We’ve all heard people say, “Sugar makes children hyper.” Maybe you’ve even noticed kids acting wild after eating sweets. But guess what? That’s actually a misconception! Just like the myth that “You only use ten percent of your brain” (when in fact, you use all of it), there are some common misunderstandings about sugar. Let’s explore a few of them.
Many studies have looked into how kids behave after eating different amounts of sugar, whether it’s natural sugar from fruit or added sugar from candy. Surprisingly, none of these studies found a big difference in behavior between kids who had sugar and those who didn’t. In one study, parents thought their kids were more hyper after drinking a sugary drink, even when the drink was actually sugar-free! Often, it’s the environment that makes kids excited, like being at a party or with friends, not the sugar itself.
It’s true that sugar can lead to tooth decay, but it doesn’t directly rot your teeth. Your mouth is home to many types of bacteria, and some of these can cause cavities. The main troublemaker is a bacterium that feeds on carbohydrates left on your teeth from sugars or starches. This bacterium produces lactic acid, which can wear down your enamel. So, while sugar itself doesn’t rot your teeth, it plays a big part in the process by leaving residue for bacteria to feast on.
You might have seen a “Tongue Map” showing different taste zones, but this isn’t accurate. This myth started from a study in 1901 and wasn’t debunked until 1974. In reality, taste buds are spread all over your tongue. These taste buds are in tiny bumps that give your tongue its rough feel. Different cells in the taste buds respond to sweet, sour, salty, bitter, or umami flavors. When these cells are activated, they send signals to your brain, which then identifies the taste.
I used to believe some of these misconceptions myself! While researching for episodes about sugar, I found out that some details I thought were true weren’t entirely accurate. For example, I once showed an image highlighting the tip of the tongue for sweetness, which is a myth. Also, recent studies show that it’s not sugar itself that causes tooth decay, but the lactic acid from bacteria feeding on sugar left on teeth. However, sugar is still a key player in this process.
It’s surprising that the tongue map myth was debunked in 1974, yet it was still in my high school textbooks not too long ago. I never questioned it and believed it for years. As the famous physicist Richard Feynman said, “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” Thanks for reading, and I appreciate all your comments. See you next time!
Conduct a simple experiment to observe the effects of sugar on behavior. Gather a group of friends and have half of them consume a sugary snack while the other half eats a sugar-free snack. Observe and record any changes in behavior. Discuss your findings and compare them to the studies mentioned in the article.
Create a model to demonstrate how sugar contributes to tooth decay. Use eggshells to represent teeth and soak them in different liquids like sugary soda, water, and vinegar. Observe the changes over a week and discuss how sugar and acids affect tooth enamel, relating it to the bacterial process described in the article.
Test the tongue map myth by sampling different flavors (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami) and noting where you perceive each taste on your tongue. Share your results with classmates and discuss how this activity debunks the misconception about taste zones on the tongue.
Research another common misconception related to food or health. Prepare a short presentation to share with the class, explaining the misconception, the truth behind it, and why people might believe it. Use the article as a model for how to structure your findings.
Create a quiz for your classmates with statements about sugar and other common misconceptions. Include both true and false statements. After the quiz, reveal the correct answers and discuss why certain misconceptions persist, using examples from the article.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
“Sugar makes children hyper.” We’ve all heard this before and maybe you’ve even observed it in kids. But…it’s actually a misconception. There are many widely believed misconceptions about science that are incorrect – like “You only use ten percent of your brain.” In reality, you use one hundred percent of your brain. Here are a few misconceptions about sugar that I’ve noticed recently.
**Misconception 1: Sugar makes children hyper.** At least a dozen studies have examined how children behave on diets with varying levels of sugar – both natural sugars found in fruit and added sugars found in sweets. None of these studies found significant differences in behavior between kids who had sugar and those who didn’t. In another study, parents who believed their kids had just consumed a sugary drink rated their kids’ behavior as more hyperactive, even when the drinks were actually sugar-free. Often, it’s the kids’ surroundings that make them hyper – they’re excited, with friends, or at a birthday party, and parents often attribute this behavior to sugar.
**Misconception 2: Sugar rots your teeth.** It is true that sugar can contribute to tooth decay, but it doesn’t directly rot your teeth. In your mouth, there are many different types of bacteria, and some species are thought to cause cavities. The main culprit is a specific bacterium that feeds on the carbohydrates left on your teeth from sugars or starches. This bacterium produces lactic acid, which can lead to the dissolution of enamel. The more sugar you consume, the more residue is left on your teeth.
**Misconception 3: Certain areas on your tongue sense different tastes.** You may have seen the well-structured Tongue Map before, but there isn’t a specific area for different taste receptors on your tongue. This myth originated from a study in 1901 but wasn’t debunked until 1974. In reality, taste buds are distributed all over your tongue. They reside in tiny bumps that give your tongue its rough texture. Different cells in your taste buds respond to sweet, sour, salty, bitter, or umami tastes. When stimulated, these cells send messages to the brain, where those specific tastes are perceived.
I noticed these misconceptions because I actually believed a couple of them. You may have seen the episodes I did last month on sugar – I conducted extensive research for them and even had someone fact-check my scripts. However, there were a couple of details I included that weren’t entirely accurate. Viewers pointed out that when I discussed sweetness receptors on the tongue, I showed an image highlighting the tip of the tongue, which is indeed a myth.
Additionally, it was noted that recent studies have shown that it’s not sugar itself that causes tooth decay, but rather the lactic acid produced by bacteria that feed on sugar left on the teeth. While this is true, keep in mind that sugar plays a central role in that process.
What I find most concerning is that the tongue map myth was debunked in 1974. When I was in high school, which wasn’t too long ago, the tongue map was still included in our textbooks, and it was part of the teaching materials I used. I never questioned it and continued to believe it for years.
As Richard Feynman said, “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” Thank you so much for all of your comments; I really appreciate them. I definitely read them, and this show wouldn’t be what it is without your input. See you next week!
Sugar – A sweet substance that is an important source of energy for living organisms, often found in fruits and used by the body to produce energy. – Sugar is broken down by the body to provide energy for cellular activities.
Children – Young human beings who are in the early stages of development and growth. – Children need a balanced diet to support their rapid growth and development.
Bacteria – Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be found in various environments, some of which can cause disease. – Bacteria in the human gut help with digestion and the absorption of nutrients.
Teeth – Hard structures in the mouth used for biting and chewing food. – Proper brushing and flossing help maintain healthy teeth and prevent cavities.
Decay – The process of breaking down or decomposing, often used to describe the deterioration of organic matter. – Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth produce acids that erode the enamel.
Taste – The sensation produced when a substance in the mouth interacts with taste receptors on the tongue. – The taste of food can be influenced by its temperature and texture.
Tongue – A muscular organ in the mouth that is essential for tasting, swallowing, and speaking. – The tongue is covered with taste buds that detect different flavors like sweet, salty, sour, and bitter.
Carbohydrates – Organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that are a major source of energy for the body. – Foods rich in carbohydrates, like bread and pasta, provide energy for physical activities.
Acid – A chemical substance that can donate a proton or accept an electron pair in reactions, often having a sour taste and capable of neutralizing bases. – The stomach produces hydrochloric acid to help digest food.
Misconceptions – Incorrect or mistaken ideas or beliefs about a particular topic. – There are many misconceptions about bacteria, such as the belief that all bacteria are harmful.
