Sugar’s Effect on Mood, Behaviors & Energy Levels
We’re all only too familiar with the North American diet (and sadly one that the rest of the world is catching on to) that delivers precious little in the way of nutrition but plenty of mouth gratification followed by spikes and falls of blood sugar that keep you coming back for more.
We’ve been educated about the link between diabetes and the dangerous dance of sugar and insulin. But we are far less knowledgeable about how that dance can affect the moods and energy levels of “well people.”
Why is that?
Well, maybe it’s because we’ve learned to consider foods laden with refined sugars and processed grains as “treats” and don’t want to give them up. Or maybe it’s because processed foods are designed to be quick and convenient in a world where we seem to have less and less time for ourselves. Or maybe it’s because we think we’re ok until we’re clearly not – and it only “counts” at the point when we need medical intervention. Or maybe it’s because the sales of processed foods in the US accounts for $2 trillion each year and there’s an economic incentive to not disturb the formula. None of those reasons are worth it to an individual wanting to live their best life.
Real life experience
Let me tell you a story that bears witness to a causal effect that I have observed both personally and in my practice.
Last summer, I went camping with my teenage daughter and her friend. We had a truly lovely time, hanging out at the beach, biking around, campfire time, and sunset book reading by the water. We spent three days, all getting along with great ease and relaxation. A beautiful vacay.
I organized our meals for the trip – and simply stuck to our family routines which our friend was happy with.
We started each day with a big, full and tasty breakfast — local eggs, local organic bacon, avocados, and cucumbers with sea salt. I even used the bacon fat to cook the eggs – a delicious way to prepare toad-in-the-hole. We were sated and ready for the activities of the day.
For lunches, the girls made themselves a package of Annie’s rice pasta with coconut oil, hemp hearts, frozen peas and sea salt. While they cooked, they nibbled on cut up raw veggies and cheese from the local organic farm.
Simple dinners could best be described as beef or chicken burritos with beans, rice, veggies, sour cream and cheese.
There was an ease to the way we moved through our days, and we were rewarded by deep, satisfying sleeps. Each morning, I got up earlier than the girls to go for a long swim, for a little ‘me’ time.
On the last day, our friend’s mother arrived in the morning to spend a few hours with us and take our friend home. As a thoughtful treat, she brought with her some of the most beautiful pastries from a local bakery. Scones fresh from the oven, muffins, chocolate almond croissants. We all indulged and thoroughly enjoyed the gift.
We all went for a few hours of beach time. Within an hour, I noticed myself talking fast, feeling slightly anxious, moving forward at too quick of a pace, and wondering why I felt so bothered. My calm energy of the past three days had vanished. I was struggling to get through the day and, at two in the afternoon, decided what would make me feel better was a beer and french fries. Afterall, I was on holiday! After my buzz wore off, I just wanted to be on my own and go to bed. It was way too early for that.
As I watched my daughter and her friend interact, I saw a big shift. The friends increased their physical distance, rarely spoke to each other, and had become generally unresponsive. They lost connection with each other, and it seemed like they were now just tolerating their day. They peppered the air with complaints: the beach wasn’t cutting it, the sun was too hot, everything was boring, and everyone was annoying.
The other mother-daughter duo took their leave that afternoon at 5pm. It was an off-center good-bye because we were leaving with our feelings towards each other in stark contrast to the previous few days. A misrepresentation of how we truly felt towards each other, and inconsistent with the experience we’d so enjoyed together. And I, well my patience had run out, and my mood had shifted to irritation. I just wanted to make popcorn for supper and call it a day.
When my daughter and I went to bed that night, we had a hard time falling asleep. When we did, it was light, not restful. We overslept, I missed my morning swim, choosing to trick myself that the conditions weren’t right.
This is the power of blood sugar. The spikes and falls of blood sugar has the power to transform a beautiful experience, and to create real dysphoric misinterpretations of our relationships to others and to yourself.
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I saw all that I needed to see to inspire more research and more attention on the linking of sugar to mood. Those of you who know me will attest to my habit of integrating what I study, with what I experience, and what I intuit.
We know our young people are struggling
dig deeper into the research, collect the “anecdata”
It’s believed that, by balancing blood sugar level, we can manage 85% of anxiety and depression.
Balancing blood sugar can make a massive impact on behavior and life outlook. When I’ve helped teens balance their blood sugar, they say things like I don’t even recognize myself as the same person. Was that even me?
When we start to understand the power of blood sugar, pay mindful attention to it, and eat to balance it, we regain our power to stabilize our emotions, actions and desires. We are less driven by impulse, and we are able to access decisive action instead of reaction. Once blood sugar stability is gained and felt in the body, we restore our natural state – and not live unrecognizable versions of ourselves who interact through quick, unstable reactions.
Getting off the sugar and processed food roller coaster takes planning, persistence and lots of self-love – but it is possible and the outcomes desirable. I encourage you to make the move, if you haven’t already.
