Salicylic acid

• Half-eaten cupcakes, biscuits and lollies litter the floor, and the kids seem to have gained superhuman speed and bounce-off-the-wall energy.
• As a neuroscientist who has studied the negative effects of high sugar “junk food” diets on brain function, I can confidently say excessive sugar consumption does
  not have benefits to the young mind.
• But today’s scientific evidence does not support the claim sugar makes kids hyperactive.

The hyperactivity myth

• The myth of sugar-induced hyperactivity can be traced to a handful of studies conducted in the 1970s and early 1980s.
• These were focused on the Feingold Diet as a treatment for what we now call Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodivergent profile where problems with inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity can negatively affect school, work or relationships.
• Salicylates occur naturally in many healthy foods, including apples, berries, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, capsicums, nuts, seeds, spices and some grains.

Flawed by design

• The methods used in the studies were flawed, particularly with respect to adequate control groups (who did not restrict foods) and failed to establish a causal link between sugar consumption and hyperactive behaviour.
• But the idea still took hold in the public consciousness and was perpetuated by anecdotal experiences.
• The results were clear: in the vast majority of studies, sugar consumption did not lead to increased hyperactivity or disruptive behaviour.

Hooked on dopamine?

• The brain releases dopamine when a reward is encountered – such as an unexpected sweet treat.
• Dopamine function is also critically linked to ADHD, which is thought to be due to diminished dopamine receptor function in the brain.
• But in the ADHD brain the increased dopamine from these drugs recalibrates brain function to aid focus and behavioural control.

Why does the myth persist?

• Expecting sugar to change your child’s behaviour can influence how you interpret what you see.
• The allure of a simple explanation – blaming sugar for hyperactivity – can also be appealing in a world filled with many choices and conflicting voices.

Healthy foods, healthy brains