Scientists debunk the myth that sugary foods and drinks cause hyperactivity in children.
For decades, people have associated the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with sugar consumption.
However, many studies have failed to show that sugar affects children’s attention span or behavior.
Indeed, it’s not the sugar that affects children, but rather the impact of eating sugary treats on dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical, ScienceAlert explained.
When the brain receives a reward, a sugary candy, for example, a surge of dopamine is released in the brain.
ScienceAlert cites a 2022 study from Nature Communications that explains that mice that had increased dopamine were more physically active, as if they were given an amphetamine.
Children may act more hyperactive when given candy due to the expectation of a reward, although the dopamine will be less than if they were given an amphetamine or other psychostimulant.
People with ADHD are thought to have decreased dopamine receptors in their brains.
Some ADHD medications like Ritalin or Concerta are psychostimulants that increase dopamine, but at a higher rate than candy. Unlike the dopamine released by the candy reward, medications help children concentrate and behave.
Where did the sugar myth begin?
The myth that sugar might cause hyperactivity in children dates back to studies in the 1970s and 19080s that recommended what is known as the Feingold diet as a treatment for ADHD.
The diet, created by American pediatric allergist Benjamin Feingold, restricts anything that contains artificial food colors, preservatives and salivaries. Sugar was not among the foods Feingold criticized, but parents still mistakenly made the connection because foods with coloring and additives also have high sugar content, The Washington Post reported.
Science Alert said Feingold’s claims were “exaggerated” but acknowledged that some children are allergic to food flavorings and colorings.
More recent studies have linked artificial colors, including red dye #3, to hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children.
Why the myth remains
Certain expectations – like the belief that sugar will make your child hyperactive – can change your perception of things.
A 1994 study published in Springer Link found that parents who were told their children were getting a sugary drink, even though they were taking a sugar-free placebo, perceived their children to be more hyperactive.
While sugar certainly isn’t healthy for your child, it won’t make them bounce off the walls.
New York Post
