Ask your mother, grandmother or any elderly person what is the best recipe for "calming the nerves", and the person will probably answer "sugar water". The popular belief is old, but did you know that it is nothing more than a myth?

Nutrologist Marianna Magri Real says that the drink has also been part of her childhood It was almost like a ritual: if someone was nervous or had received some scary news, if they drank that water, everything was sure to get better," he says.

It is not known exactly when this idea that sugar is good for mental health emerged, but the truth is that the ingredient has always been present in Brazilian history - although the consumption of sugary foods to be much higher today than years ago.

To give you an idea, sugar was for a long time the basis of the colonial economy, and the plantations of sugarcane were true riches for the country.

Does sugar water soothe?

The truth is that eating a sweet can, yes, provide a feeling of pleasure Sugar in its most common form, sucrose, is composed of fructose and glucose. When sugar is metabolized in our bodies, it is transformed into glucose, which has no calming or relaxing properties. But many people make this association because sugar can generate an increase in the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which generates a momentary feeling of well-being,explains the expert.

In this way, the area of the brain responsible for the reward trigger is activated. This is why many people turn to desserts in moments of stress, sadness, or tension, for example.

The initial lull is short-lived, and since sugar (glucose) is meant to generate energy for the body, the recipe can have the opposite of the desired effect - that is, it can increase restlessness and anxiety .

Read also: 5 myths about protein and how to consume it correctly

What to do?

But there are much better preparations and habits than a glass of sugar water (which is high in calories but low in nutrients ).

"Sugar water does not have a scientifically proven relaxing effect, it is recommended that other strategies be adopted that can decrease the levels of cortisol and also increase the concentration of serotonin to ensure a greater sense of well-being and more tranquility," says the nutrologist.

Some options to help you relax, according to her, are:

• " Practicing physical activities It helps to decrease the amount of cortisol produced during the day, helping to relax;
• " Sleep well In this way, it is possible to rest the mind and relax for the next day, and it also promotes the production of serotonin;
• " Do meditation During meditation, the person can have more concentration and focus on positive situations, promoting relaxation;
• " Drinking relaxing teas such as valerian, lemon balm, or chamomile, at least 30 minutes before bedtime."

Source: Marianna Magri Real, nutrologist.