By Dr. Alan Fisch

Psychological Science magazine recently published a report on enhancing one's self-control. The authors, researchers at the University of Georgia, analyzed the results of tests that measured self-control in 51 students.

The first portion of the test involved crossing out all occurrences of the letter E in one page of a statistics textbook in order to lessen their self-control. Subsequently, they were divided into two groups: one that rinsed their mouths with sugar-sweetened lemonade and one that rinsed with Splenda-sweetened lemonade. Finally, they underwent the Stroop test, which requires participants to identify the color of printed words that spell out the names of different colors. 

At the conclusion of the study, the scientists determined that those who used the sugar-sweetened lemonade performed better on the Stroop test than those who received the Splenda-sweetened drink. The researchers interpreted this to mean that gargling sugar water can improve one's self-control due to the introduction of glucose into the system. 

About the Author:

The Director of Psychiatry at Addiction Medicine Associates in Brookline, Massachusetts, Dr. Alan Fisch has treated patients for nearly 50 years. As part of his profession, Dr. Fisch remains abreast of new advancements in the field of mental health.

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