The Real Reason Sweets Make Kids Jumpy?

Despite the lack of science to back the connection, most parents swear that eating sugary foods makes their kids act out. It turns out parents may be right, but for the wrong reason: A recent English study found a link between hyperactivity and the additives commonly found in processed sweets, candy, and sodas.

Alternative-minded nutritionists have been warning of the link for a while, but research on the topic has been difficult, partly because of the problem of relying on food diaries with young kids. This time, researchers studied 277 three-year-olds and compared their behavior on an additive-free diet with their behavior on a diet that contained some common food colorings and the preservative sodium benzoate. Based on parents’ descriptions of their kids’ behavior on both regimens, the researchers predict that if all kids ate an additive-free diet, the incidence of hyperactivity would drop by more than half.

While the additives affected all the kids, the researchers say those with borderline hyperactivity may be especially vulnerable. They may even develop social and learning problems they might not otherwise have had. While food additives certainly aren’t the only factor affecting hyperactivity, avoiding processed food is always a good strategy, says John Warner, the researcher who led the study. “Stick to fresh. It will benefit your kids in numerous ways.”

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