behavior of children. As for children with ADHD, sugar consumption has not been shown to cause or enhance ADHD-related behavior.
Of course, allowing sugar only in moderation makes sense for any child. Again, assuming leadership within the family, making healthy choices about what is offered to the child, and using behavior management to educate children to reduce sugar and processed food may have general benefits. If your child shows an uncontrollable craving for sugar and carbohydrates, discuss this with his pediatrician. Aside from issues relating to general health, a sugar-free diet is not considered a useful tool in treating ADHD. Researchers have found again and again that the simple elimination of sugar or candy, with few exceptions, does not help children with ADHD.
Aspartame, an artificial sweetener that became available in the early 1980s, consists of amino acids that cross from the bloodstream into the brain to affect brain function. (Interestingly, it was used as the placebo in some of the studies of sugar’s effects on behavior.) It was believed that among individuals susceptible to this substance, aspartame might lead to seizures or ADHD-type behaviors. No such effects have been demonstrated, however, and elimination of aspartame for children with ADHD is not considered an effective treatment except for children with phenylketonuria, a chemical disorder that prevents some people from being able to break down or metabolize aspartame.
Yeast- or Fungus-Free Diets
In the mid-1980s, Dr William Crook, a practicing pediatrician and allergist, popularized the theory that hyperactivity, irritability, and learning disorders in children could be caused by chronic candida (yeast) infection. The theory behind this is that when the immune system is weakened, or when antibiotics are being taken, “friendly” bacteria in the gastrointestinal system are eliminated and yeast can take over. Those who feel that this process has a deleterious role in children with ADHD believe that toxins produced by a yeast overgrowth weaken the immune system and make an individual susceptible to ADHD. Because of this they support the use of antifungal agents and sugar restriction. There are no sound studies that support this hypothesis or this treatment.