Sugar-Sweetened Beverages May Suppress Cortisol And The Brain’s Stress Responses.

reported that an fMRI study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism indicated that “drinking beverages sweetened with sugar suppressed cortisol and the brain’s stress responses – an effect that was lacking for drinks sweetened with aspartame.” Investigators evaluated “how sweetened drinks affected 19 women and found that sucrose consumption was associated with reduced stress-induced cortisol (P=0.024), leading them to believe that the brain is taking cues from sugar consumption and altering the body’s normal response to stress.” MedPage Today points out that “all of the participants belonged to a subgroup from an investigation funded by the National Institutes of Health.” The Medical Daily (4/20) also covers the story. http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/51052