More sugars = more sweetness within the couple
Brad J. Bushman (psychologist) has just published a study(1) that directly links the lack of sugar to more violent behavior between couples.
This is an interesting observation because violence within the couple involves many notions ofself-control. However, these notions are rarely related to food.
A study using voodoo dolls and headphones
107 married couples were studied, their glucose levels were measured at the end of the day. The study took place over a three-week period.
A first test: each participant had a voodoo doll symbolizing his (her) partner. With 51 needles at their disposal, participants had to prick the voodoo doll at theend of each day according to their feelings of anger and aggressiveness: an increasing number of needles symbolizing an increasingly angry mood.
A second test: each partner competed with his or her spouse. The goal: to press a button as quickly as possible when a pattern (a red target) appeared on the screen. The winner inflicted on his (his) spouse, via headphones, a noisy sound: he then had the right to choose theintensity, andchoose the duration of this noisy sound.
The results of each of these two tests are in total agreement:
- In the first test, the participants who have the least glucose in their blood are the most aggressive.
- On the second test, again, participants with the lowest blood sugar inflict louder and longer sounds.
Even if the context of the study may make you smile (because of the use of voodoo dolls), this study establishes a link between blood sugar levels and aggression.
More sugars = more sweetness? Not for everyone
Despite the seriousness of the source (publication on the website of the National Academy of Sciences in the USA), the study is to be taken with objectivity and does not necessarily concern all categories of population.
Indeed, let us remember, for example, a study published by Harvard(2) at the end of 2012, which made a correlation between the consumption of sodas (extremely sweet) and violence among young people: 16% of young people were then prone to violence within their romantic relationship against 26% among larger soda consumers.
Even if this previous study is not fully in line with the new conclusions (the population is not the same and neither are the measurement methods), it is nevertheless extremely interesting to consider diet in the various problems related to aggressiveness. Indeed, the nominal study of these problems does not generally involve (or little) the notion of food.
Why such a link?
The ability to control itself requires energy from the brain. However, the brain mainly consumes only glucose (sugar). Low glucose levels therefore have impacts on brain function. On concentration for example, but not only: self-control is also one of those functions that are diminished when the brain does not have the necessary energy.
According to comments reported by the newspaper Liberation, Brad J. Bushman would advise “to be sure not to be hungry” before a difficult discussion with his spouse!
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.