Adult aggression is more likely in people who ate more sweets during their childhood. Doesn’t this surprise you? You might wonder what adult aggression has to do with eating sweets, which seem like harmless treats that put you in a good mood. But you can’t deny the findings of a  1970 British study, which found that 10 year olds who ate confectionaries every day were more likely  to be convicted of violence by the age of 34.

Cardiff University researchers found that 69% of violent adults were sweet addicts as children. According to Dr. Simon Moore, “Our favoured explanation is that giving children sweets and chocolate regularly may stop them learning how to wait to obtain something they want. Not being able to defer gratification may push them towards more impulsive behavior, which is strongly associated with delinquency.” Adult aggression is in fact a disorder which includes poor control of your emotions and behavior. Thus it is entirely possible that a child who has not learned how to delay gratification may have  less patience as an adult, which can lead to short tempers and impulsive behavior. 

But who can cut out sweets from our diet? Sweets are very comforting to most of us, and children love them. Can you stop your children from feasting on delicious cakes, puddings and chocolates in fear of adult aggression? I’ve heard of cases where inhibiting gratifications make delinquents of children too. What's the solution?

The key to sound mental health is balance. Make sure your children only eat sweets in moderation, and this will help teach healthy behavior.

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