Do party foods make children hyperactive?
Most parents assume that children plus sugary foods equals raucous and uncontrollable behaviour – the dreaded sugar “high”. But although a child can consume the equivalent of 20 to 30 teaspoonfuls of sugar at a typical children’s party, the “high” is a myth. The body doesn’t use up all its sugar all at once: if there’s extra glucose available, it squirrels some away to have later. True, blood-glucose levels will rise slightly and temporarily – but will soon be back to normal. And even if the blood-glucose level is slightly raised, your brain doesn’t start working faster. Brain cells have only one speed. So if kids consume lots of cakes at a party, they may feel full, even sick, but it won’t make them hyperactive. To prove the science, we held two carefully orchestrated children’s parties. The first was a high-energy romp with an entertainer and music – but hardly any sugar. When the parents dropped off their children, they saw plates of sugar-rich goodies that they assumed were for the
