Skip to content
FACT: Kids are NOT cranky because they want to be. They are cranky because:
- Their growing bodies and brains are clogged with toxins (think: food dyes and sugar), destroying their gut health: the home of their immune system and serotonin/happiness.
- They are overstimulated with screens and under-exercised.
- They need more sleep.
- They could just need a hug.
(All of the above is the same for adults.)
Rising sugar intake (Read this next: sugar is a drug), artificial food dyes, and a lack of outdoor activity are converging into a perfect storm of crankiness, mood swings, aggression, and ADHD-like behaviors.
Here’s how and what you can do about it—quickly. And by quick, I mean it…Halloween, the big spooky night (aka SUGAR and FOOD DYES night) is tomorrow! Below are quick actions to curb the chaos and give your kids a happier childhood, and you a more pleasant parenthood!
Sugar Is a DRUG.
I know this sounds extreme, but there’s no sugarcoating it. Sugar is a drug. No parent would give their kids drugs because of what it would do to their bodies and how they would react.
However, Studies show that sugar is more addictive than cocaine. Let that sink in. Sugar is America’s drug of choice.
Sugar has over 62 names and sneaks into places you least expect, even pasta sauces and “gut health drinks” like kombucha. Always read the back of the box so “marketing slogans” on the front won’t fool you.
These hidden sugars (and food dyes) and their addictive pull make kids vulnerable to:
- Mood swings and irritability: fight-or-flight from sugar crashes.
- Brain fog or lack of focus: root cause of the ADHD epidemic.
- Fatigue or sudden bursts of aggressive behavior: Hello, cranky and whiny attacks!
- Long-term health impacts: including inflammation, gut issues, and liver strain—laying the groundwork for diabetes, heart disease, and countless other health risks later on.
So with Halloween tomorrow, of course, let your kiddos enjoy some of their candy…just not 11 pieces before they even get home. And before your little goblins and teen witches go roaming the neighborhood, give them one of Chelsea’s latest protein and nutrient-packed dinner recipes! Life is all about balance.
Your kid’s gut-brain connection.
Now, here’s the real “ah-ha moment:” Your kid acting out and overly whiny may be caused by stress. Their stress may be from school, sports, or friends, but they may not be able to handle it because their gut is damaged and, therefore, can’t produce enough serotonin.
Poor gut health (from sugar, food dyes, lack of exercise, etc.) also impacts concentration, learning, and all cognitive abilities—and the ability to handle emotions. The vagus nerve (learn more about it here) connects the gut and brain, sending sensory information from the gut to the brain and motor signals from the brain to the gut.
When the gut is inflamed, it can leak toxins into the bloodstream, which can affect cognitive function, mood (crankiness), and memory. This inflammation can also spread to the brain, impairing concentration, decision-making, and memory.
Is it all making sense now?!
Here are a few other ways to prevent crankiness:
- Don’t position sugar as a reward. Avoid using candy as a bribe or celebration for grades or behavior—it's reinforcing the wrong message.
- Stop the snippers with Gut Punch and Acid-Kicking Plant Protein. Gut Punch heals and seals your kid’s gut to prevent toxins from taking over. My protein powder fuels their bodies and brains so they can be their best selves.
- Feed the source of sugar cravings. When your body is craving sugar, it’s often lacking minerals—particularly alkaline-supporting nutrients. Products like Acid-Kicking Minerals (kids love the sweet Kiwi-Strawberry flavor) were created to nourish the body and cut cravings at the root.
- Go outside and move! Time and time again, if I take my kids outside to do literally anything (swim, play soccer, ride bikes, etc.), within a few minutes, I notice that their cranky behavior has been left inside. This is because they are instantly hit with a natural release of mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters like dopamine.
(All of the above also works on adults!)
Now be the superhero your family needs, and protect them from the cranky monsters!
