CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A recent TIkTok trend has many people reaching for sour candy. A report from Health.com suggests using sour candy for anxiety has helped many people. However, the trend could do more harm than good.
Local Developmental Behavioral Pediatric Specialist Maricela Gulbronson tells 3News, it may be more of a distraction technique. "The latest trend that has popped up is biting into sour tart candies to alleviate escalation of anxiety."
Gulbronson said "so when you're feeling anxiousness start to mound, your amygdale starts to fire up, so biting into a very intense flavor such as sour patch kids, you end up jolting the brain back into a pause button where you can then let your frontal lobe takeover and think it through." She stated this can cause the situation to not be as scary or make you feel as anxious until things calm down.
If you rely too much on sour candy when feeling anxious, this can have some long-term drawbacks. "the acidic high content will end up ruining enamel and the sugar content." If you go through a bag of sour candy, it is equivalent to consuming 100 grams of sugar or eating 8 tablespoons of table sugar.
"it serves as a little band aid, but for long-term management of anxiety, you really should be working on coping strategies relaxation techniques, working with a mental health provider councilor or licensed clinical social worker." Gulbronson recommends speaking with mental health experts to help control or manage stress and anxiety. She adds evidence based interventions payoff long-term. "For those who have very serious, severe panic or severe anxiety, start to develop other mood disorders. we would really advise working with psychiatry for consideration for other medication options in addition to the therapy."
With viral challenges like this popping on on social media feeds, it is likely to make an impression on youth. Many people are more likely to jump on the trend, because it is seen as a quick fix. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, anxiety has increased. "Even in our population that we serve in my specialty clinic, we have seen an increase in anxiety levels, and that has surpassed disruptive behavior."
Gulbronson also suggested alternatives to 3News about better nutritional options that can be used instead of going straight for the sour candy. "There is some literature to support, that are rich in tryptophan. One of those amino acids that is a precursor is a serotonin. Things like bananas, roasted peanuts, peanut butter. Even watermelon if you have that sweet tooth." Watermelon also has the vitamin B6 and potassium, which lowers blood pressure, and can make you feel a little more relaxed.
Other alternatives Gulbronson suggests includes Aversion Therapy, which includes getting a rubber band and snapping it on your wrist. "It jolts your brain getting it to stop getting into that negative loop of emotions." She says this can help you take better control of your thinking. "There's other things that have always popped up periodically here and there. these are just techniques that are sometimes put out there by mental health providers."
Lexis Greene contributed to this story.
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