Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSugar and ADHDHealth BenefitsHow to Cut BackWhen to See Seek Care

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Sugar and ADHD

Health Benefits

How to Cut Back

When to See Seek Care

Sugar does not causeattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and there is little scientific evidence that sugar makes ADHD worse.However, a low-sugar diet is beneficial for people with ADHD in terms of good nutrition.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)is a neurodevelopmental condition that presents with symptoms of restlessness, inability to sit still, trouble focusing, and impulsivity.

This article explores how sugar affects people with ADHD, how to reduce sugar intake, and when to see a healthcare provider.

Pekic / E+ / Getty Images

A little boy stands at a counter covered in baking supplies. He is biting into a cupcake.

Many parents and guardians of children with ADHD are used to hearing well-meaning but unsolicited advice to limit their children’s sugar in order to make them less hyperactive. But does sugar really cause or worsen ADHD symptoms? The science suggests it does not.

There is no evidence that sugar cancauseADHD. And there is very limited evidence that sugar may be a contributing factor in hyperactivity symptoms, both in children with ADHD and without. Studies have released conflicting results and none is conclusive. The studies that show a correlation indicate that more research is needed to confirm their results.

Recent study findings include the following:

If there is such a lack of evidence, why is the belief that sugar causes hyperactivity in children with ADHD so widespread? It’s likely because much of the so-called evidence comes from caregiver observation, which can be unreliable.

Studies have shown that parents and caregivers who expect to see an increase in hyperactivity after sugar consumption are more likely to perceive their children as more hyperactive after consuming sugar than an unbiased observer.

This doesn’t mean that parents and guardians are always wrong when they notice their children seem more hyper after consuming sugar—it just likely isn’t because of the sugar.

Often children are given more sugar than they are used to in situations that are already exciting, like at a birthday party or on Halloween. The stimulation from the environment may be more likely the cause of the hyperactivity than the extra sugar.

It’s important to note that organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) do not recommend special diets to treat ADHD.

Can I Treat My or My Child’s ADHD on My Own?ADHD is a chronic condition that begins in childhood and usually persists into adulthood. Optimal management usually requires guidance and oftentreatment from a healthcare provider. Treatment needs can also change over time.If you or your child is showing symptoms of ADHD, see a healthcare provider to discuss how best to proceed.

Can I Treat My or My Child’s ADHD on My Own?

ADHD is a chronic condition that begins in childhood and usually persists into adulthood. Optimal management usually requires guidance and oftentreatment from a healthcare provider. Treatment needs can also change over time.If you or your child is showing symptoms of ADHD, see a healthcare provider to discuss how best to proceed.

ADHD is a chronic condition that begins in childhood and usually persists into adulthood. Optimal management usually requires guidance and oftentreatment from a healthcare provider. Treatment needs can also change over time.

If you or your child is showing symptoms of ADHD, see a healthcare provider to discuss how best to proceed.

Do I Have a Sugar Allergy or Sugar Intolerance?

Benefits of a Low-Sugar Diet for ADHD

Experts recommend a low-sugar diet for all Americans.A low-sugar diet, however, doesn’t mean cutting outallsugars. Instead, it focuses on minimizingaddedsugars. Eliminating all sugars would not be healthy because sugar occurs naturally in fruits, milk, and vegetables—foods that provide important nutrients for growth and overall health.

Some of the benefits of a low-sugar diet may include:

Weight Management

Lowering sugar intake can reduce the risk of excess weight and obesity, as well as chronic health conditions. Added sugars also contribute zero nutrients but many added calories that can lead to weight gain.

Diets high in added sugar are linked to belly fat and visceral fat (the fat that surrounds abdominal organs).Excess body fat and visceral fat are associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, including diabetes, certain types of cancer, and heart disease.

Heart Health

Diets with greater than 20% of total calories from added sugars are associated with high levels of triglycerides—a type of blood fat that can increase your risk for heart disease.Reducing added sugars in the diet can help keep blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides at healthy levels, which decreases your risk forheart disease.

Brain Health

Foods that are good for brain health are low in added sugars. And most likely whatever is good for the brain is likely good for ADHD as well. Research shows that the best brain foods are the same ones that protect your heart, including:

Oral Health

Improved Mood

What we eat and drink may impact our mood. One study showed eating foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains was associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms.Another study showed a higher intake of total sugar was associated with increased depressive symptoms among obese adults.

Some studies have also suggested that sugary beverages are linked to a higher risk of depression. Yet other studies have found no relationship between sugar intake and depression risk.More research is needed to examine how sugar can affect your mood.

