kids and sugar

[old-wos-is-name]

Does sugar make kids hypo, or is it the colouring in food?

[Sqad]

Do you mean hyper?

[old-wos-is-name]

Hi,
Probably. over active, screaming and shouting and rushing about, not Her normal self for a 2 year old.

[ummmm]

Sqad will probably say no....but in my experience...definitely yes.

My OH can tell when walks in the house if my youngest has had sugar...

[redcrx]

with my kids, sugar doesnt but some food colourings must do. Smarties are a no-no with my two.

Plus i would much prefer my kids to have sugar than all the fake stuff that is used mowadays.

[Sqad]

Ah! That makes sense.

I am no expert on Child Psychiatry.

My own opinion is that hyperactivity in children is not necesarrily a psychological or psychiatric entity and your child may be "normal"

However let us assume that he is hyperactive, then tqhere are various studies that have shown a link between food additives and sugar levels.

I must add, that I have not been convinced by any of these studies.

Make of this reply as you will.

[annie0000]

Kids can get hyper for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes they just have more energy than usual. aren't there some days when you just wake up feeling better than others for no particular reason? having said that, my eldest always used to get a bit weird after having blackcurrant juice and my youngest at age 10 still goes a bit loopy when he gets fizzy juice, but that could be down to the fact he only gets it on special occaisions so is likely to be more hyper anyway.

I agree with red that I'd rather they had sugar than sugar substitute - but everything in moderation!

[pa___ul3]

I'd tend to agree with sqad, I'm not convinced, when dogs go hyper it's because they haven't had enough exercise, could it not just be the same in kids?

[ummmm]

Maybe Paul....but when you see it happen before your eyes. I watched my son drink a can of coke and within minutes he was climbing the walls. It doesn't effect my other 2 the same.

[EvianBaby]

My brother swears that anything with sugar in it sends his two kids potty so they are very rarely allowed any sweet or drink treats (they might actually be too healthy IMO but that's another matter). My Dad however see's it a little different and piles them with fruit shoots (normally banned) and sweets when he sees them and I can't say I've ever really noticed any difference in their behaviour.

[pa___ul3]

fair do's ummm, I only really have my neice and nephew to go by which isn't far off 24/7 but still not quite. I suppose I'll be a better judge when I get some of my own.. in like 15 years time or something, and by then there'll be a cure!!

[ummmm]

In my son it was only certain things that sent him nuts. Coke, smarties and chewits were the worst offenders.

His Dad...being the gobshite he is, would feed him blue smarties before sending him home...

They have changed the blue smarties now...

[Jenarry]

ummm that's terrible.
i can't help but notice that my son used to always go a bit lively after having orange squash so we avoid this in our house now.
i find my son can act very hyper sometimes especially in the evenings and he hasn't had any colourings or anything sugary just his usual tea.
he's type 1 diabetic and when i check his sugar it surprises me that it's usually at a very normal level so i can only presume that my son just has these hyper moments just because he's a 5 yr old and feeling full of beans. :O) :O)

[Philtaz]

Not that it's the font of all knowledge by any means but on QI recently Stephen Fry stated that after several concise studies it had been proved to be a myth.