Since the early 1970’s, people have debated whether food additives result in children becoming hyperactive. Some research seems to suggest that children with allergies to certain artificial coloring and preservatives may in react adversely to these substances by becoming hyperactive after consuming them.  It is important to note that this association in children with allergies to food additives does not prove a cause and effect relationship between food additives and ADHD.  Assessing underlying food allergies is something that can be determined in consultation with a dietitian and allergist.

Whether sugar causes children to become hyperactive is another topic that has long been debated.  Children are sometimes reported by teachers or parents to “bounce off the walls” when they consume large amounts of sugar at one time.  Parent’s will say their ADHD children always act like this at birthday parties or other special events, where they have unlimited access to sweet foods.

What is important to remember is that very often, there is more than one thing going on. ADHD children frequently become over-stimulated at parties and have a difficult time regulating their own behaviour. Difficulty with self-control is well documented in ADHD. In addition, many of the foods offered at parties such as soft drinks (colas, Mountain Dew®, Dr. Pepper® and many brands of root beer) as well as chocolate-based desserts are high in caffeine; which is documented to speed up speech and metabolism.  This combination of factors may result in an ADHD child becoming “hyper” at parties but does not prove a cause and effect relationship between sugar containing foods and ADHD.