Cutting Back Sugar Intake

Even if it’s unlikely that sugar significantly affects ADHD symptoms directly, healthy dietary habits are important for people with ADHD, and for everyone. This includes consuming sugar in moderation.

Some ways to limit sugar intake include:

Try these additional strategies:

Foods to Avoid

Avoiding added sugars is the key. Added sugars are the different types of sugars and syrups put in foods during preparation, processing, or at the table. Examples of foods and drinks to gradually decrease or eliminate include:

Food Dye and ADHDThe research on food dyes is conflicting. Most don’t support food dye as acauseof ADHD, nor are they a problem for most people.Some studies, however, have suggested that people with ADHD can be sensitive to certain food dyes, which may affect them in ways such as worsening ADHD symptoms.It isn’t suggested that everyone with ADHD avoid food dyes, but an elimination diet to see if it helps is something to discuss with a healthcare provider.

Food Dye and ADHD

The research on food dyes is conflicting. Most don’t support food dye as acauseof ADHD, nor are they a problem for most people.Some studies, however, have suggested that people with ADHD can be sensitive to certain food dyes, which may affect them in ways such as worsening ADHD symptoms.It isn’t suggested that everyone with ADHD avoid food dyes, but an elimination diet to see if it helps is something to discuss with a healthcare provider.

The research on food dyes is conflicting. Most don’t support food dye as acauseof ADHD, nor are they a problem for most people.

Some studies, however, have suggested that people with ADHD can be sensitive to certain food dyes, which may affect them in ways such as worsening ADHD symptoms.

It isn’t suggested that everyone with ADHD avoid food dyes, but an elimination diet to see if it helps is something to discuss with a healthcare provider.

When to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider

If you or your child are showing signs of ADHD, see a healthcare provider. They can help you with a diagnosis and work with you to formulate a treatment plan.

If you have concerns about nutrition and dietary habits, your healthcare provider can refer you to aqualified nutrition specialist.

Summary

22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Pediatrics.Allergies and hyperactivity.Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.What is ADHD?Del-Ponte B, Anselmi L, Assunção MCF, et al.Sugar consumption and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A birth cohort study.J Affect Disord. 2019;243:290-296. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.051Farsad-Naeimi A, Asjodi F, Omidian M, et al.Sugar consumption, sugar sweetened beverages and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Complement Ther Med. 2020;53:102512. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102512Johnson RJ, Wilson WL, Bland ST, Lanaspa MA.Fructose and uric acid as drivers of a hyperactive foraging response: A clue to behavioral disorders associated with impulsivity or mania?Evol Hum Behav. 2021;42(3):194-203. doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.09.006Winchester Hospital.True or false: eating sugar tends to make children hyperactive.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.American Heart Association.Added sugars.Yi SY, Steffen LM, Terry JG, et al.Added sugar intake is associated with pericardial adipose tissue volume.European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2020;27(18):2016-2023. doi:10.1177/2047487320931303Rippe JM, Angelopoulos TJ.Relationship between added sugars consumption and chronic disease risk factors: Current understanding.Nutrients. 2016;8(11):697. doi:10.3390/nu8110697Kelly RK, Tong TYN, Watling CZ, et al.Associations between types and sources of dietary carbohydrates and cardiovascular disease risk: a prospective cohort study of UK Biobank participants.BMC Medicine. 2023;21(1):34. doi:10.1186/s12916-022-02712-7Harvard Medical School.Foods linked to better brainpower.González FE, Báez RV.IN TIME: IMPORTANCE OF OMEGA 3 IN CHILDREN’S NUTRITION. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2017 Jan-Mar;35(1):3-4. doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/;2017;35;1;00018World Health Organization.Sugar and dental caries.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Oral health conditions.Huang Q, Liu H, Suzuki K, Ma S, Liu C.Linking what we eat to our mood: A review of diet, dietary antioxidants, and depression.Antioxidants. 2019; 8(9):376. doi10.3390/antiox8090376Li P, Yin F, Zhao Y, et al.Total sugar intake is associated with higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in obese adults. Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 13;10:1069162. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1069162Knüppel A, Shipley MJ, Llewellyn CH, Brunner EJ.Sugar intake from sweet food and beverages, common mental disorder and depression: Prospective findings from the Whitehall II study.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):6287. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05649-7Health Stand.ADHD diet: detailed guide to nutrition for ADHD.American Heart Association.Tips for cutting down on sugar.Holton KF, Johnstone JM, Brandley ET, Nigg JT.Evaluation of dietary intake in children and college students with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Nutr Neurosci. 2019;22(9):664-677. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2018.1427661Rambler RM, Rinehart E, Boehmler W, et al.A Review of the Association of Blue Food Coloring With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children. Cureus. 2022 Sep 16;14(9):e29241. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29241

