Sugar Doesn't Make Kids Hyper: Healthcare Triage #3

[@MissingSirius]

I think another problem is that parents who believe this will TELL their kid that sugar makes them hyper. That's just giving the kid a free pass to act nuts when they do get sugar.

[@IWantToMature85]

Yes, it does make them hyper!

[@ZathenHoopes]

Zechariah Cameron no. It. Does. Not. It’s a damn placebo

[@uyuyuy99]

@@ZathenHoopes a fucking placebo? really? do you have any idea what glucose is?...

[@marasluvvbot]

Lol when I was like 5 I ate sugar from the packet and ran around until I was tired

[@PudgieDaFrog]

@@IWantToMature85 it doesn't though

[@DrSpooglemon]

Kids ARE hyperactive. I'd be more concerned if a kid wasn't running around making a lot of noise. The problem is that the environment we have created is not suitable for kids to naturally be kids and the ones who are most able to inhibit their natural behaviours are looked upon as being "good" and those that don't are "bad" and blaming it on something the kid ate is preferable to thinking of your own kid as bad.

[@Gruncival]

I'm impressed, it's not every day I see an adult who remembers what childhood was like. Hyperactivity in the majority of children is only hyperactivity to adults--to the kids, it's just "activity".

[@debraketchner4438]

I was expecting an even longer disclaimer at the end. Like "no, sugar doesn't cause hyperactivity, but too much can lead to obesity and a propensity for diabetes, so there's other reasons not to give them sugar."

[@christinekeiferglass1631]

It's doubtful that there has been a randomized controlled trial on sugar and obesity, so that kind of disclaimer would have completely contradicted the message of his video.

[@debraketchner4438]

Christine Keifer True! Like smoking, that will never happen.

[@onemartinitwo]

Except that sugar intake does not cause obesity. Or diabetes. Sure, many high-calorie foods are also high in sugar (but not all). Eating lots of calories over what you need/can burn can cause weight gain in many people (but not all). And certainly, studies have shown weight to be correlated with onset of Type II diabetes. However. It's important to not make assumptions about this type of thing. Diabetes is, at least in part, genetically linked. No matter how "good" of a diet someone may eat, they may still get diabetes. Conversely, someone may drink a 24-ounce soda every day for 20 years and never get diabetes. That's not something so cut-and-dry that Dr. Carroll could have included it in a quick disclaimer at the end. It's also important to remember that talk about weight/diet talk with kids (talking about their weight, your weight, or somebody else's weight) is rarely a good thing. A study out of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health called Project EAT showed a correlation between weight talk in the home and a rise in dieting and disordered eating behaviors among adolescents of all sizes. Also, a 2009 study out of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality showed the sharpest increase in hospitalizations for eating disorders was in children below the age of 12. This is all something that merits a video on its own, but it's something to consider when discussing children's dietary intakes. (BTW I'm a grad student in dietetics, working towards an eventual Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist certification, so this is the kind of thing I try to make clear for people.)

[@papercranes07]

***** Thank you.

[@ataraxic89]

***** "Eating lots of calories over what you need/can burn can cause weight gain in many people (but not all)." What you just said is insane unless you have an explanation for how someone can violate the laws of thermodynamics.

[@TomKilworth]

John Green is the cherry on top of this series

[@Time_Traveling_Corgi]

I really hope this channel takes off, no reason it shouldn't get 100k views everytime.

[@healthcaretriage]

We tend to agree!

[@Time_Traveling_Corgi]

Healthcare Triage Even my conservative friends I have shared your videos with agree that your channel has merit, and coming from Utah that means something.

[@InuJF]

Tyler Gaisford Surprising indeed.

[@InorganicVegan]

Hey, can you PLEASE do an episode on GMOs? I'm tired of people always griping about how "bad" they are.

[@moonlitfractal]

I'd like to see this as a Scishow episode, explaining about pesticides and monoculture and any other factors outside of the food's actual genetic code that can affect the health of the consumer and the environment.

[@InorganicVegan]

moonlitfractal Yeah, but GM can dramatically reduce the use of pesticides and lead to larger crop yield. Heck, we already use GM. Look at insulin. We genetically modify plasmid DNA in bacteria so that they replicate to form an insulin-making colony, providing cheap insulin for diabetics.

