Chocolate and Soda; how harmful they are? hyperactivity in children?

Chocolate and soda drink. Who’s not love them? Almost everyone loves it and I do. Sometimes we even cannot control to eat them more and it is commonly happens in child. Child will eat what he/she wants without compromising their nutrient value. And the problems are how safe chocolate and soda-drink if child consume them in large quantity, how worst the effect and also how we can prevent it happens.

SUGAR CONTENT and SECRETION CORTISOL

Both of chocolate and soda drink are high sugar food and can be categorized as empty kcalorie foods. These high sugar foods can elevate the secretion of cortisol ‘the stress hormone’. In other words, high sugar intake have same influence similar to stress. In stress condition, the CRH in the hypothalamus increases and secretes more the ACTH in the anterior pituitary. As a result, cortisol releases and goes into the bloodstream within 10 – 30 minutes (Tanke, M., 2008). High condition of cortisol level can disturb immune function and other functional processes such as memory and learning (Maglione et al., n.d). This link between cortisol and high sugar food is proved by Gonzalez-Bono et al in 2002. They conduct this research by giving glucose solution, protein, fat, or water fast participants. In this reaches, they pointed out that cortisol levels were higher in participants who consumed glucose relative to the other dietary conditions. Calmness also was decreased in all subjects.

CHOCOLATE and MOOD
People believe that chocolate can elevate MOOD. It’s true, it stimulates production of serotonin. Serotonin is neurotransmitter system that contributes to appetite, reward and mood regulation. In perfect serotonin level, people feels calm and relaxed, however low levels on it, cause depression, poor sleep, and increased appetite (Farndon, J., 2007). But it is suspected can cause addiction because of ‘high’ felling which they stimulate (Chocolate Expert, 1997). Other good content in chocolate is phenylethylamine, chemical that stimulate nerve to release endorphins. Endorphins are natural painkillers induce a sense of mild euphoria (Farndon, J., 2007).

CHOCOLATE, SODA DRINK and CAFFEINE CONTENT
Caffeine is famous as major component coffee which can stimulate body to keep awake. Therefore many people does not realize chocolate and soda drink also contain caffeine. A cup of cocoa or glass of chocolate milk contains 5-10 mg of caffeine and 250 mg of theobromine. Actually the consumption of caffeine is not harmful for human body if in moderate amount. Both of caffeine and theobromine can lift mood and make mentally more alert. But in bigger quantities, they may cause anxiety, panic and insomnia. Furthermore they may cause headaches and raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels (Farndon, J., 2007).

CHOCOLATE, SODA DRINK and FOOD ADDITIVES
Other ingredient that needs to have a look is food additives. Even food and color additives are strictly studied, regulated and monitored for safety, Benjamin Feingold, M.D. still doubted about their effect. In 1973, he proposed that salicylates, artificial colours, and artificial flavours in food process caused hyperactivity in children. He found that the correlation but only little evidence has been generated to support this hypothesis. In 2007, McCann et al. also built research in effect of food additives. In their research, they removed food additives from the diet of a group of 3-year-olds and the children's hyperactive behaviour reduces. When they added back the food colourings and preservatives, the parents reported an increase in hyperactivity. They were not only brought this research in hyperactive children but also in general population and they still have gotten the same result. Another thing that found is the hyperactive behaviours increases more significant in children at least up to middle childhood (8/9 years old) compare to group of 3-year-olds children.

CHOCOLATE AND SODA’S CONTENT AND HYPERACTIVITY
Chocolate and soda drink contain high sugar, caffeine and food additive. These three components may reflect in their behavior. First, high sugar intake increases cortisol level which is also happen as response of stress. Second, caffeine increases heart rate, respiration and blood glucose level. Lastly, food additive relate to hyperactive behaviour. This combination affect hyperactive behavior but this symptom is not permanent and go back to normal condition when the food additive was removed from the diet. Besides that, chocolate also can increase secretion of serotonin in the brain and has chemical called PEA as mood elevator. These two components may slightly bring calmness in hyperactive children.

SUGGESTION
Since people know that it is only temporary condition of hyperactive, people need to eliminate any foods (not only chocolate and soda drink) which contain food additives to prevent food additives in children. Somehow chocolate and soda drink can be consumed but only in proper amount, not more than recommendation intake. This suggestion on limit the chocolate and soda drink also to remind that they are not only can increase children's hyperactive behavior but also major causes of childhood obesity and related health problems such as diabetes due to their high sugar content. Any parent should be more pay attention in choosing snack for children. It will be more beneficial to have more balanced diets with more fresh fruit and vegetables and less fast food fare compare to processed foods. They are many foods which can consider as healthy snack such as sandwich, fresh fruit, milk, yogurt and etc.

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