Sugar doesn’t make kids hyper

The myth that sugar makes kids hyper has been debunked by a new report.

The Journal of the American Medical Association released a review of 23 separate studies on the subject, finding there is no evidence to suggest sugar consumption alone kicks kids into overdrive, according to SFGate.com. Rather, the studies found that because so many parents believe sugar will make their children hyper, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

One study separated mothers and their children into two groups—those who had been told their sons had consumed a sugary beverage, and those who were told they had consumed a sugar-free drink (while they were actually all sugar-free). The mothers who believed their sons had consumed the sugary drink reported a higher level of hyperactivity.

The review concluded that many people believe higher glucose levels will result in a burst of energy, though apparently most healthy people can’t feel the effects of a small blood-sugar increase at all.