Satsumas

[HellyMnelly]

Sorry if this is really well known already and I'm just going to look a bit foolish here, but yesterday I spoke to my mum (a GP) who told me about citrus fruit intolerance in young children. She said that it's quite common, particularly among boys, and it can give them a high followed by a major low. A bit like giving them tartrazine, I suppose. It's not well publicised as there hasn't been much formal research done into it, but most doctors know this happens. My DS (1.4) has been uncharacteristically crazy over the last few days after discovering satsumas and I think this may be what's wrong with him.

Sorry again if you've read through and already know all this, I hope I'm not just showing my total parenting ignorance!

[blueamema]

My dd (14 mths) has had quite a few over the past few weeks and has shown no signs of being crazy/hyperactive??

not something I had heard of?

[zippitippitoes]

it is the sachycilates (sp can never spell it right!) which have this effect

[MrsBadger]

Like all these sensitivity things the same things don't affect every child, so it may be that Helly's ds is sensitive and blueamema's dd isn't.

On the other hand it may just be that the satsumas mean Helly's ds is getting more sugar than he normally would if snacking on eg cheese or breadsticks, so is getting a sugar high / low same as chocolate. Or it may just be he's going through a very active phase...

[zippitippitoes]

here is the correct spelling!

Salycylates are Aspirin-like compounds that occur in many foods, such as apples, grapes, carrots, broccoli, some nuts, cola, tea, coffee, oranges and yeast in some products.

[MrsBadger]

(not sure re the salicylates - raisins, dates, prunes, blackcurrants and raspberries are all higher in salicylates than citrus fruit.)

[zippitippitoes]

salicylates

[blueamema]

I have given dd one small choc button a day since 12 mths (as a treat)... so maybe she is already used to the sudden sugar intake/rush??

Only an idea?

Maybe she has a sweet tooth like her mum !!
and she needs more sugar than others before showing any hyperactive symptoms?

[zippitippitoes]

It is something which affcets some children and not others

[HellyMnelly]

Thanks everyone, that's really interesting. I'm not sure if it's the fruit that's causing it - a few of his pre molars have come through recently so he may be being troubled by them. He may also just be reaching the age of boundary testing too (oh joy). He already eats plenty of fruit and has also developed a biscuit radar as well so I'm not sure if he's getting a sugar rush. I'll keep an eye on him. HM x