How Does Sugar Affect Kids' Performance in School?

Brain Functioning

• The human brain needs a consistent supply of glucose to fuel itself for optimal performance. Your body converts sugar into glucose, which dissolves into blood and is circulated to the brain. With an energized brain, kids experience improved mental activity, and can study for longer times, improving their chances of scoring higher grades. However, according to a 2012 report published in the "Journal of Physiology," high sugar consumption impairs cognitive abilities such as learning. Feed your kids low-carbohydrate foods such as spinach, broccoli, spaghetti, soybeans and whole fat milk. Such foods result in a moderate rise in blood glucose, suitable for academic improvement in kids.

Sugar and Obesity

• A high sugar intake can lead to obesity, a condition that makes kids vulnerable to diseases such as diabetes, gallstones and high blood pressure. In a 2012 article published at Researchgate.com, Richard G. Mathias of the University of Columbia, Vancouver, identified over-consumption of sugary foods as the single underlying cause of obesity in children. Kids suffering from these health problems are likely to be absent from school, affecting their studies negatively. Overweight children are prone to low esteem, which contributes to low academic achievement. Keep your children away from sugary drinks and encourage them to drink lots of water to avoid excessive weight gain.

Sugar and Attention Disorders

• The National Institute of Mental health suggests that consumption of too much refined sugar causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in kids. Some symptoms of ADHD are over-activity and the inability to stay focused or pay attention. Kids with ADHD are unable to concentrate while studying or sit quietly in class. This makes it difficult for them to finish school tasks or get along with their classmates, resulting in dismal academic performance. Take your child to a hospital for an examination and therapeutic treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises you to attend educational forums on how to handle kids with ADHD.

Memory and Depression

• Much of your kids' ability to excel in examinations depends on their ability to remember what they have studied. Sugar consumption has the potential to alter your memory. Too much sugar can make you forgetful and induces depression. Writing in a 2012 article, Therese J. Borchard, associate editor at Pyschcentral.com, asserts that lots of sugar increases glucose levels in your blood, giving you symptoms such as fatigue, depression, forgetfulness, poor concentration and blurred vision. Students with those symptoms face a big challenge improving their grades. Encourage your kids to engage in physical activities to improve the body's ability to regulate the glucose level in blood, and keep depression at bay.