22 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Pediatrics.Allergies and hyperactivity.Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.What is ADHD?Del-Ponte B, Anselmi L, Assunção MCF, et al.Sugar consumption and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A birth cohort study.J Affect Disord. 2019;243:290-296. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.051Farsad-Naeimi A, Asjodi F, Omidian M, et al.Sugar consumption, sugar sweetened beverages and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Complement Ther Med. 2020;53:102512. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102512Johnson RJ, Wilson WL, Bland ST, Lanaspa MA.Fructose and uric acid as drivers of a hyperactive foraging response: A clue to behavioral disorders associated with impulsivity or mania?Evol Hum Behav. 2021;42(3):194-203. doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.09.006Winchester Hospital.True or false: eating sugar tends to make children hyperactive.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.American Heart Association.Added sugars.Yi SY, Steffen LM, Terry JG, et al.Added sugar intake is associated with pericardial adipose tissue volume.European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2020;27(18):2016-2023. doi:10.1177/2047487320931303Rippe JM, Angelopoulos TJ.Relationship between added sugars consumption and chronic disease risk factors: Current understanding.Nutrients. 2016;8(11):697. doi:10.3390/nu8110697Kelly RK, Tong TYN, Watling CZ, et al.Associations between types and sources of dietary carbohydrates and cardiovascular disease risk: a prospective cohort study of UK Biobank participants.BMC Medicine. 2023;21(1):34. doi:10.1186/s12916-022-02712-7Harvard Medical School.Foods linked to better brainpower.González FE, Báez RV.IN TIME: IMPORTANCE OF OMEGA 3 IN CHILDREN’S NUTRITION. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2017 Jan-Mar;35(1):3-4. doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/;2017;35;1;00018World Health Organization.Sugar and dental caries.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Oral health conditions.Huang Q, Liu H, Suzuki K, Ma S, Liu C.Linking what we eat to our mood: A review of diet, dietary antioxidants, and depression.Antioxidants. 2019; 8(9):376. doi10.3390/antiox8090376Li P, Yin F, Zhao Y, et al.Total sugar intake is associated with higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in obese adults. Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 13;10:1069162. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1069162Knüppel A, Shipley MJ, Llewellyn CH, Brunner EJ.Sugar intake from sweet food and beverages, common mental disorder and depression: Prospective findings from the Whitehall II study.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):6287. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05649-7Health Stand.ADHD diet: detailed guide to nutrition for ADHD.American Heart Association.Tips for cutting down on sugar.Holton KF, Johnstone JM, Brandley ET, Nigg JT.Evaluation of dietary intake in children and college students with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Nutr Neurosci. 2019;22(9):664-677. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2018.1427661Rambler RM, Rinehart E, Boehmler W, et al.A Review of the Association of Blue Food Coloring With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children. Cureus. 2022 Sep 16;14(9):e29241. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29241