[@healthcaretriage]

Another good idea.

[@Chaos_Alfa]

A recent study seems to indicate that GMO corn is linked to the growth of cancer tumors. foodmatters.tv/articles-1/gm-corn-linked-to-cancer-tumors EDIT: It seems this study is flawed, like mentioned below. news.discovery.com/earth/plants/gm-corn-tumor-study-120920.htm

[@kehoe319]

Chaos_Alfa That study is seriously flawed and nowhere approaches valid scientific testing. Same goes for the other well-publicized story that dealt with pigs fed GMO corn. news.discovery.com/earth/plants/gm-corn-tumor-study-120920.htm

[@kalaway]

My stats professor would be so happy this is in the world and well expressed. Great video! I've tried to tell my sister this a dozen times, but she rolls her eyes whenever I mention research and studies if they don't match up with her "observations".

[@healthcaretriage]

Per many of your requests, I added a link in the doobly doo to a JAMA meta-analysis that reviews many of the studies discussed here.

[@vlogbrothers]

somebody needs to learn how to spell dooblydoo. ;) -John

[@holesinmybrain]

The JAMA analysis is behind a paywall...

[@TheMcfeegle]

It's not just singly doo. It's doubly doo. Twice the doo. Twice the fun.

[@healthcaretriage]

audrey You should be able to see the abstract, and all the references, which contain the studies it reviews.

[@FromThanatosToSol]

***** I'm not sure there's actually a valid point to that considering the origins of the whole paranoia about artificial sweeteners seems to be largely based on some "common wisdom" derived from an E-mail forward from the 90s in which a health nut called Nancy was claiming Aspartame causes cancer. (which, if I remember correctly has been disproven countless times) I think another issue here is that certain groups of people tend to fall victim to the naturalistic fallacy, broadly assuming that "natural"=good and "unnatural"=bad, see the recent trend of the "paleo" scene and associated "alternative medicine", both of which seem to be majorily based on pseudo-science, studies taken out their of their context or whose limits haven't been acknowledged, personal anecdotes and "scene gurus" claiming all kinds of unscientific things, e.g. sugar being a toxin that is metabolized like alcohol or that only carbohydrates cause obesity. (for other nutritional trends see "clean eaters" or the whole Atkins shtick from a few decades ago)

[@landdcollection]

When I originally moved to the States it was really weird to hear about sugar making kids hyper. That was unheard of where I came from. 'Till today, a lot of countries don't share this belief. It makes perfect sense for the studies to have this outcome.

[@onemartinitwo]

This channel is quickly becoming one of my favorites on KZbin. I just love people talking about randomized controlled trials and correlation =/= causation. It makes me feel like people are putting reason and complex thought back into the cloud of media sensationalism.

[@healthcaretriage]

Made my day. Thanks!

[@GodShrimp]

I've been telling my family so much of what you talk about and they wouldn't believe me because "he was just a kid what does he know". So that's why I've subscribed, lots of good knowledge the world should know.

[@pseudonym1408]

So it's likely that GIVING your kids sugar makes them act hyper, but giving your kids SUGAR does not. I buy it. Kids get just as crazy when you give them a happy meal toy, and I'm going to assume most of those aren't ingested.

[@krishna2094]

"Most" being the operative word with children.

[@tabula_rosa]

***** I think she meant to say "Some". Well, "None," really, but what can I say? All those happy meals are delicious

[@veronicasalm]

This is something I kind of knew already. :) My mom runs a dayhome, and this past Halloween, she had a party for them(during dayhome hours) where they consumed almost no manufactured sugar. In past years, she's made things like pumpkin cookies or jello cakes to have as a treat. They were equally as hyper this year - with no sugar. It was just the excitement of getting to dress up and knock on their neighbours' doors that had them so riled up.

[@Offlian]

I hadn't expected this video to be more of a lesson in research methodology than the sugar topic itself, but I definitely think it's more important for people to know how to find validity in any claims like this. The smoking one is the best example of how that can go wrong. People need to be literate to proper research techniques and not anecdotal evidence.

