Sugar - What effect Does it Have on ADHD Children?

There are studies that supports the theory that sugar does not worsen  children’s symptoms with ADHD. On the other hand we have studies that have shown that sugar can increase hyperactivity in children who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

One research study supports the theory that sugar does make a big difference in children that have been diagnosed with ADHD. This research shows that children who have the symptoms of ADHD and who consume a lot food that contains sugar become more restless, hyperactive, and destructive. The diets that are high in sugar may cause inattentiveness to increase in children with ADHD.

Other research studies show that sugar can in no way contribute to a child’s ADHD symptoms or make the symptoms them worse. How can we know what research study is true. It is simple. Run your own research study and see if the child becomes more irritable, hyper, and has a harder time focusing after eating sugar.

The first step is to keep a 7 day food journal of what your child eats and how much sugar is in his or her diet. Does the diet contain a lot of candy, pie, cake, ice cream and soda pop? Then start removing as much sugar from the child as you can, including foods which contain corn syrup also. In the next 14 days don’t allow your child to have any sugar. On the morning of the 15th day give the child a sugar test by putting 3 tablespoons of sugar into the child’s favorite fruit juice ( please note that the juice has to be 100 % pure fruit juice). Then watch the child’s behavior closely. Does the level of hyperactivity increase? If the answer is yes ADHD symptoms have increased because of sugar.

Most recent ADHD Posts