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Academy of Pediatrics.Allergies and hyperactivity.Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.What is ADHD?Del-Ponte B, Anselmi L, Assunção MCF, et al.Sugar consumption and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A birth cohort study.J Affect Disord. 2019;243:290-296. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.051Farsad-Naeimi A, Asjodi F, Omidian M, et al.Sugar consumption, sugar sweetened beverages and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Complement Ther Med. 2020;53:102512. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102512Johnson RJ, Wilson WL, Bland ST, Lanaspa MA.Fructose and uric acid as drivers of a hyperactive foraging response: A clue to behavioral disorders associated with impulsivity or mania?Evol Hum Behav. 2021;42(3):194-203. doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.09.006Winchester Hospital.True or false: eating sugar tends to make children hyperactive.U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.American Heart Association.Added sugars.Yi SY, Steffen LM, Terry JG, et al.Added sugar intake is associated with pericardial adipose tissue volume.European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2020;27(18):2016-2023. doi:10.1177/2047487320931303Rippe JM, Angelopoulos TJ.Relationship between added sugars consumption and chronic disease risk factors: Current understanding.Nutrients. 2016;8(11):697. doi:10.3390/nu8110697Kelly RK, Tong TYN, Watling CZ, et al.Associations between types and sources of dietary carbohydrates and cardiovascular disease risk: a prospective cohort study of UK Biobank participants.BMC Medicine. 2023;21(1):34. doi:10.1186/s12916-022-02712-7Harvard Medical School.Foods linked to better brainpower.González FE, Báez RV.IN TIME: IMPORTANCE OF OMEGA 3 IN CHILDREN’S NUTRITION. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2017 Jan-Mar;35(1):3-4. doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/;2017;35;1;00018World Health Organization.Sugar and dental caries.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Oral health conditions.Huang Q, Liu H, Suzuki K, Ma S, Liu C.Linking what we eat to our mood: A review of diet, dietary antioxidants, and depression.Antioxidants. 2019; 8(9):376. doi10.3390/antiox8090376Li P, Yin F, Zhao Y, et al.Total sugar intake is associated with higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in obese adults. Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 13;10:1069162. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1069162Knüppel A, Shipley MJ, Llewellyn CH, Brunner EJ.Sugar intake from sweet food and beverages, common mental disorder and depression: Prospective findings from the Whitehall II study.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):6287. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05649-7Health Stand.ADHD diet: detailed guide to nutrition for ADHD.American Heart Association.Tips for cutting down on sugar.Holton KF, Johnstone JM, Brandley ET, Nigg JT.Evaluation of dietary intake in children and college students with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Nutr Neurosci. 2019;22(9):664-677. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2018.1427661Rambler RM, Rinehart E, Boehmler W, et al.A Review of the Association of Blue Food Coloring With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children. Cureus. 2022 Sep 16;14(9):e29241. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29241

American Academy of Pediatrics.Allergies and hyperactivity.

Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.What is ADHD?

Del-Ponte B, Anselmi L, Assunção MCF, et al.Sugar consumption and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A birth cohort study.J Affect Disord. 2019;243:290-296. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.051

Farsad-Naeimi A, Asjodi F, Omidian M, et al.Sugar consumption, sugar sweetened beverages and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Complement Ther Med. 2020;53:102512. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102512

Johnson RJ, Wilson WL, Bland ST, Lanaspa MA.Fructose and uric acid as drivers of a hyperactive foraging response: A clue to behavioral disorders associated with impulsivity or mania?Evol Hum Behav. 2021;42(3):194-203. doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2020.09.006

Winchester Hospital.True or false: eating sugar tends to make children hyperactive.

U.S. Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

American Heart Association.Added sugars.

Yi SY, Steffen LM, Terry JG, et al.Added sugar intake is associated with pericardial adipose tissue volume.European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2020;27(18):2016-2023. doi:10.1177/2047487320931303

Rippe JM, Angelopoulos TJ.Relationship between added sugars consumption and chronic disease risk factors: Current understanding.Nutrients. 2016;8(11):697. doi:10.3390/nu8110697

Kelly RK, Tong TYN, Watling CZ, et al.Associations between types and sources of dietary carbohydrates and cardiovascular disease risk: a prospective cohort study of UK Biobank participants.BMC Medicine. 2023;21(1):34. doi:10.1186/s12916-022-02712-7

Harvard Medical School.Foods linked to better brainpower.

González FE, Báez RV.IN TIME: IMPORTANCE OF OMEGA 3 IN CHILDREN’S NUTRITION. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2017 Jan-Mar;35(1):3-4. doi: 10.1590/1984-0462/;2017;35;1;00018

World Health Organization.Sugar and dental caries.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Oral health conditions.

Huang Q, Liu H, Suzuki K, Ma S, Liu C.Linking what we eat to our mood: A review of diet, dietary antioxidants, and depression.Antioxidants. 2019; 8(9):376. doi10.3390/antiox8090376

Li P, Yin F, Zhao Y, et al.Total sugar intake is associated with higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in obese adults. Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 13;10:1069162. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1069162

Knüppel A, Shipley MJ, Llewellyn CH, Brunner EJ.Sugar intake from sweet food and beverages, common mental disorder and depression: Prospective findings from the Whitehall II study.Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):6287. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-05649-7

Health Stand.ADHD diet: detailed guide to nutrition for ADHD.

American Heart Association.Tips for cutting down on sugar.

Holton KF, Johnstone JM, Brandley ET, Nigg JT.Evaluation of dietary intake in children and college students with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Nutr Neurosci. 2019;22(9):664-677. doi:10.1080/1028415X.2018.1427661

Rambler RM, Rinehart E, Boehmler W, et al.A Review of the Association of Blue Food Coloring With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children. Cureus. 2022 Sep 16;14(9):e29241. doi: 10.7759/cureus.29241

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