[@julianmoore3163]

I really want to echo this statement. It would be great to see more work like this explaining how to interpret public debate. A well developed piece on public polling would be awesome. It seems to confuse so many people (even myself sometimes).

[@janicek871]

Absolutely agree! I grew up in Brazil and my parents did catering (weddings, dinners, parties, etc) and we had lots of sweets. I was never hyper and I my parents never believed that sugar made us hyper, I never thought sugar made kids hyper and always get confused hearing that.

[@pryingeyes1551]

You were never hyperactive because you had lots of sweets. Consumption of sugar releases dopamine in the brain, the same chemical which is released when you consume cocaine. However, if you had cocaine all the time, it's effects would be diminished. The more often you use it, the less it affects you. A high sugar diet actually dampens the release of dopamine, which is why you, as someone who ate sweets all the time, weren't subject to increased hyperactivity, while someone who rarely consumed sugar would be more susceptible to its effects. Out of a sense of nostalgia, I bought a Crystal Pepsi when it was re-released after being on a keto diet (not something I'd recommend) and I felt exactly like I had the only time I'd ever smoked crack. Why was the effect so pronounced? Because I was consuming about 16 grams of sugar a day which were just naturally occurring in non-starchy vegetables and I'd suddenly introduced 25 grams of sucrose which wasn't bound up in fiber. It was all immediately available to my brain. Cakes and candies, as you're no doubt aware, are also quickly digested, as they're just sugar and refined white flour. None of that pesky fiber to slow down its absorption. This doctor is lying. He's describing a bunch of ways in which a study can be flawed, which gives him an aire of expertise, but his conclusion is about parents impressions of their kids behavior, rather than examining before and after administering sugar or not. Interpreting a parent's report is just adding another filter. An untrained, biased one at that. This is bad methodology and I think he knows it. Dopamine is also released while socializing so a birthday party is a terrible control setting.

[@janicek871]

@@pryingeyes1551 You have a very strong opinion about this subject, but it’s not based on a scientific study, it’s your personal experience, while it’s true that sugar consumption can lead to the release of dopamine in the brain, comparing it to the effects of cocaine is misleading. You can’t compare cocaine with sugar. The notion that a high sugar diet dampens the release of dopamine is not supported by scientific consensus. In fact, sugary foods can trigger a release of dopamine in the brain, contributing to the pleasurable sensations associated with eating sweets. However, it's important to note that dopamine release alone does not directly cause hyperactivity. Regarding the anecdotal experience you shared about Crystal Pepsi, individual responses to sugar can vary, and personal experiences are not representative of broader scientific conclusions. Factors such as personal sensitivity, overall diet, and individual physiology can influence how someone responds to the consumption of sugar. It's worth mentioning that research on the effects of sugar on behavior and hyperactivity in children has been conducted using rigorous methodologies, including double-blind placebo-controlled studies. While no single study can provide definitive answers, the collective body of scientific evidence does not support the idea that sugar is a direct cause of hyperactivity in children. It's always important to approach scientific discussions with an open mind and rely on well-designed studies to form our understanding of complex topics like this one.

[@Drag0ncl0ud]

Watching this video made me think of something. If sugar makes kids hyperactive, then wouldn't childhood obesity not be a thing? There's your proof right there! HA!

[@CarineFrisch]

I am SO excited this channel exists. Way to go skeptics! Those who ask questions - who are curious - and who know the difference between Science and Anecdote. Thanks Hank, John, Stan, Aaron, Mark, and everyone!

[@elektrikhd]

I think I show this episode to people far more often than any other episode of Healthcare Triage (although I frequently recommend the channel as a whole). Also, "the plural of anecdote is not data" is such a great line.

[@stonescorpio]

I would love for you to address the "cracking your knuckles causes arthritis" assertion. The only studies I've seen have shown correlation, not causation. So, pre-arthritic persons may just be more prone to cracking their knuckles, or the same factors that lead to knuckle-cracking (for me, working with my hands or playing piano) may also lead to arthritis.

[@tabula_rosa]

I'm extremely right-handed. I crack the knuckles of my right hand almost exlusively, because of the same reason you mentioned doing it at all. Guess which hand I've developed early-onset carpel tunnel syndrome in? I'll give you a hint: life is often stupid and arbitrary

[@Th3AznOn3]

"The plural of anecdote is not data." Great quote!

