Not As Sweet As It Tastes, Excess Sugar Consumption Lowers Happiness Levels

Illustration of eating cake is not necessarily happy (Unsplash/Louis Hansel)

JAKARTA - On the one hand, cake and ice cream is a sweet soft food that can be an 'escape' when stressed or need a little relax. But on the other bad side, sugar intake is widely researched and related to mental health that affects one's happiness.

The reference to happiness is certainly physical health as well as mental well-being. Well, Thomas Rutledge, Ph.D., a resident professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of California dug up more information about the effects of sugar intake on mental health.

Initially, excess sugar consumed triggers diabetes, heart disease, obesity, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Recent research has found that sugar intake is associated with a person's mental health and happiness.

Directly, sugar is also able to damage teeth. But as explained in the opening of this article, that neuroscience explains sugar can simultaneously make us happy. In neurochemical work, sugar induces self-esteem and dopamine rise.

According to Rutledge, the more we rely on dopamine to break away from negative feelings, the less the body is able to produce serotonin. As a neurotransmitter, serotonin is responsible for feelings of satisfaction, confidence, and satisfaction.

A laboratory and neuroscience study shows that high sugar intake is bad in mental health. First, it was found that sweet foods can be addictive. Although this discovery is still in debate among scientists but has a clear mechanism of action in neurons.

Reported by Psychology Today, Tuesday, May 25, sugar can activate the 'reward' pathway to produce more dopamine. High sugar intake can lead to a decrease in the regulation of dopamine receptors.

Second, tooth decay is scientifically proven. And dementia contributes to Alzheimer's disease. Research was conducted on dementia patients who reported consuming higher sugar.

Third, sugar can decrease the diversity of bacteria and increase the production of microorganisms related to inflammation. In short, changes in the microbiome in the gut are also associated with anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, and dementia.

Fourth, insulin is associated with leptin. When sugar levels are high or insulin levels are high, the brain's sensitivity to leptin decreases. Leptin itself serves to send satiety signals to the brain and increase energy expenditure.

In relation to mental condition, when leptin levels are low then negative emotions will be felt. Fifth, sugars that affect serotonin and dopamine production can take over awareness of increased pleasure and complacency.

This happens when a person relies on sugar intake to feel happier. It also occurs when the consumption of sugary foods and beverages is uncontrolled, mirage-like happiness can actually decrease physical health and affect mental stability.