Ever seen a kid acting like he’s high on goofballs and attribute his hyperactive nature to being on a sugar high? This myth of sugar is persistent and appears unlikely to disappear off the map, but in reality it is just a myth. At least for now, though as with all things it is a current myth that could one day be proven a scientific fact. The fact is that the sugar high among kids who appear to be in need of a good strong dose of Ritalin cannot be scientifically attributed to the consumption of sugar. The deep-seated hold that this idea has on parents has led to a virtual ban on soft drinks and candy after dinner in many households. As far as the scientific research of today goes, however, you might as well place an afterdinner ban on vegetables or surfing the internet. To put it as plainly as it can be put: there is absolutely no evidence connecting hyperactivity in kids to sugar.
It seems a natural, of course, but the unfortunate reality of the situation is that science has not yet fully been able to precisely locate the causes of things like impulsivity, short attention spans and bursts of energy. While it is entirely possible that sugar may be contributing to these things, it is also just as likely or even more likely that the reason your child seems to be bouncing off the walls isn’t because he just ate a Hershey Bar, but because he’s excited about an upcoming school event or she’s nervous about an upcoming soccer game rather than because she’s downed two cans of Coca-Cola. Environmental aspects are currently assumed to be the primary contributors to so-called “sugar highs.” Think about it. When are kids more excited, when they are preparing for trick or treating or when they’ve come home and eaten half their haul? It is probably the sheer excitement of looking forward to dressing up and hauling in free candy that gets them all mental rather than the consumption of candy. (Don’t get me wrong; I’m not advocating an all-candy diet.)
Here’s the big news. The scientific research that has been conducted not only finds no direct correlation between hyperactive activity and sugar, but actually has produce evidence that sugar may well have a palliative effect. Even more important potentially is that the production of serotonin in the brain appears to have the greatest importance in producing the effects associated with the sugar high. What remains to be discovered is the link that exists, if any, between the consumption of sugar and the production of serotonin in regard to creating that hyperactivity in children.