[@alfredodiaz297]

Amazing. I just love how evidence you give. The way you explain things is technical but still very easy to understand. 10/10 would recommend.

[@TheEntroseth]

Really glad John linked to this because I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy, like, at least 95% of your future videos. Keep pumping out the great quality man!

[@healthcaretriage]

Thanks!

[@JeffLavezzo]

Double-Blinded Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial The greatest invention in the history of humanity.

[@mackgrout]

Awesome video guys, keep em coming! I really love the editing, the position change keeps it feeling like several interviews instead of one long interview type shot!

[@technogandhi]

"The plural (?) of anecdote is not data". I want this on a t shirt.

[@stonescorpio]

Ditto!

[@christfollower7315]

As a teacher, some of the most hyperactive days are after Halloween. I notice a difference. I think there is something to eating sugar and hyperactivity.

[@mami05]

I think thats more about the excitement of the evening before.. Or perhaps a later bedtime the night before.

[@xxSharpSide]

I'm not going to lie: when I saw this video was over six minutes I mental groaned and wondered if it would keep my attention for that long. And yes, yes it did. I retract my mental groan because wow. This was done very, very well. It may also help that I'm interested in research and trials (typically in an Ag sense, but regardless!) but it was something I was curious to find out how it was incorrect. I'm really looking forward to more videos on this channel, there have been some really good suggestions on this video in the comments. Keep it up!

[@healthcaretriage]

Thanks for sticking with it!

[@raphaelabacan9554]

I'm so glad I found this channel! How about making a video on other study designs like cohort, case-control, experimental, cross-sectional or ecologic! I'm sure my friends studying epidemiology would love those vids!

[@IncandescentFlame]

Thank you for this important distinction. It shows how little we can actually prove in regards to disease causation. It also shows how strong belief is.

[@joelrivardguitar]

So people are using this study to conclude there is no such thing as a sugar rush but what it means is sugar isn't responsible for hyperactivity in kids. There is a known effect on the mesolimbic pathway and anecdotally the sugar high is very real. It's very short lived, I feel it only while actually eating high sugar foods and it diminishes if I eat too much.

[@younglam88]

Thank you for making this video. I have been telling my friend in the US that sugar doesn't make kids hyper and everyone think that I'm crazy. When I was in Vietnam, I never heard of this myth.

[@iamalexkempton]

A good example of this is that lots of fruit juices have a high sugar content but you'd find a lot less parents saying that sort of thing makes their kids hyper!

[@TheNnn13]

Thank you for making it clear.I have been trying to explain this for so long to people.Eating candy and *acting* hyper is so in fashion around here with school kids

[@Sean_Barry]

Great video, loved it as always. I also wanted to ask you to make a video specifically on ADHD. I don't know if this is the kind of thing you plan on doing with your channel, but if it is, I think that many people don't really understand this condition very well. As you briefly mentioned in this video, it's a common notion that it's caused by lots of TV (or computer) usage. It's also quite common that people don't believe it's real at all, or that it only happens in children. As someone with ADHD, I find it very frustrating when someone tells me that it isn't real. I would really enjoy seeing your views on the subject, if you wanted to make a video about it. (I could also direct misinformed people to it, rather than trying to explain the condition myself, which I'm not very good at.) Anyway, keep up the awesome channel. I always enjoy your videos and look forward to the next ones.

[@Raiden-the-Goat32]

What people mean by ADHD is not real is that it's not a real medical problem. They are not saying the thing's it describes do not exist. As a person who was diagnosed as ADHD when i was little i agree with this. Basically everything that ADHD explains medically can equally be explained with a non medical model. ADHD drug's working can be explained with them being mind altering drug's.

[@zingeuron5094]

Finally someone who is willing to say parents have a hand in anything.

[@TheSometimesEpic]

Hey, have you heard that "Red 40", which is a dye in many foods, makes kids hyper? I know my friend's family believes this, and it is thus banned from their grocery list. Also, as a child (now teenager) with severe ADD/ADHD, I have yet to understand why a hyperactive child is such a negative thing to begin with.

