In our health philosophy, adding sugar to tea is often considered a big taboo. But now, if you like your tea sweetened, you have a new reason: "I'm just trying to reduce work stress!" Because psychologists have found that sugary drinks can reduce people's aggressiveness and argumentativeness.

Sugar provides the brain with the necessary energy to maintain impulse control, thereby preventing us from losing our temper under pressure. The researchers say: "For example, when you might face provocation, or when you are about to encounter a difficult boss in a work meeting, drinking a sweetened beverage in advance can effectively enhance our ability to suppress impulses."

The calming effect of sugary drinks was discovered by Australian psychologists. In the experiment, they asked a group of male and female volunteers to drink lemon juice—some with added sugar, and some with an artificial sweetener. The volunteers were then asked to complete a series of stressful tasks and prepare a speech. After the speech, some people became furious when others said their talk was boring and disappointing, while those who drank the sugar-sweetened beverages showed significantly less anger.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales and the University of Queensland say that the brain needs sugar or glucose to fuel executive functions, including the ability to control behavior. They said: "One way for the brain to gain energy for control is to increase blood glucose levels. When provoked, increased blood glucose should provide the energy necessary to suppress aggressive impulses. Although it is commonly believed that glucose intake may lead to 'high blood sugar' and cause impulsive behavior, our research shows that glucose can actually enhance self-control when provoked."