Gargling Sugar Water May Help Self-Control

Trying to complete a task or goal but feel your self-control slipping away? Trying gargling a little lemonade, provided it's made with real sugar, a new study suggests. Researchers at the University of Georgia found that students who did so performed better on tests that measure self-control, like identifying the color of a printed word that spells out a different color, reports Medical News Today. That doesn't translate into chugging Mountain Dew to stay focused, it means letting a little sugar touch your tongue.

"It seems that glucose stimulates the simple carbohydrate sensors on the tongue," says a researcher. "This, in turn, signals the motivational centers of the brain where our self-related goals are represented. These signals tell your body to pay attention.” What about big, long-term goals like quitting smoking? "A swish of lemonade may not be the total cure, but it certainly could help you in the short run." (More self-control stories.)