With all the sugar talk...

I remember reading something to this effect not too long ago on a news website. This comes from StoneyfieldFarms.com

The other issue attributed to sugar is Hyperactivity. Everyone can probably relay a story of observing how kids get wired after eating birthday cake. Some even believe that sugar causes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD). Scientific studies just do not support this. In at least 23 studies, sugar's effect on children's behavior was studied under controlled conditions. Usually, sugar was compared to artificially sweetened foods and behavior was observed for several hours afterward. Normal kids, kids thought to be sensitive to sugar, and children with ADHD were tested. All of the studies showed the same result: when kids eat sugar under controlled conditions, there's no significant difference in their response. What causes the perceived sugar effect in kids? What may be happening, the researchers suggest, could be a "special occasion effect" with disruption to regular routines. Another possible reason is that the response is anticipated by the parent and is perceived to happen. One study gave supposedly sugar-sensitive boys Kool-Aid sweetened with aspartame but told half the mothers that the boys were given sugar. Then they watched the mothers' interaction with their sons. They tended to "hover" around their boys making more efforts to control their behavior more than the other mothers. They also described their sons' behaviors as more "hyperactive" even though the researchers evaluated the boys' behavior lower than the "placebo" group. Sometimes we see what we want to see.

Re: With all the sugar talk...

Hmmmnnn....I can see it. My son is pretty hyper and Im very sensitive to it as hes getting older and into an age where kids are generally "learning how to behave better". Im sure that at times Im not necessarily the best judge, objectively speaking, of his behavior given that Im so emotionally invested.

Re: With all the sugar talk...

I've read this a while back as well.

Re: With all the sugar talk...

i totally agree with this article. i also hate when people always blame sugar for kids' poor behavior. "Oh, their parents must give them too much sugar"

Re: With all the sugar talk...

Posted by BabyInMarch

i totally agree with this article. i also hate when people always blame sugar for kids' poor behavior. "Oh, their parents must give them too much sugar"

Re: With all the sugar talk...

that's interesting. DH was not allowed sugar growing up (sugar cereals, soda, candy, etc) on the weekdays and every story about him is about being hyper.


Interesting about mom reactions!