[@BalooSJ]

Double-blind tests of candy-caused hyperactivity must be weird. I mean, would you give one group candy and the other sugar pills? :)

[@IceMetalPunk]

Oh, you! :)

[@romantheflash]

Thank you for highlighting the importance of RCTs, I still find a lot of people confusing Experimental studies (like RCTs) and correlational studies in my psychology courses. And a lot of people say "cause and effect" when they really mean correlational....So thanks for showing the importance of this :)

[@timegirl95]

You just basically taught everything from one of my week long psych units in about 6 minutes. Damn, man.

[@rileywood4314]

I need to show this to my friends anytime I've tried to tell them they won't believe me but u explain it very well

[@Ganok]

man, this is awesome. Keep them coming!

[@benmesserli]

It's hard to believe this video is almost 3 years old. It really holds up!

[@alpinesol]

This is a wonderful video, but without an explanation of how sugar actually affects the body, people won't be convinced that it doesn't make kids hyper. Everybody believes that sugar can give you a rush of energy, and since children are smaller than adults, it makes intuitive sense that this phenomenon would more greatly affect them. Without an explanation for why this inference is incorrect, the video is unlikely to sway those who disagree with its premise.

[@noodle4pancakes]

I love the comments on videos in the nerdfighter community before everyone else gets to it. All the questions, insight, and video suggestions. Its just brilliant. DFTBA!

[@lePKfrank]

Awesome channel, needs more publicity I think!

[@SlimThrull]

"Correlation is not causation." I have a new favorite channel.

[@AsifIcarebear3]

That sentence is incredibly, incredibly widely used and known. That's good because it means a lot of people are aware of it, but it's annoying because you hear it thrown around when it's irrelevant or as if it's some little gem that the person saying it smugly thinks you don't know about.

[@SlimThrull]

AsifIcarebear3 Widely used, yes. Widely known among the general public? Hardly. People confuse correlation for causation all the time.

[@AironExTv]

Great work. Will point folks to this video when funny facts come up :) .

[@MonkeySoup4all]

This reminds me of the correlation study going around that says that birth control can make you pick the wrong mate. The study stressed me out until I realized that it only suggested that those two things might be correlated. Regardless it's in all the women's magazines.

[@Chezmeralda]

I think some of my favourite parts of these videos is when John makes a cameo. LOL especially at the beginning. Like he honestly can't believe what he's hearing.

[@DontMockMySmock]

"The plural of anecdote is not data" is probably my favorite. . . i dunno, saying? proverb? In any case, I'm glad to hear you spreading it.

[@AmazingChili]

This is a really awesome channel. I'm without a doubt going to subscribe :) Thank you for all your work!

[@healthcaretriage]

Thanks! Spread the word!

[@WrenWarlock]

In the future, it would be good to link to these papers and such in the, ah, doobly doo. Not that I don't believe you, but because that's what other channels do when they make videos in the same vein.

[@Thesecretvalley]

Would you consider doing a video on the health effects of GM food? I'm reasonably certain myself that they are very few, if any, unless specifically modified that way, but lots of people seem very worked up about it and I can't quite figure out why.

[@westonparker5940]

Fear of science and the appeal to nature fallacy is why.

[@Sesarrbg]

GM food is controversial because of the environmental impact it has and because it can be next to impossible to test it for side efects in a reasonable time frame. Think about it: you can create synthetic food in a laboratory and you can perform clinical trials on it reliably because you are studying it in an isolated environment -- the lab. GM food is generally grown on open fields where the organism interacts with millions of other organisms (because it would not be economical otherwise). When you change the DNA of a plant you have no idea what kind of effects it can have on the environment. And the environment may affect the GM food in unpredictable ways as well. Personally, I belive it is a huge risk. I think GM food should be contained in isolated environments and studied for at least a few decades. It can be something that can threaten most of our food supply. In fact that's what western-european countries are doing. They have banned most kinds of GM food until more data on its safety is available.

