No such thing as a "sugar rush"

[KickHimInTheCrotch]

My DS (10) just told me that a number of his friends claim to be having a "sugar rush" after eating sweets/chocolate etc and run about being "hyper". I've never believed in the concept of a sugar rush and so have never suggested to my DC that it would have this effect on them. I know other parents that strongly believe in it and attribute certain behaviour in younger children is due to sugar and limit their DCs sugar intake for this reason. Presumably the DC are then behaving in the expected way by being "hyper".

I've just had a quick Google and can see that there are plenty of articles that support my POV although not necessarily conclusive on scientific grounds.

Obviously I limit my DCs sugar intake for health reasons including obesity and dental health but behaviour just isn't a factor for me.

AIBU to tell my DC that there's no such thing as a sugar rush. Do you have experience of sugar conclusively affecting behaviour in children?

Absolutely. Working in mental health with teens the role that diet and sleep plays is absolutely massive and they report huge differences in how they feel mood/energy/motivation and self-esteem wise when they’ve eaten well or slept well!

@KarlaKK tartrazine

I once had a gin that was really sweet accompanied with popping candy around the rim and candyfloss on the side. It was the first time I've ever laughed uncontrollably at nothing. My friend had to stay with me later than planned until I came down from it. Until this happened I didnt believe in sugar rushes either...

I agree that a balanced healthy diet is crucial for children and young people and one of the reasons that I limit sugar in my DC is to encourage them to eat proper meals throughout the day rather than filling up on junk. It's so important.

My daughter definitely reacts when having a treat like chocolate. Has a mad 20 minutes about 30 mins - an hour later. No, not just in situations where she would excitable like a party for example. Never really thought it about enough to decide if it’s bullshit or not but from my experience, I see a difference.

I think it’s a load of bollocks that parents tell their children and it gets passed along. There are chemicals and E numbers in certain products which can increase hyperactivity in the long term, but a little bit of sugar in a chocolate bar isn’t going to make a child bounce off the ceiling. I think when you get children together they get excited and egg each other on, to be honest.

Omg the entitled smugness.
I have a grown child with ADHD and im raising my granddaughter also with AUAdhd.
Be bloody great full, but how dare you suggest that its non existent and presumably in our heads.
The worse culprits were smarties and skittles before they were changed.
Many of the colourings have now been removed.
But one of the worse culprits was lemonade for my daughter believe it or not.
Sugar, particularly with sweets gives a child with already an abundance of energy a demonic possession quality.
P off with your smug mode arrogance

I'm 51 and I definitely feel it if I eat Harribo 🤣
I'm undiagnosed ADHD if that makes any difference

Don’t worry most people know it’s a real thing, just ignore them

I think they’re just talking about the way you temporarily feel like you have more energy after eating sugar. Then you get a slump. Not that it’s like being drunk or high or anything.

Or maybe it’s just me who experiences that? As an adult I mean!

I do think this thread is horribly smug tbh.

I agree it’s real - I was just wondering if people were expecting it to mean something more than it does.

Mine used to react that way to drinking a fruit shoot, and everyone said sugar rush yet he could stuff any amount of chocolate or other sugary foods with no issues, it was only ever the fruit shoots he reacted to so I think it's some ingredient in it other than sugar that he reacted to

Not sugar but whatever is in an orange fruit shoot send me son absolutely fucking feral.

For me it’s similar to caffeine, I feel jittery if it’s something really sugary, especially sherbert, tangfastics etc. I feel hyped and like my heart is going too fast

I can get a sugar rush but it has to very something mega sweet, not just cake or some haribo or something. Think bottle of Lucozade plus a bag of skittles. I don't really get hyper though, just really really productive. I aced my college exams studying at ridiculous hours of the night while mainlining Lucozade and Coke. It seemed to give me more focus.

If your kids act differently after eating sugar, you need to take them to the doctor. Their pancreas isn't working as it should.

It's utter bullshit.

Lucazade doesnt have sugar in anymore. They used to use it in hospitals for diabetes tests but they cant anymore.

I'm going back quite a ways here, I'm 36 now!

It does still have sugar, just not as much. It's gone from like 60% sugar to 13% tastes like mildew now.

My son has been known to get hyper and start behaving out of character from just a satsuma. It’s definitely a thing. And in my experience it MUST be down to how he processes sugar (as opposed to other additives) as it happens from fruit!

He’s not allowed juice / sweets / chocolate on a regular basis for this reason. We only give snacks that are balanced. Eg if he has fruit it’s with cheese / yoghurt / peanut butter.

We are not doing this to be precious! It’s because his behaviour is so clearly affected.

Just because you haven’t experienced it doesn’t mean it’s nonsense!

There is no such thing as a sugar rush. That's not how the body uses energy. The kids are just excited: essentially, it's a placebo effect.

Yeah my mum deliberately spoiled him cos she decided I was depriving him, so my rule was, feed him a fruit shoot, you keep him for the next 8 hrs! Didn't take long for the spoiling to stop! :-)

Sometimes after my DC has sugar it's like they're on crack so I think there's something to it

Ditto for my DC, one of whom has ADHD. They can eat a bowl of porridge oats with milk or a satsuma and be bouncing off the walls a short while after! The impact food can have on energy for my DC is marked.

People not “believing” in the well documented effects of glucose spikes 🙄

DS never had Haribo until one day at a friends kids’ bday bash I can certify a very clear difference in his behaviour almost instantly. My shy little lad turned into a 90s raver tearing around with his arms in the air. Also, if I have a citrus fruit and berries smoothie in the morning I’m a different woman. I think if you have a low sugar diet you’re more susceptible to a sugar rush?