By William J. Mesibov, MD
Where in the world did you hear?
You know why your kid is so jumpy and nervous? It’s the sugar in his food. If you want him to calm down, you’d better change the way he eats.
Sound Advice:
Your child may be jumping off the walls, but you can’t blame it on the sugar in his diet. It’s a myth. Sugar does not cause hyperactivity. In fact, studies have shown that there is no connection between sugar and hyperactive behavior. When brain metabolism is analyzed, the findings indicate that sugar has the opposite effect, that is, it actually produces a sedating effect on the brain. Surprised? Does that mean that you can now load your children with sugary treats? Of course not. Children who eat a lot of sweets suffer from poor nutrition, usually sacrificing vegetables, fruits and fish to their craving for sugar. And in those families with a history of diabetes or obesity, high glucose loading may lead to early pancreatic disease and overweight.
An occasional sweet following a healthy meal is sensible and harmless. But when children consistently consume sweets or junk snacks between meals they are developing an unhealthy lifestyle. Parents often express frustration at their inability to stop their children from invading the pantry despite warnings to the contrary. The solution is obvious: mom and dad must stop stocking their pantries with junk. Unless the children have a credit card, only the parents are to blame if sugary snacks are readily available in the house. Not only will a healthy house cleaning be good for the kids, it will be equally good for the parents.
Carbonated soft drinks, especially colas have no redeeming value. They have the same drawbacks as sugary snacks and, worse, can result in defective calcification of the bones. Drinking soda should be avoided. If the child is thirsty, water, juice or milk should fill the bill but drinking milk or juice within three hours of the next meal will usually adversely affect the child’s appetite.
What about sugar substitutes and diet drinks? Avoid them. There are no long term studies in children to assure that these compounds are safe. Never give your child anything without a long, proven record of safety.
The Conclusion:
Sugar is a natural, safe form of energy. It does not cause kids to become hyperactive. However, overindulgence results in nutritional imbalance, poor eating habits and a threat to long term health.