[@westonparker5940]

Sesarrbg 70% of the 1,800+ studies that have been done on GM crops over the past few decades have been on environmental effects. Still, no negative effects have been found. The research has been done. All "we need more data" means is "I won't be satisfied until the results comply with my personal bias on the matter." Organic farming, on the other hand, requires more resources to achieve the same yields, so could actually be worse for the environment than GM crops.

[@Meloncov]

Weston Parker There is no evidence that GM foods are categorically bad for the environment, but there's plenty of evidence that the use of herbicide resistant GM crops, and the corresponding heavier use of herbicide, is bad for the environment. Something like Golden Rice isn't a problem for the environment, but Roundup Ready and the like is.

[@InorganicVegan]

Weston Parker Everything is natural! Those "all-natural" people are so stupid.

[@JuniorFanCirca1989]

"The plural of anecdote is not date." That's a brilliant line; I might just have to use that one.

[@ayeshahawkins8562]

Could you do a video on the rise of allergies and skin based ailments? My son is no quite 5 and has more specialist than most adults I know. I did see on the local news there has been a huge increase.

[@Rushmanyyz]

Not surprising. More than ever, we're using chemicals in clothes, food, and other daily-use materials. Also, fossil fuels have created the most polluted air the earth has ever known. I don't have direct data on this to site, it's only an educated stab at what you're speaking about but Googling "Environmental impact on allergies" would likely be fruitful if you can weed out the good sources from the bad (This is always key). Also, are your specialists Immunologists? If they are, you should ask them this question directly and demand that they explain why (Or why not) this question hasn't been addressed in a way that you were made aware. It's my opinion that a healthcare professional isn't doing their job if they aren't giving a child's parents a complete explanation of what their thought process and treatment outcomes are. It might be that they are stumped but you deserve to know why.

[@bruh1340]

The intro is the reason this channel still gives me hope for our human race. I really have a problem when CNN claims video games are bat but when it's cold outside, and you're in the house what else do you do?

[@kaleidocopia88]

Dear god can we please please please talk about vaccination.

[@healthcaretriage]

In what way do you want to talk about it? -stan

[@InorganicVegan]

Healthcare Triage Please make a GMO episode about whether or not they're bad for you! Please! :D

[@jag519]

Healthcare Triage I'm going to guess they want it talked about both just to tell what it's really doing, to disprove the myth that you could get the sickness you're trying to prevent from modern day vaccinations, and talking about if it could cause problems in children, like being a cause of autism and things. That's just my guess of what they're asking for.

[@kaleidocopia88]

Healthcare Triage The entire stigma associated with parents refusing to give their children vaccinations based on outdated studies. This of course leading to the current outbreak of measles in the country. Not only that but addressing the stigma associated with getting flu vaccines. That it is in fact capable of giving you the flu. Too many people don't understand what an attenuated live vaccine actually is.

[@kaleidocopia88]

jag519 EXACTLY!!!!

[@kevinalexander8368]

Wait, how exactly are we defining "Hyper Activity"? More importantly, how are we measuring it? Are we measuring leptin signals from fat cells due to sugar inhibitors going to the brain then telling the sympathetic nervous system to spend excess energy, or are we just "looking to see if kids bounce off walls"?

[@katielanger2706]

This video is actually helping me understand my statistics homework! Thanks!

[@RD743033]

Great video! I believe that a lesson is definitely needed around clinical type trials.

[@Robo983]

So, in this case the placebo wasn't a sugar pill! Personally, I would be able to recognize a sugar-free soda or lollipop as a kid. I wonder how they really ensured the kids' blindness.

[@nolanthiessen895]

I'm guessing artificial sweeteners. They taste sweet but act differently in the body.

[@tabula_rosa]

The easiest way to ensure blindness in children is with your thumbs. OH, YOU MEANT-- okay, yeah. I get you now. See, being clear when dealing with science is important. I was about to make a demonstration video for the purpouses of bettering the fields and, man, that almost got ugly

[@MastaGwee]

you ate a pediatrician whole?

[@HaShomeret]

This was a real emotional rollercoaster ride for my three year old who wants all the kid in the study and also himself to get the candy

[@saviorphoto]

please make lot more videos and don't end up like these awesome channels that just die off.

[@healthcaretriage]

We're planning on going a long, long time.

