Question

After reviewing 23 empircial studies on sugar and children, Dr, Mark Wolraich and colleagues concluded that sugar DOES NOT affect aggression, mood, motor skillls, or cognitive skills. Yet people claim that despite any research, they know there is a casual relation because they have seen it many times. Why are even multiple naturalistic observations of "seeing children eating sugar and being active" not good evidence supporting a cause and effect connection? 2. What other explanations might exist for why one can observe children eating sugar and being active?

Answer 1

1. Sugar is a sweetening substance made from sugarcane juice. It contains carbohydrates (sucrose). When the sugar is consumed the carbohydrates are broken into simple sugar and absorbed by the bloodstream. The slow combustion of carbohydrates provides energy. The children who take more sugar feel active because of the burning of carbohydrates that get converted into energy.

2. The experimental studies have not specifically found the relation between aggression and sugar. But the children who take more sugar the insulin level in the blood increases that interfere with neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help to keep the mood stable, which shows that the high level of sugar has a negative effect on the child's brain, the excess of sugar intake can affect the hippocampus area of the brain that is important for connecting senses and emotions. As excessive sugar affects the brain functioning the children show anxiety and depression leading to aggression. Still, the research is going on to find out the relation between aggressiveness and sugar intake.