Very recently, an article appeared in Psychology Today debating whether or not sugar caused ADHD in children. The gist of the argument behind this was that some studies have proven that there is a direct link between sugar and ADHD, while others contradict those findings. Psychology Today didn’t make a definitive link, but suggested that parents try their own experiments giving sugared foods to their kids one week and withdrawing them completely another, and then checking the results.
What the authors did state rather conclusively is that: “from cavities to suppressing the immune system, to taking the place of healthy foods, to increasing the risk of diabetes, to obesity, it’s well known that too much sugar can cause a range of health problems, even if ADHD is not an issue.”
So why do we still feed our kids–and ourselves–so many sugary foods?
It’s Cheap
In the United States where sugary foods are prevalent, farmers who grow sugar cane or sugar beet receive heavy subsidies from the government, which allows them to produce their crops cheaply.
The sugar industry argues that this is good for the economy, as it helps sustain an industry that employs 142,000 people. This may indeed be true, but like most subsidies, they benefit very few at the expense of everyone else. According to Bloomberg, each year, the federal government gives $25 billion in handouts to the farm industry. Most of it goes to large agribusinesses and farmers who on average earn much more than the average American. According to one analysis, about three-fourths of all agriculture subsidies go to just 10 percent of the nation’s farms.
The results of this are not only lower prices on foods that are far less healthy than non-subsidised, more expensive ones, but also the addition of sugar by manufacturers to ready-made foods. And why not? It makes their product tastier, and you’re more likely to buy it because our brains are wired to love sugar. Which brings me to my next point…
It’s Literally Addictive
Research proves that a high intake of carbohydrates, including sugar, releases the feel-good chemical in the brain called serotonin, leading to what we quite appropriately call ‘a sugar high’. Like any drug-induced rush, this feeling is only temporary though. After a few hours—or even a few minutes—you start to crash and you become tired, fatigued and lethargic–and crave even more.
Sugar is 8 times as addictive as cocaine–but it’s not only legal, it’s all around us! The worst part is, the more sugar you eat, the higher your tolerance becomes. What would make some people’s teeth hurt is exactly the level of sugar you learn to love. While hormonal and genetic factors may play a cause in food preferences, it’s ultimately your own dietary habits and food choices that create a deepening addiction. But the scary thing is, you may be feeding the ’sugar monster' without even knowing it!