[@CarlyMFriesen]

great episode! I had heard this somewhere else, but its nice to know the facts behind it.

[@unfabulouslyfabulous]

thanks for this awesome channel! can't wait to see what the future holds :)

[@pilarroman5521]

But this trials were taken only with pure sugar? because it is proven that some aditives may improve hiperactivity in kids on high dosis. Love your channel!

[@ilovepinatas3179]

You sir have earned my subscription.

[@woobmonkeyp3537]

Funny how this myth persists. Personally, I'd expect the carb load of sugar to lead to the exact opposite effect: my guess is that after controlling for all other factors, sugar is more likely to lead to a napping kid. Then again, I'm coming from the position of a person with IDDM, so there's that.

[@tabula_rosa]

The main two side-affects of consuming caffiene are a short-term alleviation of the long-term symptom, and a long-term symptom of decreased energy. I assume that the reason people associate sugar with hyperness is because their kids are consuming caffeinated treats and coming off of their withdrawals. I grew up without a sense of thirst and so my body has associated the physical pains of dehydration with not drinking pepsi, to the point that I am hopelessly addicted. I didn't know until a year ago, though, so I never really thought about it, but when drinking or consuming something leads to, in your world, no longer feeling physically ill and getting long-term, slamming migraines, it lifts your mood and allows a child who would otherwise be miserable and sedate to be energetic for once, which they'll likely be extremely excited about. It's really an understandable myth. Also, I'm reminded of how extremely lucky I am that my body tolerates the awful things I do it.

[@oscarsanderson8068]

Could you perhaps post links to the journal articles somewhere? I would be interested to read them.

[@thanksfernuthin]

You are speaking my language! With something like this I consider what I call biased memory. A friend of mine was dating a twin. The subject of twins thinking the same thoughts came up. It seemed pretty far fetched. My best guess was that most people think the same things from time to time but when twins do it they and people all around point to it and say "See! They're twins!" and remember the events more vividly. So some mom convinced sugar made her kids hyper would almost always notice when her theory was proven and forget all the times they weren't. I'm guessing there is a scientific way to describe this.

[@thanksfernuthin]

***** Thanks! I figured there was a pro term for it.

[@Swiheezy]

"the plural of anecdote is not data" love it

[@cellogirl0096]

Thank you SO MUCH for making this video! Lots of people don't understand the difference between correlation and causality. Now I have a video to show them when they're wrong. :)

[@RoryKellyRockspin]

This channel is awesome, like a Ben Goldacres book in video format.

[@tsm1013]

Wonderfully explained video, Doctor

[@nikgau]

"the plural of anecdote is not data" I love that phrase

[@Hyperion400]

I learn so much from these videoes. Subscribed

[@EmbraceTheThunder]

You, sir, just got a subscriber.

[@healthcaretriage]

Appreciated!

[@hilburn-]

The plural of anecdote is not data This is one of my favourite phrases ever

[@samanthaj4800]

Another thing is that parents tell their kids that sugar makes them hyper, so they can’t eat it at night. So they believe they’ll become hyper and act that way

[@PogieJoe]

Great video! I've tried to explain this to my parents so many times but they simply don't listen to me. XD

[@SagaciousTechie]

Any chance we can get links to the specified RCT's mentioned in the video?

[@MeOnStuff]

Some of the studies are mentioned on his blog here: theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/sugar-and-candy-do-not-make-kids-hyper/

[@SagaciousTechie]

MeOnStuff Thanks! Although it would still be nice if the pubmed links were posted in the details below the video.

[@jobberforlife]

I like this, and I have decided to subscribe to your newsletter

[@TheChemicalMuffin]

Okay... this just blew my mind! So.... does the amount of sugar in my energy drink help me stay awake or is that just a myth as well and we could totally make engery drinks without sugar and they would keep me just as awake?

[@ZacharyAWilson]

In energy drinks, sugar doesn't provide the "energy" that you get, it's actually from a blend of Caffeine, B-Vitamins, and herbs. The sugar is largely for flavor and sugar-free energy drinks do exist.

