Dr. Ana-Maria Temple explains how sugary cereals spike blood glucose and insulin, triggering inflammation and a crash within 30-40 minutes. The result: tantrums, inattention, and behavioral problems that disrupt school performance.
Does a cereal breakfast do more harm than good? A sugary breakfast can be dangerous for kids because it raises the glycemic index. What that means is that when we eat a sugary breakfast, the sugar spikes, which then spikes the insulin, which triggers an inflammatory reaction. But not only that, when the insulin spikes, it drops the sugar suddenly. And then all of a sudden, within 30, 40 minutes after a sugary breakfast, children have tantrums. They're not focused, they are inattentive, and they're causing a lot of problems in schools.
