New Study Compares Sugar on Kids Brains to Trauma or Abuse

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Sugar has been a hot topic in the news, with recent research showing the negative health impacts such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, but what about sugar’s impact on kid’s brains?

A new study shows that not only does consumption of sweets and sugar filled products hurt the body, and cause oral health decay, but also consuming sugar can cause changes in the part of the brain that control emotional and cognitive function.

The study was published in the Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, where researchers found that sugar water diets given to rats had the same effect on the brain as if rats were exposed to early life trauma or abuse.

Over consumption of sugary sweetened beverages is a concern especially for young children the researchers explained, as this can cause detrimental effects on the development of the hippocampus, where stress regulating hormones like cortisal play a part of mental health development.

Latino kids consume more sugary sweetened beverages than their peers, increasing their risk for diet related diseases and according to the study, mental health risks.

More is needed to be studied on how sugar impacts brain’s functions, however researchers along with dieticians and doctors all suggest for parents and kids to rethink their drink when consuming beverages high in sugar.

To read the original article on this study, click here.