[@Daniel-gd9hu]

This is a really good question and now i'm curious too. I mean, sugar is the basic substance that our bodies use for energy. So maybe you could get the same amount of energy simply from eating some food? I know a lot of energy drinks use caffeine which works as a competitive inhibitor to the chemical which is making you feel tired. Which just means that the caffeine is blocking you from noticing that your body is telling you it's tired. Now how something like 5 hour energy that says it has no sugar and won't give you the crash of caffeine actually works is beyond me. The stuff kinda scares me to be honest.

[@TheChemicalMuffin]

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[@TheChemicalMuffin]

Zachary Wilson Oh my gosh, I've been aoviding sugar-free engery drinks b/c I thought they wouldn't work as well, but that is really good to know! Thank you for that quick answer!

[@TheChemicalMuffin]

Arthur Dent we don't have 5 hour energy drink here, but that certainly sounds interesting... I just googled it and it seems to have some weird stuff (probably vitamins that I just have never heard of) in it, maybe that is why... does that stuff really work though?

[@mkoeman830]

Can you please do an episode on infant vaccination. My first child is due early January. I hear horror stories about vaccinations, what kind, to early, to many, etc. I'm unconvinced by most stories but with everyone shouting from all directions, it's hard to keep it together.

[@IceMetalPunk]

There have never been any valid, peer-reviewed studies linking vaccinations to any serious health problems. In addition, the rise of vaccinations has been linked to the decline of many diseases, and the complete eradication of smallpox and almost complete destruction of polio. As for what vaccines to give your child and when, it's best to ask his/her pediatrician.

[@healthcaretriage]

We're on it.

[@zoella79]

Healthcare Triage Oh thank you. I decided to vaccinate because it seemed that the benefits were worth the possible risk. Some of those childhood diseases are really scary. But I can't shake the feeling that some of them may be unnecessary.

[@theOlLineRebel]

Good to see this. Finally heard this reported some years ago (maybe after your film). Vindicated. Never believed sugar was a problem all my 50 years. Chocolate is part of much “candy” and that has caffeine. Never mind if kids are allowed to have sodas, plenty of caffeine. Cannot believe no one ever noticed this. My parents never said this to me and if anything, simply expected reasonable behavior and self-control. We were allowed and indeed spoiled with plenty candy and soda, but they never made comments about sugar being a reason or excuse. Excuse is one of the main reasons I believe modern parents who don’t do a darn thing to discipline kids, have for their behavior. Never mind all the other things they blame for kids bad behavior - “phase”, age, time of day, etc. But chocolate and sodas will indeed make one spike and have more energy.

[@TurboDally]

Kids are hyper BECAUSE THEY'RE KIDS!

[@caenonbrody4831]

Intro to psychology, thank you for letting me understand all of this.

[@IHasATates]

"Sugar-free candy. Blehh!" I lol'd. Well done.

[@Coffee_Charly]

I would love to see some really in depth videos of the pharmacodynamics of drugs, I also know that may be impossible and asking way to much. Still love the channel

[@MOAON_AABE]

Instant subscription, thank you for having the courage to say what needs to be said despite people's ignorant biases. That's whats so powerful about studies ,it proves things, it's the equivalent of ignorant people saying I don't believe in gravity. Well guess what FACTS don't care about your belief, gravity (like facts) are there and true whether you like it or not, so get over it. More of these educationally enlightening videos for the ignorant public please, thank you.

[@Cyber_Striker]

Do parents ever think that kids are happy that they have candy, and therefore act hyper and its not the actual candy itself?

[@MorganTaysha]

1:17 "First, we might get a bunch of kids together and give them candy"

[@DanteKael]

Mind.... BLOWN

[@DrLennieSmall]

What if this video is an RYC to see if people believe videos on the Internet? Riddle me that batman

[@Kaliebobalieee]

i love learning new things

Are there any studies showing a link between certain other additives and hyperactivity, like E123 which, while banned in the US isn't banned everywhere.

[@iKhanKing]

What? An unbiased video by Healthcare Triage? I must be dreaming.

[@Overonator]

It would be awesome if you talked about why we can say that "smoking tobacco products causes lung cancer" without actually doing placebo controlled randomized clinical trials. (Bradford Hill criteria for causation).

[@whtlarissa]

Here in Brazil it's not expected of kids to be hyper after taking sugar