Christmas Treats: How Sugar Affects Young Minds

Christmas is a time of the year meant for a variety of things: getting together with friends and family, exchanging gifts – and enjoying all kinds of sugary treats!

Ask any kid and they’re sure to mention holiday cookies at the top of the list of their favorite things about Christmas, but many parents are concerned about the way that sugar can impact a young and growing brain. How sugar affects young minds is something parents should understand – so what does sugar do to a child’s brain, exactly? Read on to find out.

What Happens When A Child Eats Too Much Sugar?
It’s really easy to go overboard with sugar. After all, having just one can of soda puts you over the top of the recommended amount of sugar you should have in a day. When you throw in the fact that sugar is used (and hidden!) in such a wide a variety of foods, you can all but guarantee the average child is getting more than the 19–24 milligrams recommended by the National Institute of Health.

To understand the impact of sugar, you first have to understand what sugar does to the brain when eaten. Foods high in sugar activate the brain’s reward response and can also make you feel hungry. High-sugar foods elevate blood glucose levels – something the brain loves, since glucose is its primary source of energy. That’s why people who eat a lot of sugar crave it; the brain simply wants more of it.

Can Sugar Be Addictive?
You may hear a lot of talk about sugar being addictive – almost as much as some drugs. But is that really the case?

There have been numerous studies on this subject that show that sugar alters the reward system of the brain and drives people to indulge in it. It’s important to keep in mind that most of the studies drawing these conclusions have only been done on animals, but it’s enough information to help people understand that the sweet stuff does impact the brain and can make you crave it.

Does Sugar Affect Mental Performance?
Now you know that the brain loves sugar, that naturally leads to the next question: does sugar affect mental performance? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.

There are several ways that sugar can impact brain performance. For example: with an excess amount of glucose in the blood, the brain becomes foggy and cognitive function declines. This also impacts attention and memory.

Sugar can also impact mood. In people who have elevated blood glucose levels, feelings of depression and anxiety are often reported. It can also lead to deficits in motor speed, learning, memory, and other cognitive functions. Furthermore, a diet that is high in sugar has been found to reduce the chemical the brain needs to create new memories and help you learn.

With all the research that has been done, it’s safe to say that sugar definitely has an impact on brain function, which is why you should be careful of how much you and your children eat.

Does Sugar Affect Children’s Behavior?
Now that we understand how sugar can impact brain function, it seems safe to assume that it can alter a child’s behavior, too. But while there is a lot to understand about this complicated connection, there’s a lot of misinformation out there about the way sugar can impact a child’s behavior.

Many people tend to associate too much sugar with hyperactivity, but the link between sugar and hyperactivity in children is actually mostly a myth. Many studies have been done to explore the connection that may be present, but no concrete support has been found to link hyperactivity in kids with too much sugar. It’s also understood that hyperactivity in kids often has more to do with their sleep schedule or environmental factors.

It is important to note that some kids are sensitive to sugar, though, so your best bet is to observe your child: if their behavior does seem to change after they’ve had something sweet, you may want to limit sugar intake a little more. Remember, foods that are high in sugar also often are high in preservatives, artificial colors, and other things that can have an impact on some kids.

Should You Take Sugar Out Of The Equation Entirely?
Many parents wonder if the best thing to do is just get rid of sugar in a child’s diet altogether, not just watch intake around the holidays. But it’s important to remember that sugar, just as with everything else in life, is about moderation. If your child wants a Christmas treat, that’s something they should probably be allowed to have – in moderate amounts! It’s a great learning opportunity for you and your children to explore the idea of enjoying things in moderation, which is a lesson they can take with them their entire lives.

It’s also important to remember that all this talk about sugar refers to added sugar – the kind you find in baked goods and sweetened drinks. The natural sugars found in fruit and vegetables are not something to be avoided, as they’re often accompanied by important nutrients your child needs to grow and flourish.

Sugar isn’t the enemy. As long as you can model healthy eating for your kids, a few Christmas cookies aren’t going to tank their cognitive development. Just remember to teach your child the importance of healthy eating and enjoying treats in moderation, and you’ll be on the right track.

Featured image by Ignacio R on Unsplash