SUGAR CRASH: Sugars May Not Be A Solution For Your Stress-Relief [OPINION]

If you’re hangry, a balanced meal is better than a snack.

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By
Fadzlin Syazani Azizi
Student, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)

We all experience stress every day – piles of work, overwhelming responsibilities, uncertainties or there could simply be a lot going on.

You may be tempted to reach out for a sugary snack as a stress reliever, but, while it gives you instant pleasure, the effect ultimately leads to a sugar crash that ruins your productivity instead.

So, what is stress-eating?

‘Stress-eating’ is a pattern of eating in which people use foods to help them deal with a stressful situation. It’s also termed as ‘emotional eating’; people mindlessly consuming huge quantities of food at one time – usually sugary foods – to immediately soothe their bad feelings and stress.

Cortisol – The ‘stress’ hormone

Stress can also cause some people to ignore their hunger as their fight-and-flight response overrides the desire to eat, effectively putting it on hold.

For other people, stress can cause hunger strikes that lead to overeating because the brain perceives stress as a threatening event which then activates the release of cortisol, commonly known as the ‘stress hormone’.

In response, the body will tend to search for a shortcut – like eating something fatty or sweet which may ‘re-energize’ it.

Sugars give ‘comfort’

The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that only 25g of sugars (or 6 teaspoons) should be taken daily for an adult.

However, once indulged, the food seems to give a positive feedback effect to us which tones down stress and emotions.

In fact, these foods really give ‘comfort’ and pleasure as dopamine (also known as the feel-good hormone) “hits” from eating sugar. The brain’s reward systems will be activated and thereby reinforce behaviors that demand more sugars every time we get stressed.

Then comes the sugar crash 🙁

Sugar crash is a term that refers to the sudden drop of energy levels after consuming a large amount of carbohydrates which are simple sugars like cakes, canned carbonated drinks and ice-creams.

It causes our body to experience some undesired symptoms that will derange our productivity and energy levels throughout the day, such as getting more hungry, experiencing irritability, fatigue, discomfort, anxiety, headaches and difficulty in concentrating.

Obesity and diabetes are the biggest concerns

Excessive daily sugar intake in this unhealthy eating pattern will cause not only a sugar crash in the short term, but can also cause long term health problems like obesity and diabetes.

Malaysia has the highest rate of obesity among Asian countries with 64% of male and 65% of female population being either obese or overweight.

Food Pyramid Malaysia 2020

Instead of sugar rushing, the feeling of “emptiness” can actually be filled with a proper balanced meal that can lessen the effect of stress. The Health Ministry (KKM) recently introduced the ‘Food Pyramid Malaysia 2020’ that has been modified from the 2010 one to encourage better dietary habits.

Fats, oils, salts and sugars are the least that we have to include in our daily food intake and the base position of carbohydrates-food sources in the pyramid has been shifted up a level. This means that vegetables and fruits are now the base of all meals and must be taken in larger quantities.

The new food pyramid places vegetables and fruit at the bottom.
(CREDIT: Nutrition Department, Health Ministry)

It’s all about balance, moderation and consistency

Don’t restrict and skip meals but plan them! Remember that sugars do not give you an immediate energy boost so have a balanced meal instead, with a dessert at the end and also plenty of water.

When you feel overwhelmed with your day, don’t strain yourself; take a 10-minute walk, munch some healthy snacks and play with your pets!

Fadzlin Syazani Binti Azizi is a second year student at the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).

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