When you eat sugary foods, your body quickly absorbs the glucose and releases insulin in response. This rapid increase in glucose can lead to a temporary boost in energy and performance, often called a "sugar rush." Some studies suggest that this intake of sugar can improve mood, partly due to the release of chemicals like serotonin and dopamine.
However, these sugar rushes can be harmful because they cause rapid changes in blood sugar levels. After the initial boost in energy from rising glucose and insulin, there is often a crash when blood sugar drops, leading to fatigue and lack of focus. Repeated spikes and crashes in blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance, increasing the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes.
It is hard to ignore the link between consumerism and sweet treat culture. For students on a budget, spending £5 on a coffee for making it to the library, another £5 on a sweet treat for writing a paragraph, and a £20 Asos shop for finishing an assignment can quickly add up. The question is, are you rewarding yourself or punishing yourself?
According to Barclays, 47% of British people said they were happy to spend their disposable income on little luxuries that make them happy, even when making cutbacks on other things. This mindset is common among students who may prioritise instant gratification over long-term financial stability.
Student life is built on stress, with balancing assignments, social commitments, and part-time jobs. I think this is where students feel the need to turn to quick fixes such as buying a sweet treat to lift their mood, even if it is only a temporary high. However, this creates an endless cycle of relying on instant gratifications rather than managing the deeper stresses of university life.
In my opinion, the sweet treat epidemic has flourished as an act of self-care and kindness and is enjoyed for the sole purpose of “just because.” @meldouglasyoga on TikTok stated “One thing about me is I’m a little treat girl to my very core. I don’t even make myself earn them because I’m practising believing I’m inherently deserving of my kindness at all times. I want a little treat, I get a little treat. The end.”
So go ahead, buy that sweet treat - but maybe skip the £20 Asos haul next time!