocolate, the “sugar high” is a completely scientifically unsupported myth.

Now scientifically, sugar is a substance that our bodies use for creating energy. It is carbohydrate, and although it does travel through the bloodstream faster than others, interestingly enough, eating an apple will cause the same reaction as eating a lollipop. According to experiments carried out by Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, scientists found that, “These experiments helped scientists discover that a “sugar rush” is a myth.Instead, they think people just get happy and energetic from enjoying a treat, sugary or not. So if you are at a party and feeling energetic after eating some cake, lollies and soft drink, it might be because you’re having a good time with your friends and having fun!"¹ This demonstrates just how effectively the stories we grew up with influenced our lives. In fact, the study findings later listed in the University’s article goes on to talk about how people only associate having an extra good time and more energy with candy and other sugary foods because we have subconsciously chosen to associate them with one another, and therefore also subconsciously convince our bodies to become more energetic because we recognize that sugar has entered our systems.

Although “sugar rushes” might be a clear myth, the concept of sugar crashes is actually well established and scientifically supported. Because sugar has the ability to enter our bloodstreams with the speed that it does, it also has the ability to pass through our system even faster, disrupting our daily energy levels and leaving its consumers heavier and more exhausted than before. This extreme drop in energy levels stems from eating excessive amounts of carbohydrates like sugar. In an article done by Stanford Health, “Sugar crashes generally cause us to be incredibly distracted throughout the day, which leads to a lack of productivity and concentration. Confusion, abnormal behavior, the inability to complete routine tasks and blurred vision are also common symptoms, especially for those who have diabetes. People with diabetes may experience more severe symptoms such as loss of consciousness, seizures or coma, if the crash is harsh enough, because of their increased sensitivity to inconsistent sugar levels.”² It is hard to believe that we as people still choose to consume sugar knowing just how bad it can affect us. But with the studies also found behind its well known addictive qualities, it becomes more clear as to why.

Debunking this childhood saying truly leaves us wondering; what’s next? What else isn’t true? But in the end, all we can know right now is this; no matter what you eat or how much you eat of it, there is no such thing as the “sugar rush.”