Is Sugar the Actual Reason for Hyperactivity in Kids?

Hyperactivity is a state of being abnormally active throughout the time. Such people are often anxious and stay depressed. When it starts affecting kids, they lose focus and develop the inability to concentrate. 

A majority of people relate it with sugar whereas, this is totally a thing of past now. But to what extent is it okay to blame sugar for not being able to control your little one?

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Sugar Hyperactivity Theory

It’s basically a general notion that our diet leaves a tremendous amount of effect on how the body responds. Dr. Benjamin Feingold, an allergist, published about the same concept that food affects our behaviors. He had put forward a diet that’s free from artificial flavoring and food coloring to prevent hyperactivity in kids. But Feingold never suggested the fact that sugar actually fuels the hyperactivity bursts. Somehow, with years, sugar got categorized under food additives. However, over the years, sugar rush phenomenon has been denied in several types of research around the world.

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The Opposing Study

Several studies have been into examination regarding the link of sugar causing hyperactivity in kids. In the year 1995, a meta-analysis of almost 23 most reliable studies was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Quantities of sugar in the diet were studied. Placebo was the comparison element against sugar. None of the people involved knew what diet was given to which kid. The conditions were blind.

Conclusion? Sugar had absolutely no effect on the children’s behavior. The analysis also pointed out how it left a minimal effect on only a small number of kids.

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Life Beyond Sugar

As parents, it’s your responsibility to make sure all the doubts that your mind retains regarding your child’s health are properly analyzed and find solutions for. If you have any major concerns, discuss it with your practitioner. There could be many other reasons behind your little one’s hyperactivity and not just those sugar candies. The other reasons might include:

Lack of sleep

Learning disorders

Emotional disturbances

Genetic makeup

Noise at home or school

Family conflicts

Unutilized energy

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Myth Buster

A furious amount of energy that kids usually display after gulping down several Halloween candies isn’t really a psychological response to sugar. It also isn't about sugar affecting their nutritional levels. To your surprise and after several studies, such hyper behaviors can happen due to numerous external cues. These are more likely to be associated with the excitement levels that typically arise after activities accompanied with extra sugary (artificial) treats. The perceptions of a sugar high and sugar low are okay to be clutched to some extent. Too much of it is harmful, however, keeping intact the fact that your kid’s hyperactivity is due to sugar, even after the evidence is totally erroneous.

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