Candy, soda, ice cream, lollipops: your children have probably already eaten these sweets.
But does the rush of sugar really cause hyperactivity in children, as many parents believe?
The idea of a spike in activity after consuming sugar began to gain traction in the 1970s, largely thanks to pediatric allergist Ben Feingold’s best-selling book, Why Your Child Is Hyperactive (Why your child is hyperactive). In that book, Feingold claimed, with little supporting evidence, that food additives, including sugar, were linked to children’s excitement.
However, the link between sugar and hyperactivity has since been completely debunked by two extensive and highly peer-reviewed analyzes published in 1994 and 1995.
According to Mark Corkins, chairman of the nutrition committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, researchers agree that “there is no link, none.”
And yet, the myth persists and is stronger than ever. But then why?
Think about events that are associated with high sugar consumption, says Corkins, who is also a professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. “Birthday parties, family reunions, Christmas time…”. Trips to the pool, barbecues in the garden, picnics in the park, days at the beach. Are you starting to see a trend?
“When we look at periods when children consume a lot of sugar, we find that they are usually associated with periods of hyperactivity, even if we haven’t given them sugar,” he explains.
In other words, being in a festive environment with parents and friends that children don’t necessarily see every day is in itself a very powerful stimulant.
Diana Schnee, a registered pediatric dietitian at Cleveland Clinic Children’s in Ohio, says she’s seen firsthand anecdotal evidence of glucose spikes turning into overexcitement.
However, “there are many things that can explain children’s hyperactivity and changing emotions,” she continues. “One of them is simply that these are children. »
Additionally, consuming highly refined carbohydrates can cause inflammation, which can affect a child’s behavior, she adds. Likewise, not eating enough fruits or vegetables can lead to constipation, which can also cause discomfort and mood disorders.
Although there are many types of dietary sugar, nutritionists tend to divide dietary sugar into two categories: regular, or natural, sugar and added sugar.
“Okay, carrots are a vegetable. They are rich in beta-carotene. But they also contain natural sugar,” Corkins explains.
Fruit also contains natural sugars, called fructose, just like milk, which contains a natural sugar called lactose. However, Corkins says there is no limit to the amount of natural sugars children should consume daily. Instead, it’s added sugars that you need to watch out for, as they can contribute to health problems such as obesity, tooth decay, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and hepatic steatosis.
In industrialized countries, the main sources of added sugars are processed products, sugary drinks and sweets.
For children under two years old, the Academy of Medicine recommends not consuming added sugars. Similarly, children aged seven to ten should consume no more than 24g of free sugars per day (or six sugar cubes) compared to 19g of free sugars per day (or five sugar cubes) for children. aged four to six years.
To put these numbers into perspective, a single can of Coca-Cola contains 39 grams (or seven lumps) of sugar.
Before you start feeling guilty about letting your kids consume more sugar than public health authorities recommend, know that Mark Corkins and his colleagues are aware of the magnitude of the task.
“Most kids eat more sugar than that,” he admits.
Generally speaking, Diana Schee advises parents to read the list of ingredients of the products they give to their children, and to realize that sugar has the advantage of satisfying our sweet tooth, but in moderation.
“Sugar itself is not necessarily bad if consumed in small amounts and infrequently,” she says. “So I don’t really worry about the slice of birthday cake or Yule log, which remains occasional. What concerns me more is the regular presence of sugar in a child’s diet. »
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