The 'crazy' duality in your child's life, what I call the Dr. Jekyll/Mr.
Hyde syndrome, is a result of sugar sensitivity. Your child may feel
crazy, but he is not. The problem is biochemical. It's not his fault and
it is not your fault. If she is sugar sensitive, there are three things
in her body chemistry that contribute to the 'crazy' feelings:
the
level of sugar in her blood
the level of the chemical serotonin in her
brain
the level of the chemical beta-endorphin in her brain
The Root of the Problem
An imbalance in the level of any one of these chemicals
can bring about striking changes in the way your child feels or acts
When all three are out of balance, it is almost impossible to isolate
which one is making her feel so bad.
How Sugar Sensitivity Can Affect Your Child
Low Blood Sugar
Low Level of
Serotonin
Low Level of Beta
Endorphin
Tired all the time
Depressed
Low pain tolerance
Tired for no reason
Impulsive
Tearful, reactive
Restless, canęt keep
still
Short attention span
Low self-esteem
Confused
Blocked, scattered
Overwhelmed by othersę
pain
Has trouble remembering
Flies off the handle
Feels isolated
Has trouble concentrating
Suicidal
Depressed, hopeless
Easily frustrated
Reactive
Feels –done to” by others
More irritable than usual
Craves sweets
Craves sugar!
Gets angry unexpectedly
Craves mostly
carbohydrates like bread, pasta and cereal
Emotionally overwhelmed
Optimal Blood Sugar
Optimal Level of
Serotonin
Optimal Level of Beta-endorphin
Energetic
Hopeful, optimistic
High tolerance for pain
Tired when appropriate
Reflective and thoughtful
Sensitive, sympathetic
Focused and relaxed
Able to concentrate
High self-esteem
Clear
Creative, focused
Compassionate
Has good memory
Able to think things
through
Connected and in touch
Able to concentrate
Able to seek help
Hopeful, optimistic,
euphoric
Able to solve problems
effectively
Responsive
Takes personal
responsibility
Easygoing
Looks forward to desert a
bit
Take-it-or-leave-it
attitude towards sweet foods.
Even-tempered
Hungry for healthy foods
Solution-oriented
If you change the food, the imbalance heals and the optimum levels bring those behavioral changes.